An Invitation to Joy

I want to invite you on a journey, a journey that I have been on for many years now. It is the journey of joy. Joy has not come easily for me. I am not a naturally joyful person. In some ways I have been a joy-skeptic. I am analytical by nature, and I often focus on what is wrong with the world, a prophet-type personality.

One day, several years ago, our oldest daughter, our missionary midwife daughter was home visiting from her work in Sudan. We were having breakfast, just the two of us, and she said to me, “Dad, you seem to have lost some of your joy lately.” Now she is one of the gentlest people that I know, and so I took notice. It was an understatement. And I guess God helped me to get beyond my defensive responses. I said, “Okay, tell me more.” And she did and suggested a book to read. And so began my journey of joy which continues to this day.

Joy is a great gift that seems to be in short supply today. Almost everyone I know would like to have more joy in their life. There are some who seem to have given up on joy altogether, and some others, maybe a whole generation who may be losing their capacity for joy. But for most, joy is still that great prize, that supreme treasure they would like to find. I believe we are made for joy, the desire for joy is in our blood. But I know many people who would say they have somehow lost their joy, others have never found it.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not referring to some sort of shallow, put-on-a-happy-face, Pollyannaish happy feeling that makes us oblivious to the suffering and sadness of people all around us. True joy will make us more caring and compassionate toward others. In fact, “take away my joy and I am of no use to anyone,” as George Macdonald states in Adela Cathcart.

This is not going to be a “how to” discussion on how to find joy. There is no secret formula; there are not “six easy steps to finding deep joy.” In fact, I have come to the conclusion that we don’t find joy by seeking joy. We find joy by finding something else. Joy is a by-product. And I think we intuitively know this. We are always joyful over something.

I would be honored if you would allow me to be your guide on this journey of joy. It is my deep desire that you would come to experience this wonderful gift of joy. We will look at “practices” that will build more joy in our lives, as well as the “practices and mindsets” that can steal our joy. We will reflect carefully on these practices as we go along on this journey.

But first, can you think of a time in your life when you were especially joyful. Maybe in your childhood, maybe a special event or a family vacation. What was it that made you feel very joyful? Can you relive that memory and that feeling? Don’t worry if you can’t think of something. We will be delving into practices that will help bring whole new experiences of deep joy in your life.

Would you say that this is a particularly joyful time in your life right now?  How would you rate your joy-meter on a scale of 1-10? If you are not feeling very joyful these days, what would you say is the primary thing that robs your joy? Once again, if you are not feeling especially joyful right now, or maybe not for a long time, please stay with me and by God’s grace, we will journey more deeply into genuine joy.

Soon to be released book by Daniel J Denk