Momentary Joy
What are you thinking about right now?
What was on your mind when you awoke in the middle of the night?
Are there thoughts that haunt you, taunt you, ruin your day?
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. - Philippians 4:8
As we head into the three days of Holy Week known as the Triduum, the most solemn time in our church year, it helps to take a few moments to clear our heads of all that distracts us.
Paul gives us a way to do that, by thinking of those things that are true and commendable.
But what are those things? Where do we find what them?
Suppose for a second that we wanted to do the opposite. Suppose our goal was to upset ourselves, to get our backs up, to put ourselves into a state of anger and frustration, what would we focus on?
Chances are, we all have an experience or two we could call to mind that would give us cause for such a state. Few can make it through a week without something disrupting our peace.
And I think that is the clue to finding peace. It is not just trying to clear the head of all that is bad or harmful. That only leads to us focusing on those things.
Paul is saying we should do the opposite. Search for those things that are pleasing and think about them.
Think about the early morning sunrise ushering in Spring, rather than the blast of cold air that reminds us that Winter is hanging around a bit too long.
Give yourself reasons to be happy and joyful.
Is there anything we will encounter today that is worthy of praise? am sure if we try, we will find something, and that is something worth thinking about, rejoicing in.
We don't often think of our faith as one heaped in meditation, but here we have a chance, permission if you will, to let our minds find peace in the best of the day's offerings.
So, for today, let's open our eyes to discovering signs that the world is a place of joy and peace. Let us find examples of what is true, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise, and let us think about these things.
Better yet, share them with others, so the joy and peace we find grows.
More to come...
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