Let’s talk Joy in 2022

“I Choose Joy.” The idea of choosing joy stuck with me because there seemed to be so much yuck going on in the world. And I wanted to choose joy, therefore, I had to live those words with intention. Living those words “I Choose Joy” meant my actions, attitude, and confrontations had to be with intention. Rabbi Kook claims, “intention is everything.”  When intention is expressed there is “will, aspiration, and enlightenment, [strength] and courage, spirituality, and nobility.” And when intention is personified in “holy corporate beings” and people committed to justice and good, intention becomes “the whole joy of life.” Gerald May claims, “Intention allows us to do our best to choose our best.”

Without intention sometimes, we can lose our way. For example, 2022 marks my fourth semester in seminary. Before getting accepted into the seminary I was in the middle of a book project. Revising a book and studying Greek was not possible. The revisions seemed to escape my task list when learning about Church History and wrapping my head around biblical myths and JP and D sources. I admit the virtual classrooms were not helpful. At the end of the first semester, I was drained. The pandemic, politics, and people seemed to frighten, rattle, and frustrate me. And what about the book project?

It was during the winter break, December 15, 2020, to January 24, 2021, that I began thinking about joy. What would living a joyful life look like? How could I incorporate joy despite the rattling nature of the pandemic, politics, and people?  My thoughts were not that of happy, happy, joy, joy. When one is happy all the time, masking ills behind a plastered smile. No, I wasn’t interested in happy, happy, joy, joy, in which I’d try convincing myself, I’m happy while things around me are falling apart. After all, life is messy. Living a life masked in unreal happiness is like trying to swallow a watermelon, impossible. I’m sure there will be some discomfort.

I desired authentic joy despite the people, pandemics, and politics. So, I had to choose joy with moments and events that gave and give me delight. Such as planning an in-person and virtual bridal shower for my daughter, and visiting another daughter for a weeklong birthday celebration. Then there were walking and dinner dates with my husband and a weekend trip to see my mother. Intentionally being with family.

I looked for joy that gives and gives me a deep appreciation for people. For example, virtual chats with friends, along with strolls along the canal, and treating someone to a Starbucks coffee. During these times, I took great joy in listening to another’s story. I needed a joy that illustrates a triumph over the minuscule like printing out my book manuscript and finding a different way to revise. In the words of Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins, “God didn’t send me to seminary to put my work on the shelf.” I took great joy from those words. The moment the words slipped from her lips, I set out with intention to revise with joy, not drudgery or defeat. Gerald May claims intention is “reaching out with open hands, stretching oneself open in willingness.” Intention needs space to express itself. Intention needs appreciation. I had the willingness to choose joy even when the moment seems bleak and burdensome. So, for 2022, I will continue to choose joy, intentionally. 2022 marks the revision of the book project with an appreciation for the slow and steady pace and space I need to get it done.

With a vast amount of uncertainty and change, you and I need a joy that brings tears amidst sorrow and pain. Because to stand in the stream of another’s tears is an unexplainable moment of loving that person without judgment. To stand in the stream of another’s tears is to recognize life is messy. To stand in the stream of another’s tears, even my own tears offers a joy deep in the soul that transcends people, pandemics, and politics. That’s the joy I desired and desire.  And this joy was impossible without intention, “where action is conceived.”

When I think about choosing joy with intention, Mary and Elizabeth in the gospel of Luke come to mind.  These two women, one in her teens another middle-aged; both pregnant with a proclamation of joy despite their age, status, and expectations. It is their actions, attitude, and confrontations that exemplify joy. They enter each other’s joy despite the uncertainty and the naysayers. They stand in the stream of each other’s tears and marvel at what is to come. They sing praises of joy because of the Lord’s great love. These women were not consumed because they knew God’s compassion never fails. This too is why I must choose joy with intention. God’s compassion never fails. His compassion is new every morning. The writer of Lamentations says “Great is your faithfulness.” So, I say to myself, Angela if you’re sticking with the Lord God Almighty, you have to choose joy.

I hope you too will choose joy for 2022.

Source:

Kook, Abraham Isaac. The Lights of Penitence, the Moral Principles, Lights of Holiness, Essays, Letters and Poems (

May, Gerald, G. The Awakened Heart, Opening Yourself to the Love you Needs

Lamentations 3:22-24

Graphic, Mary & Elizabeth By Lauren Wright Pittman