Gratitude

Joy as a Nonviolent & Non-confrontational Response to Difficulties

Palm Sunday is portrayed as a time of exuberance and exultation. The people hoped things would change for them; that they would be rescued from the tyranny of the Romans. They had expectations of what this would look like. Jesus has another vision.

In the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, it is easy to pick up a sense of happy, joyous victory. What the people are calling out, “Hosannah!” can be used in two ways. In many churches and hymns it is used to express adoration and praise to Jesus as Savior and King. This is part of why the people called out “Hosannah!” as Jesus entered the Holy City. “Hosannah!” is also a call for help from someone recognized as a powerful prophet who just may be able to rid the region of the oppressive rulers, both civic and religious. We have a mix of pain and hope. Jesus is riding through the back gate, not the entrance that dignitaries use, riding on a donkey, a beast of burden, a work animal, not the steed of a high-ranking military officer, governor, or temple official.  

Life can be unsettled and unsettling. Our traditions acknowledge that pain and suffering are part of life. Yet they also tell us that we can be in the midst of life without being overcome by things that may vex us. Joy is a way of being, distinct from happy or sad, healthy or not, alone or not.

There are many disruptions around the world: climatic, environmental, cultural, social, political, plus those things that vex us from our own inner life, the little and big things that just don’t seem to go away or get resolved, things which make us feel unhappy or angry or just not quite right in the world. Then there are those people who disturb us, the family member that doesn’t get us, the boss who doesn’t care that I have a family that needs me, the drivers on the road, the politicians… you can fill in the blank. Some days it can be hard to just get going, to face the world.

Can we, by being aware of the grace of joy, walk through life with strong spirits and peaceful hearts? Let us explore this a bit.

A definition of joy: In spiritual traditions, joy is generally defined as a profound, enduring state of inner peace, contentment, and well-being that exists independently of external circumstances, often stemming from a connection to a higher power, purpose, or true self. Unlike fleeting happiness based on events, spiritual joy is considered a constant, often viewed as a gift, a fruit of spiritual alignment, or a reflection of divine nature. (Google search)

In the context that we are considering, joy is not a feeling but a state of being. Personally, I forget that I’m joyful and grateful because I can be a bit melancholy at times. When I check with myself, I find that I am grateful and that there is joy within me; I just wasn’t feeling happy at the time, or maybe I was feeling depressed or anxious, but I did have gratitude and joy was there just below the surface. Joy is a stable, foundational state whereas happiness is a temporary response that fades. Joy remains in suffering; happiness does not.

I like to explore what I term “practical spirituality.” Let us consider joy as a nonviolent, non-confrontational response or resistance to the situations that really bother us, that we may usually respond to by being upset, angry, depressed, or hopeless.  

Please don’t misunderstand me here. Being upset, angry, depressed and anxious are normal feelings that occur when we are confronted with crime, injustice, or things in life that are real: over-tiredness, relationship issues or breakup, health challenges are a few examples. We all have these feelings. Many people are feeling assaulted on so many fronts that they may not know how to respond or where to start.

We do need to respond to injustices. Acts of resistance are necessary to stop the progression of actions that are causing so much harm to people, our environment, our relationships between different people and nations.

Think about this: how we respond adds to the scale of consciousness. If we think of it this way, then the they/us polarity changes. What do I want to increase in the world? What am I working for? If I look at it this way, I may give more consideration to my actions so that my initial reactions don’t add to what I really do not want. Understand? Do I want to be the other side of the coin or a different and better currency?

When we are challenged in life, our response influences the experience as it unfolds; how I respond sets the tone and my attitude and potentially sets up a response from those near me. I think that we’ve all had experiences that quickly escalated into an argument that we later regretted, or the grace of a situation that de-escalated and was peacefully resolved.

If we seek guidance from the Wisdom traditions, or Wisdom Itself, we are more likely to make choices that are effective in creating the world we desire. When we do this, it is possible to maintain a state of joy.

By developing joy in our lives, we will find that this joy and peace will spill over into our relationships. Perhaps the “butterfly principle” will cause our joy and peace to spread. Let’s look at Blocks-Benchmarks-Ways to help orient ourselves.

Here are some things that can Block our joy:

• Indifference
• Hate of others
• Violence
• Vengeance (Seek Justice instead.)
• Expectations

What does joy look like? Some possible Benchmarks:

• Kindness
• Compassion
• Mercy
• Forgiveness
• Calmness

How can we invite Joy into our lives and contribute to its growth? Some Ways:

• Desire it
• Acceptance*
• Trust
• Hope
• Service
• Gratitude
• Prayer and Meditation for transformation (Of ourselves and humanity.)

*Acceptance is perhaps one of the most difficult and misunderstood of spiritual principles and practices. In the context we are considering, it is NOT approval, it is awareness of things as they are. It is an acknowledgement of an experience (physical, mental, emotional; ours or other’s) without denying or resisting the experience. It is a pause, a snapshot, that allows us to be more aware and have a more solid footing from which to respond.

Some queries to consider:

Q. Have I consciously desired to have joy in my life? (Not happiness, joy.)

Q. What traits or habits do I cultivate to get, keep, and increase joy in my life?

Q. What roles do my religious or philosophical beliefs or practices play in my experience of joy?

Q. What about my expectations?

Daniel+