Joy

Today is the 3rd Sunday in Advent. During the children's message, as we prepared to light the third, rose-colored candle, I shared an idea from from Henri Nouwen about happiness and joy:

According to Nouwen, happiness is dependent on external conditions, joy is "the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing – sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death - can take that love away." So, even when we are at our lowest, we can still experience joy.

We lit the candle, and continued with the readings - during which the candle went out. Before I read the Gospel, I took a moment to try to light the joy candle, but it wouldn't take (the wick was too low) and said something like that we continue to have joy in our hearts even if the candle isn't lit.

As soon as there was an opportunity - during the offering, a member of the congregation who is going through an incredibly tough time (really, a horrible time), was up there trying to do everything she could to get it lit. It still wouldn't take. After worship she took that pink candle out of worship with her and brought it back a few minutes later having carefully removed the excess wax so that the wick could light.

That joy - the joy that comes from a love that even sickness or failure, or family member's bad decisions, or chaos, or death - shines bright.