One of our family mottos is: "Seriousness is not a virtue." From GK Chesterton's Orthodoxy. His longer piece on the topic is very appropriate to this letter too:
"Seriousness is not a virtue. It would be a heresy, but a much more sensible heresy, to say that seriousness is a vice. It is really a natural trend or lapse into taking one's self gravely, because it is the easiest thing to do. It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch. For solemnity flows out of men naturally; but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light. Satan fell by the force of gravity.”
Spencer, thank you for this. I wonder if our forebears in the faith knew something that we don’t (actually I don’t wonder about it all). It is necessary to set times for the focus on joy. To solemnly practice joy may simply mean that we recognize that we are not naturally prone to it. The “pursuit of happiness” does not equal finding joy and could very well get in the way. What if joy is a virtue that begins as a gift? What if gratitude and humility are necessary prerequisites? Anyway, that’s what your excellent blog prompted in me.
I'm reminded of a protest sign I saw often when I lived in San Francisco: IF YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION! Such a joyless way to live, with fists ever clenched.
My greatest difficulty in understanding joy was that I don't believe I experienced it fully until I was 30. Prior to that time, I couldn't put my finger on what made allowed me to differentiate joy from happiness, love, or any other emotion. It was the birth of my firstborn that allowed me to clearly experience this emotion as an entirely different sensation.
I can recognize it now when it occurs, and it usually bubbles up as a reaction to others appreciating something I had worked toward. A sense of accomplishment, gratitude and appreciation that my work was being enjoyed by others was the source of joy for me. I also can experience it during solemn celebrations (even with movable feasts and celebrations such as the Triduum, Pentecost and other occasions). I have experienced it even after a particularly moving confession (yes, it IS good for the soul).
I believe it is more an emotion than an act of will (like love correctly understood), but I am grateful for my wife and children teaching me this sublime emotion. It embarrasses my daughter whenever I mention it, but I do remind her when she has a hard day.
An old Stan Rogers song has him going into a confessional and asking the priest "is happiness my lot?" The priest replies "rather seek ye joy". Indeed.
I get a solemn sense of joy at the early service on Sunday morning when the sun rises over Ulm just as the organist starts up and the light radiates through the stained glass windows. That’s definitely what you’re describing I believe.
One of our family mottos is: "Seriousness is not a virtue." From GK Chesterton's Orthodoxy. His longer piece on the topic is very appropriate to this letter too:
"Seriousness is not a virtue. It would be a heresy, but a much more sensible heresy, to say that seriousness is a vice. It is really a natural trend or lapse into taking one's self gravely, because it is the easiest thing to do. It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch. For solemnity flows out of men naturally; but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light. Satan fell by the force of gravity.”
Great quote!
Spencer, thank you for this. I wonder if our forebears in the faith knew something that we don’t (actually I don’t wonder about it all). It is necessary to set times for the focus on joy. To solemnly practice joy may simply mean that we recognize that we are not naturally prone to it. The “pursuit of happiness” does not equal finding joy and could very well get in the way. What if joy is a virtue that begins as a gift? What if gratitude and humility are necessary prerequisites? Anyway, that’s what your excellent blog prompted in me.
I'm reminded of a protest sign I saw often when I lived in San Francisco: IF YOU'RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION! Such a joyless way to live, with fists ever clenched.
PERFECT illustration of the attitude I'm talking about!
My greatest difficulty in understanding joy was that I don't believe I experienced it fully until I was 30. Prior to that time, I couldn't put my finger on what made allowed me to differentiate joy from happiness, love, or any other emotion. It was the birth of my firstborn that allowed me to clearly experience this emotion as an entirely different sensation.
I can recognize it now when it occurs, and it usually bubbles up as a reaction to others appreciating something I had worked toward. A sense of accomplishment, gratitude and appreciation that my work was being enjoyed by others was the source of joy for me. I also can experience it during solemn celebrations (even with movable feasts and celebrations such as the Triduum, Pentecost and other occasions). I have experienced it even after a particularly moving confession (yes, it IS good for the soul).
I believe it is more an emotion than an act of will (like love correctly understood), but I am grateful for my wife and children teaching me this sublime emotion. It embarrasses my daughter whenever I mention it, but I do remind her when she has a hard day.
An old Stan Rogers song has him going into a confessional and asking the priest "is happiness my lot?" The priest replies "rather seek ye joy". Indeed.
187 Bible results for “joy” from the King James Version.
I get a solemn sense of joy at the early service on Sunday morning when the sun rises over Ulm just as the organist starts up and the light radiates through the stained glass windows. That’s definitely what you’re describing I believe.
I’m pretty sure “Darth” isn’t “Dear” in German. 😂