Moments of pure Joy

There was once a man who said that if you lived to 80 you may have experiences 10 moments of pure bliss in your life time. If I have I believe these moments came from my encounter of God in the “Other”, one of our fellow parishioners has, in what I can only say was an inspiring conversation with David Sykes this past month I was profoundly moved by his experiences this summer. As we enter the dark and coldness of the winter months here are four simple moments that brought David joy over the past summer:

 1.     The look of sheer joy on the face of a young boy of about 10 riding his bicycle enthusiastically down the sidewalk.

2.     Three ladies singing next door.  One would start a song, the others would join in until they forgot the lyrics, then they would all laugh.  They did that off and on for about three days.  Their laughter and joy was contagious. I finished a couple of their songs and then we’d all laugh.

3.      During the children’s focus, the children were asked if they were happy with who God had made them to be. Riley’s expressed a joy at being who he was.  It moved David as Riley’s expression of joy was so hart warming and powerful!

4.     The person, talent and joy of our organist, Katie. She has added to our worship in very important ways, the joy she brings us with her skill, her music and her joy in sharing it with us.

It truly is the simple things that bring Joy. Riley and Katie never take center stage in worship but there leadership is so strongly felt that it can move us to pure joy and pride. If you get a chance today thank someone who has given you a sense of joy in the last year.

By: John-Paul Markides & David Sykes