Are You Postponing Joy This Lent?

Don’t postpone joy. I had to smile when I saw that bumper sticker slapped on the back of a car whose owner had obviously postponed washing it for quite some time. Said car (with me behind it) sat completely stopped on the interstate during the height of my morning commute. The stalled traffic gave me ample time to reflect on whether I was pursing or postponing joy in my own life.

All too often, we rush toward the things that we think will bring us happiness. For some, that might be more shiny grown up toys, like a great vacation, a fancier car, or a new home. Others may search for happiness by burying themselves in projects, in causes, or in the latest fads and crazes. All those things are certainly not evil or even bad in and of themselves. We need homes to live in. We like to support the causes we believe in and the ideas we cherish. It can be a healthy respite to escape to a concert or movie or to spend a much-needed week away with family.

This pursuit of promised yet passing happiness can be bad when it pulls us away from what truly brings us joy – the graces that flow from our personal relationship with God. As Catholics, we believe this joy is far different from happiness. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that stays with us whether we are happy or sad, when we are celebrating or mourning a loss, and even as we go about the seemingly mundane routines in our daily lives. Joy remains even when tragedy threatens to overwhelm, when loved ones disappoint, or when life just seems unfair. A joyful person understands that God is never too busy, too tired or too distracted to be there.

So how do we obtain this joy? Our religion teaches that as we grow in faith and cooperate with the graces we receive from the Holy Spirit, joy and the other fruits of the Spirit will develop in our lives. That’s why making time to grow our personal relationship with God is so very critical. Time for prayer, time for reflection, time to listen to God’s quiet whispers in our daily lives. It can be challenging to take that time when the daily demands and pressures of the world intrude, when we are rushing to take care of our everyday needs and those passing wants. Yet we need to consciously make that time because joy is one of the lasting fruits that will nourish our souls. It may seem odd to focus on joy as we begin this penitential season, but what better time is there to make more time for God in our lives than Lent? So this Lent, as you are contemplating what to give up, make certain you add opportunities to deepen your personal relationship with God.