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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Joy (05/18/06)
When I think about joy, I automatically think about happiness. Happiness is a temporary state of fulfillment usually brought on by external causes. Joy on the other hand goes so much deeper for it deals with the spirit of each soul.

One day I was reflecting over the up and down experiences in my life and realized I had more downs than ups. In fact, I had enough down experiences to be down today. But, I am not down and it is not by chance. I continued contemplating over my life as I found it very difficult to come up with happy memories. I managed to come up with a some moments in my life that made me smile. It was when I smiled; joy filled my heart as I remembered what has sustained me my entire life.

Joy was not found in the moments when I got what I wanted. My joy came when I knew God received what He wanted from me. True joy for me is when I am serving mankind according to God’s will. Any of my struggles and heartaches becomes the least of my concerns when I find the strength to listen and pray for my fellowman.

To me, joy is a heartfelt connection to God that moves us to have compassion and empathy. It props us up and dusts us off during times of weariness and disappointments. Joy gives us an aura of royalty in the presence of our enemies and afflictions. It is that power that constantly rises within us letting us know God is real and we are heading somewhere beyond this world.

Joy is the power of God active in our lives.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Helen Paynter
05/27/06
Interesting piece. I especially loved the last line.
william price
05/30/06
You ministered to me. I especially liked the last full paragraph.
Anthony David
05/31/06
I liked the bit about how we need to have empathy. I feel, like you do, that we become joyful when we serve others. Being other centric I fel is central to true joy. Good and brief writing. Please do keep on writing!