Surprised by joy—impatient as the Wind/I turned to share the transport—Oh! with whom/But Thee, long buried in the silent Tomb,/That spot which no vicissitude can find?/Love, faithful love, recalled thee to mind—/But how could I forget thee?—Through what power,/Even for the least division of an hour,/Have I been so beguiled as to be blind/To my most grievous loss!—That thought’s return/Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,/Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,/Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more;/That neither present time, nor years unborn/Could to my sight that heavenly face restore. - William Wordsworth -
Recently I finally worked my way through several books by G.K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis that I had long wanted to read but had neglected to get to for a variety of reasons. While I wanted to read both of these authors because they are so often listed as influential Christian writers the reasons were different for choosing the particular books that I did from each. With Chesterton the choice was easy, he had a book on Saint Thomas Aquinas recommended by Josef Pieper, the author of another book on Aquinas that I was already buying. The selection of the Lewis book was a bit more subjective. I picked his book, Surprised by Joy, simply because I was intrigued by the title. Why this title was intriguing I need to back up for a moment.
I’ve enjoyed reading the Peanuts cartoon since I first started looking at the comics as a child. Lucy has been one of the characters I have related to even as far back as then for her cranky side that showed through many a time. The doctor was in as she said in her more analytical moments, “Can I help it if I was born with crabby genes?” Having by nature an equally crabby personality, I have, with none too little delight, realized in recent years the workings of God despite this great flaw and I have been surprised by joy in a way that is not completely dissimilar to Lewis. My story does part company with Lewis in that I don’t start from a lack of belief but rather from a cranky demeanor not overly responsive to love but was hesitantly seeking something better. Nor was my resistance to the workings of God like what Lewis describes. The differences, however, are not important. What matters was that we became aware of something greater than could be imagined, and startled, looked with amazement at what our Lord had quietly been doing even in our misery, and were surprised by joy.
Joy, Saint Thomas Aquinas tells us, brings about an expansion of the heart. Joy touches us at the core of our being, gradually and quietly working within, changing us in so many good ways. Sometimes, like the conversion of Saint Paul, the change is fast and dramatic, while for many of us it’s a much slower and more gradual process. What ever the time frame the Lord wishes to work in, it is happening, His grace is being poured out on us, and at the point of realization we are surprised and delighted by joy; surprised that in our misery Jesus was patiently and tenderly working in us, and delighted that we have not been daunted by our failures and sinfulness, our bankruptcy.
Like Mary, the first responder par excellence to joy, once we know God has spoken to us we move with a new sense of urgency to share our joy in some way. Mary first set out in haste to her cousin Elizabeth, spending several months tending to her needs, while for some of us it may begin with a small change in our attitudes as we begin to see old things in a new way, namely now through the eyes of Jesus. No matter how small the change we are becoming more merciful and tender and we desire to stay on this path which enriches not only our lives but also the lives of others. Joy brings new life beyond what we expected.
God desires to be with you, continually expanding your heart, continually filling you with joy. So, be forewarned; if you open the door to him, in even the smallest of ways, he will enter and set to work doing good in you. God is that good.
3 February 2017
Link below is to a PDF file of the spiritual classic, The Way of a Pilgrim. Travel with him as he becomes radiant with joy as he seeks to learn how to pray without ceasing. This is the same book I mentioned last month, sharing a video link about it.
http://jbburnett.com/resources/french_way_of_a_pilgrim.pdf