Joy and Sorrow
ONE
We were made for joy and not for sorrow.
Joy or Delight is the response to something experienced as good, and it invites us to rest in that good. Joy is the emotion that prompts you to stop, sit down and delight in the magnificent 360 degree view once you’ve reached the summit. It says, “This is a good place to be. Let’s stay here.”
Sorrow is the response to something experienced as evil, and it clamors that somebody do something to fix the situation.
Joy – meaning – delighting in things that are good – prompts us to rest; sorrow prompts us to action and never lets us rest.
Our screens give us a constant reminder of all that is wrong in the world – prompting sorrow, destroying rest, creating anxiety and worry.
Furthermore, our screens constantly confront us with sorrows that are not our responsibility – beyond our ability to fix. But we continue to put all that is wrong in the world before our mind, sorrow prompts the brain there is something to fix and we can never rest. And the cycle of watching a broken world, sorrow and anxiety continue.
Have you had enough already? Because we were made for joy.
TWO
Our screens tells us the evil in the world is insurmountable. If you insist on watching the news, then sorrow will eventually overtake your joy. So get off your screens.
Most of us however are addicted to our screens and addictions are very strong routines. You will need to break your routine to break your addictions. Personally I am sick of the sadness, anger, hate and worry that come from my screen. So I have replaced the news and all social commentators and so called prophets with books. When I am tempted to read or listen to a source of sadness, instead I open up my Kindle App and read the collected writings of St Maximilian Kolbe and I rest in the good which is joy!
You will need your own strategy to break your routine. I know, you don’t have the same addiction as I do. Addicts never think they are one…
THREE
Joy is the response to something experienced as good, and it invites us to rest in that good. So cultivate joy rather than sadness by experiencing good and resting in it.
Read or listen to a great book; even better, do it with family or friends, even better, then discuss it. Count of Monte Cristo, Les Miserables, anything by David McCullough or Agatha Christi…Listen to beautiful music – Schubert
Walk among the trees. Walk during the 30 min from sunset to last light – spectacular – don’t be in a hurry – it is good to be here. Stay a while.
FOUR
No matter what happens; no matter who wins the election; no matter if there is a second wave and shutdown with Covid;
God and Mary will work it all out for us.
All shall be well. You are safe. That is the only absolute certainty that exists.
No matter what happens – God and Our Lady are guiding everything to the best for those who love them.
I told you I am reading the writings of Kolbe. In a letter to a friend he writes: Do you have many worries? You know, I now worry less and less and I realize that the Immaculata is really much more involved. May she guide all things.
FIVE
Why do we find it so hard to let go and stop watching the news and social media?
Because we think by knowing we have control.
We don’t.
I’ll tell you why it is easy to let go.
Because you are not in control, so you are not losing control of anything when you stop watching the news.
You don’t have to let go - because there is nothing to hold on to.