can one be happy and be a christian? or, better, can one understand anything at all about the scale of global tragedy and suffering and be happy? maybe not. or maybe just such suffering and tragedy is the reason that so many americans are drawn to spectacles that divert and entertain. these are supposed to make us happy. or maybe such suffering and tragedy is why we so easily fall for corporate entreties to buy our way to bliss. my favorite version of this is the malls in atlanta that claim to offer "nirvana-like shopping."
how do i know this? i've tried to escape feelings of being overwhelmed, or as david ford puts it in his lovely book, the shape of living, series of overwhelmings. i've tried to escape through spectacles and shopping bliss. i'm american through and through and those demons of our nation also live in and through me.
so in response to this i've found provocative the little fragment from a prayer attributed to augustine of hippo (354-430): "shield your joyous ones." why might those who are joyous need shielding from our lord? ah, because it is so lovely, so rich, so profound to truly experience joy. for me, happiness is straw and joy is gold. i connect joy to jesus' admonition in john 10:10 "i came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." does this mean we have a biblical excuse for being the most obese people the world has ever seen? not at all. the joy and true pleasure of life in christ is the subject of a very interesting new book by j. christian wilson called jesus and the pleasures.
last night, after biking home from work, i put on my suit and flopped into our kiddy pool with isaiah, grace, and micah, isaiah's friend from next door. happiness? no, joy.
shield your joyous ones, lord. that we may be renewed for the work of your kingdom.
by the way, here is the whole prayer, which i love very much.
Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake or watch or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Jesus Christ, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones, shield your joyous ones, and all for your love’s sake.
anon, and +peace
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