Joy And Curiosity

Today marks the last “regular” Monday reflection before we head into the season of Lent (starting Wednesday, February 18) during which time the blog will be coming to you daily (and with many guest writers).

I’ll say more about Lent in Ash Wednesday’s reflection, but for today I want to hold up two reflections from our readings that might help us prepare for Lent.

In our first reading from James 1, we hear words that might not land easily with us, “Consider it all joy when you encounter various trials, because the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” 

How do joy and trials go together? 

Recently my wife, Lynne, sent me a meme that says, “Joy doesn’t have to wait until the hard stuff is over. It can exist in simple, ordinary moments alongside the mess. Joy isn’t a reward for overcoming pain; it’s the practice that helps us get through it (Lori Deschene).”

I suspect that James would agree.

What I appreciate about this teaching is that joy and hardship are not inversely related – meaning that if you have more of one you have less of the other. They are, in fact, independent variables. And while it may feel easier to access joy when life is going well, it is really a practice that we can cultivate.

James is writing to a community that was facing difficulty on numerous fronts and encouraging them to continue to hope and endure even in the midst of it. Far from being an encouragement to passively accept their circumstances, I think James is trying to lift them so that they do not lose hope and continue – even in the face of significant odds – to keep applying kin-dom principles.

I see this in a place like Minneapolis these days where even in the midst of such violence and harm from the federal authorities, the people continue to engage in community care, sing songs, have neighborhood parties, deliver food to one another, etc. They are not in denial about the very real harm and hardship that they face. But they are also not willing to let that harm and hardship dictate their inner disposition.

Oppressed and marginalized communities have known this reality for a long time, and James’ words echo the counsel that many community elders have had to pass on to younger generations, “Do not let them steal your joy…” The powers of this world will do what they will, and, of course, we need to respond to it — which may include direct resistance. Yet one powerful form of resistance is holding on to that which brings joy and helping others hold on to theirs as well.

This is an important message for us in these times as well.

In the gospel from Mark 8, the Pharisees approach Jesus and seem like they’re trying to steal his joy. They have seen and heard about everything he’s been doing, but still they want a sign.

The blind seeing. Not enough.
The prisoners being freed. Not enough.
Lepers being cured. Not enough.
People coming from all over to be part of the movement. Not enough.
Thousands fed. Not enough.

Of all the things that they could ask for, they ask for more “proof.” They don’t ask for healing. They don’t ask for wisdom or understanding. They don’t even get curious about Jesus or what he is doing in front of them. They just want a sign, and they want it on their terms.

I often think about the Ted Lasso series. If you’re not familiar with it, Ted is a coach of a soccer team in England and is ever-positive and affirming of the world. In one of my favorite scenes, Ted is playing darts against an arrogant man who greatly underestimates Ted’s ability and takes him for a fool. In a beautiful scene where Ted does not demean his opponent but holds up his behavior, Ted says (quoting Walt Whitman), “Be curious, not judgemental.”

So often in the scriptures, the Pharisees seemed to opt for judgment over curiosity. Maybe we do the same as well if we’re not careful.

And Jesus sighs.

That’s what the scriptures tell us. Jesus sighs one of those sighs that we have probably all sighed at one time or another. A sigh of disappointment. A sigh of frustration. A sigh of sadness.

I envision Jesus sighing A LOT these days – with me, with us, with this world. I know that he hasn’t given up on us, but he also probably wishes that we trusted Love as much as he does. A Love that resists harm. A Love that creates belonging. A Love that tends to the least. A Love that strengthens us in the struggle.

Maybe as we approach Lent, we might get more curious with Jesus and ask him more about what he is doing in the world and in our lives (versus what we do not see happening). Maybe we ask him to help us trust the Love he trusted a little more.

Taken together today’s readings prep us well as we head into this holy season.

Do not let the world steal your joy.
Be curious, not judgemental.