The priest today really focused in on the following statement from today's gospel reading: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete." (John 15:11). This ties in with what I wrote about yesterday. Jesus didn't say that he wanted us to be happy (happiness by nature is fleeting) but that he wants us to have his joy and that our joy may be complete. Contentment. It is the Easter Season. It is a time to reflect on and rejoice in the salvation won by Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus tells us our joy will be complete when we follow God's commands. It is looking beyond ourselves; it is in looking toward God; it is in helping others that we experience that joy. Here's to a joyous life.
This week promises to be busy with things I don't particularly enjoy, so I will have to search for ways to look beyond myself so I may experience joy regardless. It is the last week of school so both girls with be stressed with exams. I'm not always the most patient when they moan aloud about the trials and tribulations of being a student. In addition, we take off on Friday for a 9-day car trip. We're taking 2 days to drive to western PA and then will stay there five days. Then drive to SC for a day and then home. We'll put close to 2500 miles on the van before returning hom. So as the MAH, I get to prepare for the adventure. Change the oil, have the tires rotated, shop for car food, make sure laundary is done, make sure the mail and paper are stopped, pack "fun things" to occupy us in the van (primarily books on tape and DVDs the girls can view on my laptop computer). Tomorrow is the start date for another online course that I moderate so I'll need to make sure I check my email often to answer any pressing questions. Sounds like I'm complaining, and maybe I am to a degree. I'm just trying to figure where the joy in these activities are. I'm not quite spiritually "atuned" to bask in the joy of "providing" for my family. Guess I need to work on it. And while I love to see and visit with my relatives, I am a home-body and am not looking forward to being out of my home for 9 days.
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