Welcome to the Words That Encourage newsletter, back after a long break. This week’s words are joy, gratefulness, and hope.
i) Joy
Joy sits at a deep place; it resides in the heart. To abide in joy, to live with joy, is a satisfaction that stays. Wherever we go in our days, if joy is nearby, we will be okay. In seasons of suffering and fear, joy’s signposts can prepare us to build a life on solid foundations. We can align our lives with our deepest purpose.
We want our lives to be a meeting place for our personal “deep gladness” and “the world’s deep hunger” (Frederick Buechner). This is the language of “vocation”, of call, of what will truly satisfy. We search until we find this treasure field where gladness and need overlap.
ii) Gratefulness
Joy emerges with ease when we make it our habit to remember concrete and specific details about good things received in a particular day.
Becoming aware of gifts in my experience will overflow into gratefulness. Our hearts soften and gladness spreads. Gratefulness is a reflective practice that turns the earth into a more friendly place.
A gratefulness practice is crucial if ever we want to be healed of our self-centredness and moved deeper into relationships. When we are grateful and open, we are ready to receive life (and each person) as gift. We can move forward with a hopeful attitude grounded in experience.
What are you most grateful for today?
iii) Hope
Icelandic instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds composes original music that I’ve found helpful and hopeful. re:member begins as a gentle melody that serves as a welcome to a deep moment of reflection. As the emerging tune opens up, the beat slows to a stillness before being ignited with energy, enthusiasm and excitement after the second minute. The propulsion of the second half of the piece provides a sustaining power to enrich your day. Released in his 2018 re:member album, listen on YouTube, Spotify or Apple Music.
May joy, gratefulness and hope move within your heart, dear reader!
Have a great weekend.
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