Love and Joy

For your consideration…

Sometimes I write about getting messages via a song. Normally it is a favorite thing but, of course, when it is a song you are not particularly fond of…or an annoying song…it is not so great. Fortunately…and sometimes unfortunately (there’s that balance), when I post our message, it is almost immediately forgotten. I think this is so I won’t hesitate to write the message I am given. I don’t sit and think, “Wait, didn’t I just write that?” I have to trust that the messages come in exactly when they are meant to so that they are received by those who need them. I write what I am given when I am given it. That is my agreement with my Guidance.

I tell you this because on a Christmas day several years ago, I received a message to go next door and deliver a message to my neighbor from his son, Ian. Ian had died the summer before in a freak accident. I did not want to do it. My heart ached for Joel. I was not sure how he would receive it. Most importantly, I did not want to add to his pain. But like those annoying songs that won’t go away until they written, every few minutes I would be urged to go next door. I kept thinking, “I will do it if I see him.” But finally, I was looking out my kitchen window and I was told, “Go now, go now.” I did, and of course, the message was a blessing to Joel when he desperately needed it.

That message from Ian, is the message we were given today. It is exactly this, “Love without Joy, is like a Lamorgini revving its engine sitting in park.” 

Love brings us joy. And joy brings us love. They go together. Neither is complete without the other. We are sad when we lose a loved one or something that we love. It is natural to grieve. We need the grieving process and we need it to come around full circle. We need to come back to love with joy. We need to want that and choose it.

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…

-Affirm…“I am loved.”

-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Drink lots of water.

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Choose love and joy.

What made me smile yesterday…

-Christmas morning with Bruce, Alex, James, and Moose.

-Moose was so excited to finally get his stocking atuffers.

-A beautiful delicious family dinner with Will, Shannon, AJ, Mackenzie, Alex, James, Bruce, and Giner…and of course, the dogs.

-A white Christmas.

Love, Blessings, and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris