Making Room for Joy - especially in these times
Jul 11
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Amy Brady
“Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.” -Philippians 4:8 (The Voice)
I can’t remember a time where this verse felt as impossible as it does today. Beauty is not leading the headlines. Truth is up for debate. Honorable ways of living seem to be a thing of days gone by and right is whatever your opinion is.
Purity has long since left the building and lovely feels like something we only see in dreams and the faces of those we love. Good seems to be taking its very last breath and virtuous and praiseworthy things are completely out of fashion.
By nature, beauty is my core value, but even for an optimist like myself, I find it hard at times to continue to fight for beauty. Beauty breathes life into my soul, it gives me hope, and it helps me to believe the best is yet to come, even when the days are long and dark.
I remember a particular season not long ago when I was carrying life in a very heavy way. I had relationships in need of mending, life was transitioning in ways I didn’t sanction, and it felt as if a cloud had descended making every thought hazy and unclear. As I sat in some solitude with the Spirit, I was inquiring how in the world I was to endure this season well. I still have family life and responsibilities surrounding me and falling into a pit of despair just wasn’t an option.
I felt a nudge in my soul calling me to indulge in things that brought beauty into my life. At first that seemed a bit silly considering the weightier issues on my plate. But the Spirit kept nudging me along, teaching me that it was beauty that balanced out the difficulties in life.
Beauty was the oxygen mask of the soul.
When we make our hearts open to things that bring beauty into our lives, joy always comes along as a very willing companion. And it is that joy where we harness strength for the heavier days.
You may be familiar with the verse, “...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) However, looking at it in The Voice translation it says, “Let the Eternal’s own joy be your protection!”
When we read this passage with that insight, we may see several new things. First, the joy we experience when beauty is allowed to take up space in our day, is not our own joy, it’s the joy of the Eternal Father. His joy can’t be tainted or changed, it simply is. Entering into the things we see and feel as beauty, helps us to tap into that deep well of unchanging joy.
As we do this, we can better see what His joy, ushered in by beauty, is really imparting to us. Participating in that kind of joy not only strengthens us, it is a protection to our hearts. It protects the softest places within us from despair, bitterness, hopelessness, powerlessness, anger, and many other emotions we may feel in times of distress, burn out, or discouragement.
In what ways can beauty be your companion? Think about the things you love to read, places you love to go, activities you enjoy participating in, food you love to cook or bake, art you love to create, crafts you enjoy spending time making. These are the thresholds of beauty and joy.
Thresholds that are the beginnings of resistance to the heavy and hard that the world is hurtling at you day in and day out, without end. These thresholds are your pathways to peace. It is your way out of the mess, if only for a few minutes or hours. And don’t underestimate the impact a few minutes or hours could have. When we are carrying heavy bundles in life, just a little lighter bundle can make a big difference in the energy that returns to us. It doesn’t have to be an entire day or a weekend. Any moment you allow yourself to indulge in delight, is a moment where you can lay down the burdens you carry for a bit, as well as the ones that are placed there without you even noticing.
If you think of your life as a ship that is sinking, what is the quickest way to gain some buoyancy? Throw over the unnecessary cargo! What are you carrying in your life that is unnecessary? What can you let go of to regain some buoyancy in your day to day life?
Are you too concerned about the decisions others are making in their lives? Do you pack your schedule so tight, you barely have room to breathe? Do you still take most of the responsibility for household chores when you have able-bodied humans living there too? Are you saying yes, when everything in you wants to say no? In what ways are you contributing to the heaviness of your own life? How are you sinking your own ship?
We have a tendency to tackle questions like these on our own, but I want to encourage you to stop and ask Jesus to guide you. Relieve yourself of the burden of having all the answers and figuring out all the conclusions on your own. Jesus is your companion and your ultimate Spiritual Director. Ask these questions with Him, requesting insight into your own motives and desires and areas where control or people-pleasing rob you of beauty, joy, and the energy of life.
When you are able to fine-tune your life, and throw over some unnecessary cargo, you are better able to stay afloat and have room on your ship for the beauty and joy you need to sail along smoother, even when the waters are choppy and storms lie ahead.
I can’t remember a time where this verse felt as impossible as it does today. Beauty is not leading the headlines. Truth is up for debate. Honorable ways of living seem to be a thing of days gone by and right is whatever your opinion is.
Purity has long since left the building and lovely feels like something we only see in dreams and the faces of those we love. Good seems to be taking its very last breath and virtuous and praiseworthy things are completely out of fashion.
By nature, beauty is my core value, but even for an optimist like myself, I find it hard at times to continue to fight for beauty. Beauty breathes life into my soul, it gives me hope, and it helps me to believe the best is yet to come, even when the days are long and dark.
I remember a particular season not long ago when I was carrying life in a very heavy way. I had relationships in need of mending, life was transitioning in ways I didn’t sanction, and it felt as if a cloud had descended making every thought hazy and unclear. As I sat in some solitude with the Spirit, I was inquiring how in the world I was to endure this season well. I still have family life and responsibilities surrounding me and falling into a pit of despair just wasn’t an option.
I felt a nudge in my soul calling me to indulge in things that brought beauty into my life. At first that seemed a bit silly considering the weightier issues on my plate. But the Spirit kept nudging me along, teaching me that it was beauty that balanced out the difficulties in life.
Beauty was the oxygen mask of the soul.
When we make our hearts open to things that bring beauty into our lives, joy always comes along as a very willing companion. And it is that joy where we harness strength for the heavier days.
You may be familiar with the verse, “...the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) However, looking at it in The Voice translation it says, “Let the Eternal’s own joy be your protection!”
When we read this passage with that insight, we may see several new things. First, the joy we experience when beauty is allowed to take up space in our day, is not our own joy, it’s the joy of the Eternal Father. His joy can’t be tainted or changed, it simply is. Entering into the things we see and feel as beauty, helps us to tap into that deep well of unchanging joy.
As we do this, we can better see what His joy, ushered in by beauty, is really imparting to us. Participating in that kind of joy not only strengthens us, it is a protection to our hearts. It protects the softest places within us from despair, bitterness, hopelessness, powerlessness, anger, and many other emotions we may feel in times of distress, burn out, or discouragement.
In what ways can beauty be your companion? Think about the things you love to read, places you love to go, activities you enjoy participating in, food you love to cook or bake, art you love to create, crafts you enjoy spending time making. These are the thresholds of beauty and joy.
Thresholds that are the beginnings of resistance to the heavy and hard that the world is hurtling at you day in and day out, without end. These thresholds are your pathways to peace. It is your way out of the mess, if only for a few minutes or hours. And don’t underestimate the impact a few minutes or hours could have. When we are carrying heavy bundles in life, just a little lighter bundle can make a big difference in the energy that returns to us. It doesn’t have to be an entire day or a weekend. Any moment you allow yourself to indulge in delight, is a moment where you can lay down the burdens you carry for a bit, as well as the ones that are placed there without you even noticing.
If you think of your life as a ship that is sinking, what is the quickest way to gain some buoyancy? Throw over the unnecessary cargo! What are you carrying in your life that is unnecessary? What can you let go of to regain some buoyancy in your day to day life?
Are you too concerned about the decisions others are making in their lives? Do you pack your schedule so tight, you barely have room to breathe? Do you still take most of the responsibility for household chores when you have able-bodied humans living there too? Are you saying yes, when everything in you wants to say no? In what ways are you contributing to the heaviness of your own life? How are you sinking your own ship?
We have a tendency to tackle questions like these on our own, but I want to encourage you to stop and ask Jesus to guide you. Relieve yourself of the burden of having all the answers and figuring out all the conclusions on your own. Jesus is your companion and your ultimate Spiritual Director. Ask these questions with Him, requesting insight into your own motives and desires and areas where control or people-pleasing rob you of beauty, joy, and the energy of life.
When you are able to fine-tune your life, and throw over some unnecessary cargo, you are better able to stay afloat and have room on your ship for the beauty and joy you need to sail along smoother, even when the waters are choppy and storms lie ahead.
Amy Brady
Amy is the founder of Evergreen Soul Wellness, a spiritual wellness LLC, that combines her passions and experience of two decades of ministry into one place. Early in ministry she was a professional women’s speaker, author of eight Bible studies, and an Advent devotional.
Today she is a Spiritual Director, a Guide for The Spiritual Exercises, and a content contributor with The Yoga Abbey, where she combines her passions of spiritual direction, contemplative practice, and writing about the practice of embodied faith. Amy is a wife of over thirty years, Mom to five hilarious humans ranging in ages from 29 to 12. Her new favorite role is Mimi to her grand joys. In reality she resides in Orlando, but in her head she lives in London, sipping on tea and planning her next travel adventure.
Find out more about Amy here
Amy is the founder of Evergreen Soul Wellness, a spiritual wellness LLC, that combines her passions and experience of two decades of ministry into one place. Early in ministry she was a professional women’s speaker, author of eight Bible studies, and an Advent devotional.
Today she is a Spiritual Director, a Guide for The Spiritual Exercises, and a content contributor with The Yoga Abbey, where she combines her passions of spiritual direction, contemplative practice, and writing about the practice of embodied faith. Amy is a wife of over thirty years, Mom to five hilarious humans ranging in ages from 29 to 12. Her new favorite role is Mimi to her grand joys. In reality she resides in Orlando, but in her head she lives in London, sipping on tea and planning her next travel adventure.
Find out more about Amy here
