I had written a post already but wasn’t happy with it. Then yesterday there was a ring at the door and two girls were selling bracelets with words on them. The one they sold to me said ‘joy’. So that’s what I am writing about today.

There are always choices as to how we respond to things. I saw that at the end of the world cup: for the winners it’s celebration, for the losers, dejection and last night, violent rejection. How do you respond to things? Anger when life turns against you? Or, unexpectedly, can you slowly find a way to celebrate?

Corrie ten Boom tells of her bemusement when her sister rejoiced because the fleas in their room turned the prison guards away. Life is full of unwelcome surprises and most of them we could never feel joyful about. I think it’s biblical to find joy whatever the circumstance, but that is close to impossible.

The idea of finding good no matter what is possibly laudable but so hard to do, as I’m finding this very hard to write. The best response I saw from the losing side was Messi going over and congratulating the opposing team.

I suppose the Bible is full of acts that we can’t understand like loving your enemy, or doing good to people who hurt you, or being thankful no matter what. 

Joy? That’s one to aspire to. Maybe one day I’ll tell you about feeling it. For now, it’s on a bracelet that one day I’ll make into a prayer