FOCUSING ON JOY

FOCUSING ON JOY - Joy.  Joy is one of the four primary themes of Advent and Christmas.  “I bring you good tidings of great joy” is one of the most familiar verses in Luke’s beloved Christmas story; indeed, one of the most familiar verses in the entire Bible.  What brings us joy?  As I have reflected on that question this week, I find that the list of things that bring me joy is quite long.  It is so easy to slip into the habit of focusing on all that is wrong in the world and in our lives and to start feeling sorry for ourselves.  If possible, how much better if we can shift our thinking so as to focus on the joy-producing influences in our lives.  And what better time to do it than Christmas?