Joy
When I think of the place where I feel the most joy, I think of the beach—almost any beach. What I love about the beach is the constant ebb and flow of the tide, waves crashing over my toes, seashells showing proof of life and death, the sparkle of fish scales reflecting under the water in the sunlight, sandy bodies, salty lips, laughter, the warmth of the sun, the look on the faces of my children and my niece and nephew, and the feeling of overwhelming joy filling my soul.
It’s always around this time of the year that I start to yearn for some time at the beach. Mostly because of the drop in temperature. The bare trees. The lack of color in the tree lines. It seems bleak. Some of my joy seems to dissipate with every sloshy step through the snow and ice. I don’t feel joy when the bitter cold hits my face when I step out the door. But, in this season of Advent, I have been trying to see the joy in even the bleakest conditions. For me, that often comes with the children in my life. Not just my own but all the children in my life, family by birth, family by choice, and family by circumstance.
The look on the faces of my children, niece, and nephew in these photos is pure joy—joy to be at the beach, together again, and soaking in the moment. The pictures our family captures at the beach often make it to our Christmas Cards. It’s our little snippet of joy to share with the ones we love. Doing the good we can do, even in something as simple as a card and well wishes. It’s ours to give.
Reflecting on Luke’s gospel this week, I was reminded of the elements that make me feel grounded at the beach: the sand, the water, the heat of the sun, and the ocean breeze. These elements bring me joy and symbolize our lives as children of God in the stones of the sand, our baptism in those crashing waves, the wind of the Holy Spirit catching our sails, and the fire that burns deep in our hearts for justice and righteousness.
I hope you see the joy in the faces of the amazing teens that are so dear to me. Let me tell you, the lives of teenagers are not always joy-filled. They have pressures I would’ve had difficulty navigating all those years ago. But the joy that they can share is infectious. I hope that it warms your heart. I hope it reminds you of the good you can do when you find joy and let it fill you to the brim, rejoicing in God’s goodness. Go catch it, and don’t let it slip through your fingers when you do.
~Pr. Julie Jackson
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