Tag Archives: spiritual journeys

Joy. Unspeakable Joy.

Posted on by
Reply

Joy. Unspeakable Joy. I don’t know why that song popped into my head for this, the third week of Advent. I’m not even going to look it up for you. If you know it, you know it. Anyway, it’s been a good week. A good week filled with good things. And so it won’t be hard to chat about Joy.

We had the privilege of lighting the Advent candle at our new church this week. True to form, the hubby ad-libbed a little bit. And me? Well, I got a little over zealous and lit four candles instead of three. Oops! Why isn’t joy the fourth week just before Christmas anyway? Love can come before Joy and after Hope and Peace. In fact, I think it should come after Love. You love something or someone and then the joy comes, right? Do you choose that feeling or is it a result of loving? Hmmn. That’s a thought for reflection.

For example, when our little grand baby was born we loved him before we met him. His extended family anticipated with Hope his impending arrival… But the Joy when he arrived… that was different. Perhaps Mary felt the same. She knew her baby was something special. She knew He was going to do great things. But to feel the joy deep down in her heart? I think that only came when she got to meet Him face to face.

In fact, I think that is still true: I don’t think anyone who ever experienced Jesus face to face was ever the same. Good or bad, coming face to face with God will forever change you. In 2024, we don’t have the chance to meet Jesus face to face, on this side of Heaven, but encounters with God are no less powerful. Experiences give us a concrete foundation for the actions that are the result of those experiences. It’s one thing to say “I know how you feel, I will pray”. It’s another thing to say “I’ve been there… I got you”.

Joy. Unspeakable joy. I’m trying to think of how to share or describe it. They say Joy is one of those emotions that is beyond happiness. A feeling that has supernatural roots. You can feel joy despite the human experience…. It is “unspeakable” in a way. You must experience it to understand it. And when you do, you think to yourself, yup, that was a God thing because I could not have done that by myself.

The kids tease me because most weeks I end up crying at church. A worship song hits just so – and tears come. I’m not even a big crier. It’s also been known to happen during a proud moment when I watch my kids perform. A race. A school play. An overwhelming emotion that spills out through my eyelids. Am I alone? I know I am not… I have seen some of you. You gushing emotional wrecks you!

Joy. Unspeakable Joy. In past years, mittonmusings has asked you what brings you joy? I’ve posted photographs. It’s a tough one to write about. Perhaps we all feel it differently. Perhaps that’s why it’s such a deep and indescribable emotion. In the popular movie Inside Out, Joy and Sadness have to work together. Like light and darkness, to experience and understand one, you need to experience and understand the opposite. And then you can truly help another – because you’ve been there.

And so, my friends, time is passing quickly. Perhaps, like me, you were a little zealous and lit one too many candles this week and are now burning them at both ends. It’s crunch time, single digits before Christmas and there is still a lot to do. I wish you peace, hope and now joy. Unspeakable Joy that you must take time to truly experience to understand. May your sadness make your joy complete. And then together, we’ll come back to celebrate Love! Blessings, my readers!

Hope: A Strong Foundation

Posted on by
Reply

Welcome back, my friends. It has come. The Christmas season is upon us again and Sunday past was the first Sunday of Advent. Traditionally, here at mittonmusings.com we celebrate the advent season with muses each week based on the theme of advent. And so, we are here again. As we mark the first week of preparation for the Christmas season, we look at HOPE. “I hope this… ” “I hope that….” “Hoping you do this or that…” Common phrases we hear all the time. Hope is familiar to us. Personally, I think hope is one of those emotions that has quite a wide range. Tiny, insignificant hopes to big life and death hopes. We “hope” for a good parking spot. Some “hope” for medical miracles. Others “hope” for a meal to fill their bellies. Hope is based on circumstance. Or is it?

Photo by Saad Chaudhry on Unsplash

Our circumstance is fleeting. Basing our hopes on dreams and desires can lead to disappointment and discouragement. Perhaps, hope needs to be concrete. Substantial. Tangible. Who gives us that tangible gift to cling to? Napoleon Bonaparte once said that “Leaders are dealers in hope.” Let’s muse there for awhile. What does a good leader give us? Motivation? A cause to rally for? We recently watched the first Gladiator movie with Russell Crowe. One of its themes is a leader is valuable and can woo the masses. I was struck by the similarities between the colosseum’s crowd and the mob at Jesus’ crucifixion. How we are easily swayed by group mentality and can be roused by others. Hope or destruction: it doesn’t matter. A good leader filters hope through his or her crew. An evil one breeds destruction and chaos.

The hope a leader feeds, however, must have a genuine substance. It must have a firm foundation. A solid belief that will propel the follower forward no matter what the circumstance. This is the advent Hope we celebrate. It is not a theory or philosophy or dream. It is a person. This is a vital and very distinct difference we see between believers and non-believers. Our hope is not based on circumstance or adaptable. It is a constant… through any circumstance, because we believe in God who is secure and stable through the uncertainty. He is faithful through it all. Certainly, we grieve. We travel through hills and valleys. Yet, our journey can be surrounded with hope because of the One who knows the future.

“The hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.”

Hebrews 6:19

The Hebrew word for Hope is tikvah meaning “expectation” or “cord”. The root word meaning “to wait for” or “bind”. We are awaiting the birth of our first grand baby. We ponder about will it be a boy or a girl? Will the baby be big or little? Will he or she have a full head of hair? How will the parents survive? (How did we get old enough to be grandparents?!) Most of us understand the concept of expectation as it relates to babies. We see where that hope is related. We hope in a bright future for our little one. Still, what about “bind” and the idea of cordage? To bind tight means stability. A hope, that when tested in circumstance, is unwavering. A necessary foundation to cling to when the going gets tough. An anchor in times of uncertainty. This is our Hope in Christ.

And so, my friends, as we enter another season of Christmas, I encourage you to put your Hope in the One who counts. The One who anchors our valleys and circumstances with a strong cordage. May the next few weeks of advent reflection start with Hope because it needs to be our foundation for the season. See you next week, my beloveds!

Want some more Hope? Here’s a few previous posts to put you in the advent mood:

The Ultimate Toolbox

The Advent Candle of Hope

How to Predict the Future

You Are A Miracle: Reflections on Existence and Purpose

Posted on by
Reply

I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but: You. Are. A. Miracle. A scientifically bonafide miracle. I know this because many, many moons ago when I was in university, my anatomy professor gave a very sobering lecture about human reproduction. Did you know that the percentage of actual, “normal” human beings born is 34%. That’s before birth. Thirty four out of 100 “good eggs” develop to 40 ish weeks. Then there is that tumultuous day that we celebrate every year called your birth day. If you make it through that, there is about a 31% chance you come out relatively ready to face the world… and from there… well, let’s just say, if you have survived this long and are reading this post: You are a miracle!

You. Are. A.Miracle.

I was musing about this at a baby shower held in honour of my beloved daughter-in-law. She is about three weeks out from giving us our first grand baby! We are excited, of course, but becoming a grandparent for the first time makes you reflect on mortality, your own legacy, and well, the miracle of life itself. It’s fragile. It’s vulnerable. It’s oh so special. Yet, most of us take it for granted. We shop for cute little onesies at Walmart and complain about the cost of diapers. The world is overpopulated. We can all agree that there are some people who should just simply not be parents. Others who deserve to be and can not. People have suffered and are suffering. This broken world is not what God designed. It begs the question: Should we be concerned at each individual life and focus on its tenuous existence?

My own views on mortality and life are complicated and not for debate today. I’ve had my share of death and understand the significance of life. I’m discovering rural farmers have a view of life that, shall we say, is practical and perhaps more matter of fact. Philosophers will have a different view. Christian worldview with belief in a Creator God? Their discussion will different from the atheist’s. As I said, it’s simply another muse I’m putting out there for reflection. A potential for thought and discussion. Go where you wish with it. Let’s just say, I don’t think God makes mistakes. He has a plan and your life is a significant part of it.

We are each a significant part of God’s Plan

Christmas is quickly approaching and I cannot help but think of Mary. Unwed teenager, pregnant, but she claims not by her betrothed. First time mom gives birth in barn. Believe me, I have a barn, it would not be my first choice. You tube worthy story, for sure. Yet, here too, God had a plan, and Mary’s life was a significant part of it. Why have baby Jesus come to Earth as a vulnerable baby? Helpless and fragile? Utterly human and at risk for all that humanity has to offer. Would not have been my choice either… but then again, I’m not God, am I?

And so we have come full circle back to my original thought: You are a miracle. Significantly created and planned for by the ultimate Creator. Designed and destined for greatness… or at least some role in His ultimate plan for humankind. He knows we are but dust. And yet, He loves us beyond measure. Perhaps this is why He gives us babies…. and grand babies. To remind us that we are miracles designed just the way He planned for just the role He planned. I hope this thought makes you smile today… because you are worthy.