On Sunday, Trudi Hodgkins shared these words as she lit the candle of Joy. I love that so many are creating their own art and poetry for worship. Later she sent this photo taken from her deck as the sun rose over Clary Lake.
It’s a joy to see the sunrise
With God’s colors draping the heavens
In glorious tones as they rush
To light the day.
It’s a joy to sing the songs of praise
Learned as a little girl in Sunday School ,
And later in ‘big girl’ choirs.
It’s a joy to enter this holy place,
To see and touch and feel the warmth,
To hear the heartbeat of a loving community.
It’s a joy to see the wizened old cat,
As she stretches and folds herself elegantly into my lap,
Purring her heart out with a melody of her own making.
It’s a joy to see my friends
Who give me the gift of their smiles,
Their constancy, their lovingness.
It’s a joy to assemble with my family,
The picnics, the gatherings, the sharing of life doings,
The soft – and loud – moments.
It’s a joy to have memories of kindly, good folk,
Related or not,
Now here with me only in my heart and mind,
But forever so.
It’s a joy to be in love
With my place here on earth, figuratively and literally,
Surrounded by God’s creatures
And all of the minutia of nature that
Inspires and enriches.
Sadnesses will ever come and go,
For such comes to her or him who has had much
While truly living, engaging with life
And those who swirl within it.
It’s a joy to love it all:
The good, the bad and the ugly teach us —
Teach us that the sorrows only manifest themselves
After we have tasted the delights.
revnancyduncan 