"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!
You're a "night owl". At least I hope so.