Today’s reading is from Divine Science Daily Studies, written by Elisabeth S. Lamb.
I respond to every part of my world with joy today. Joy is a spirit-lifter, a life-giver, a hope-saver! If I seem to feel no inner joy on this day, I call it forth. I affirm joy: “God’s presence surrounds me with joy.”
“Reality, the truth about life, and the mystery of beauty are all the same and they are the first concern of everyone,” says Agnes Martin. And again, “We are in the midst of reality responding with joy.” The creative part of her is speaking about life and about art; she is speaking to all of us. We can respond to the reality of our lives with joy. If we doubt this, we need to take a new look at our lives. We need to see them as proving grounds for faith, as being centered in our identity as children of God. Thus our lives are outpourings of God’s expression through us.
“Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God,” writes Teilhard de Chardin. But if we lack joy, it is not that God is not with us, but that we have lost our sense, our awareness, of that Presence. To regain it we need only to open our hearts and let our minds and spirits receive God’s Spirit.
Meditation
We shall now move into a meditation on “Joy.” Get comfortable and relax as we turn inward to our Holy Temple - that sacred place within us. Let us relax into our breathing as we quiet our mind of the worldly things and connect with our heart and be in a listening state of mind.
“This joy, this perfect joy, is now mine.” John 3:29
Joy is an attribute of God, and being so, Joy is everywhere present. Yes, joy is right here and now and everywhere. Joy is expressing through me right here and now I am expressing God’s joy.
My soul is lifted in joy. (Repeat)
God’s joy is like an elated love and gratitude all rolled into one giant bubble bursting forth creation. This joy is expressing through all life. It is the beauty and wonder of our moon and stars, and the tides rolling in and out. Joy is the bird chirping with the rising sun. Joy is the uplifted feeling of seeing a bird flying by, a butterfly flittering from flower to flower, a whale and her baby swimming by, a child’s pure laughter. Joy is witnessing God’s handiwork and being part of it all. Every day is an opportunity to be truly joyous in God’s creation. I am a living expression of God’s joy. I am a radiant being of joy. (Silence)
As we come out of the silence, let us give thanks for these moments of silence in communion. Thank you. So, it is!
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