Joy Seekers

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. -- John 15:11

Did you know that joy is referenced 60 times in the New Testament? In a culture where religion often equates rules, how can we be a people who resonate joy? 

While we often ponder ways to locate joy through spaces or practices that center us in the Holy Spirit, have you ever thought about seeking moments of joy in the humanity that surrounds you? 

As I have moved through this week, I have observed the laughter of a barista sharing a joke with a coworker, the delighted screams of children dashing through the fountains in Cannery Square, the warm smile of a grocery store employee as she chats with customers, a joyful carload with windows open and bicycles strapped to the roof, a couple walking with fingers comfortably intertwined.

And what about the fleeting moments that bless our senses but pass by so quickly that we hardly notice? I love the warm smell of bread baking in the oven, the comforting whir of fans pushing cool air against the summer heat, the softness of a cat's belly when they are begging for attention, the smooth of book pages beneath my fingertips, the patter of clean water spraying from a showerhead, the relief of a breeze as evening begins to cool the air.

As poet Mary Oliver once wrote, "Every day, I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight. ... If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don't hesitate. Give in to it."

As you learn to seek joy, it can be difficult to resist the perfection of these simple moments. What have you experienced today that is as simple and remarkable as the yellow of a dandelion's petals? How can you become a joy seeker, stepping toward the full joy that Jesus promises?