“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.”
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
“There are going to be frustrations in life. The question is not: How do I escape? It is: How can I use this as something positive?”
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
A Buddhist, a Christian and a writer walk into a bar. Okay, that’s a bit of a joke. But the great Buddhist monk and an Archbishop did walk into a room together. They shared stories of their personal tragedies, great wisdom, and laughed and laughed and laughed. One of these gatherings was recorded by the writer in one of my favorite books: The Book of Joy. The interviewer, Douglas Abrams, discusses the friendship of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They set the example of how respect and companionship can cross any presumed barriers.
Their collected teachings on the subject of joy are extensive. In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, finding joy that transcends circumstances can seem like an impossible task. At the age of fifteen, the Chinese authorities invaded the Dalai Lama’s homeland and he had to do some political maneuvering. At twenty-three he escaped and lived in exile. Desmond Tutu’s father abused his mother in their household. Tutu campaigned for the freedom of South Africa. He also had to overcome serious health issues such as tuberculosis in his youth and later in his life of prostate cancer which took his life at the age of 90.
The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu acknowledge how “suffering is inevitable, but how we respond to that suffering is our choice.” (p. 7). We can choose to carry the bitterness like a rock around our necks or we can let it go in the pursuit of joy. The bitterness serves as an infection while joy helps to lighten our burdens.
Humanity has been given a powerful tool to navigate through life’s challenges and experience a joy that is unshakeable. This joy can be found in unlocking the fruit of the Spirit within us.
See also: The Fruit of Spirit Within Us – In Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)
They believe in the pursuit of joy, not happiness. This is because happiness is often dependent on external factors while joy is a state of being that is not affected by circumstances. It is a deep-rooted contentment and an inner assurance of optimism and hope; a belief that all things work together for good. Here are some key themes from the text for reflection:
Acknowledging we are not alone in our suffering.
While we seem isolated in our suffering, in reality, we suffer along with many in the entirety of the world. We can then shift our personal suffering to a “broader, more compassionate one.” We acknowledge our suffering and the suffering of others to cultivate compassion and empathy. If we are in a position to help, we can reach out to others in suffering solidarity.
“No dark fate determines the future. We do. Each day and each moment, we are able to create and re-create our lives and the very quality of human life on our planet. This is the power we wield.”
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Tragedy can offer new opportunities.
The Dalai Lama has lived most of his life as a refugee. He was kicked out of his own country. One way to bear his pain has been to acknowledge other opportunities that opened up as a result of this. He stated, “Wherever you have friends that’s your country, and wherever you receive love, that is your home.” (p. 38). Good can come out of a bad situation.
Focusing on Gratitude
One of the keys to experiencing joy is cultivating a heart of gratitude. The chapter on gratitude states how “it is indeed that ability to see wonder, surprise, possibility in each experience and each encounter that is a core aspect of joy.” (p. 241).
Our bodies actually respond to gratitude by stimulating the hypothalamus in the brain which helps to alleviate the production of stress hormones. Gratitude literally rewires our bodies for the better.
Even in the midst of hardships, there is always something to be thankful for. By intentionally shifting our focus towards gratitude, we can train our minds to see the blessings amidst the chaos.
Choosing Faith over Fear
The Archbishop Desmond Tutu mentioned the fact that everyone struggles with fears. It is when we allow fear to overcome us or become exaggerated that we truly endure hardship. Fear often robs us of joy and keeps us trapped in a cycle of negativity. To unlock joy, we must choose faith over our fear. We must act despite our fear. Trusting in God’s plan and His promises, even when everything around us seems uncertain, allows us to experience hope.
Keeping a sense of humor.
We’ve heard the cliché of how laughter is the best medicine. Both Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama agree how keeping a sense of humor is fundamental to spiritual growth. In fact, we need laughter to survive in this dark and difficult world. Archbishop Tutu states how “one of the ways of getting into the hearts of people is the capacity to make them laugh.” (p. 221). We can cultivate our sense of humor and learn to see the humor that life has to offer. Humor and laughter are ways to receive the spirit of joy.
Examples of finding joy in my personal life.
I had a particularly challenging time in my life where I felt really down. I decided to volunteer at a local food bank. Working in the service of others brought a sense of community as well as great communication. It felt as if they were ministering to me more than I was to them. I didn’t feel so isolated in my suffering and my situation didn’t appear so bleak. I found joy in the community.
Humor has been a safeguard for me. Even if I found myself in the ER, I would be cracking jokes with the doctors and nurses. I seek out comedians and comedies if I am feeling blue. I seek out joy in the midst of pain or sadness.
While it may seem challenging to find joy that transcends circumstances in today’s world, it is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can intentionally seek joy that transcends our circumstances.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
“Sorrow prepares you for joy. It violently sweeps everything out of your house, so that new joy can find space to enter. It shakes the yellow leaves from the bough of your heart, so that fresh, green leaves can grow in their place. It pulls up the rotten roots, so that new roots hidden beneath have room to grow. Whatever sorrow shakes from your heart, far better things will take their place.”
Rumi
More Information:
Practicing the Fruits of the Spirit: A Book Reflection – In Thought, Word & Deed (katierea.com)
A Message of Hope From the Dalai Lama | The 14th Dalai Lama
The Tragic Truth About Desmond Tutu (grunge.com)
The 20 Best Book of Joy Quotes (bookroo.com)
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