"You cannot make people joyous just by being joyous yourself. Joy has to be generated by oneself. It is or it isn't. Joy is founded on something too profound to be understood or communicated. To be joyous is to be a madman in a world of sad ghosts."
It is so easy to let oneself be drawn into the tear shedding world of self/corporate pity. It is just part of our nature to want to belong with a familial group even if it means again getting into the ruts of these sackcloth wearing hypocrites. First and foremost, it is a choice; but it is not too profound to be understood or communicated. If this were true then I would not have understood the words of a 'true' friend when she was telling me the gospel. And I would have never understood the meaning behind the words telling us to be "a peculiar people". Being seen by a world of sad ghosts as a "madman" is to me a verification of my joy.
Is it madness to have joy that so many friends also share your joy in the face of an ungodly world? Is it madness to have joy over a belief that those who have gone before and professed the works of Christ will be met again in the fullness of time? In my lights it is not madness but is seen by many as mighty peculiar. Wonderful! It gives them something to ponder and to talk about. Hopefully with a JOY filled person.
Shoot, I'll go out on a limb here and say, I hope you both have a joyful day!
Ouch! And that is another truth! There is always something in this world to find joy in. The key is that you must want to find it! It is possible to find joy vicariously through another, but it is never as meaningful as when it comes from within.
I suppose I could live my days whining about the agony I'm in, and how unfair life is, but that sounds pretty darn ridiculous to me. I look at it this way -- I have found the world's absolute best doctors who continue to be "heroes" to me, and I consider myself extremely lucky in that regard. Things could be much, much worse, and I know it.
I love to crack jokes, crack wise, and crack people up! And I can still do that! I love to do what I can do, and I don't much care for dwelling on what I can't. I have a choice, and I choose to be optimistic. Almost everyone has a choice in that regard. Some folks are all too eager to give up their power to others. Not I! Not now, not ever, regardless of what the future holds.
I love having control over how I feel, and if I am feeling "joyous," no one can bring me down. I won't let them! Sad Sacks are shown the door, if they are unwilling to open themselves up to life's possibilities. I am more than happy to help others who want to help themselves, but people who are satisfied with being empty are a drain.
You bet your life I'm an idealist! The ideal should be the goal in every situation. Why strive for less??
A "madman?" I could be one, I suppose. (Except I'm a girl! *G*) As long as I remain joyous, I don't really care if I'm labeled as being "mad." May the whole world be as "mad" -- and soon!! ;-}