Joy in Unexpected Places
The Practice of Receiving and Giving Joy
Our Labradoodle, Maggie, is slowing down in her 14th year yet she’s still curious enough to cause mischief. We occasionally let her roam unsupervised around our unfenced backyard. But her roaming was curtailed once two different neighbors confessed Maggie had been venturing past our property lines into their backyards.
Now, she is confined to the leash and my daily step count has increased.
Little did I know how helpful these added walks would be to my peace of mind.
The news has been grim lately. I’m struggling to comprehend the images from my beloved Western North Carolina. Hurricanes are no joke, even in the areas you thought were immune from their particular brand of danger. This new suffering is added to the other things I’m praying about: illness, immigration, Jesus’ identity theft, and incursions around the world (there’s more, but I ran out of words that begin with “i”).
And so, walking Maggie has become a haven where I am insulated from bad news. We venture into the neighborhood about 3 or 4 times a day. Sometimes we walk short, just around the block. Other times, we go long— all the way to the Presbyterian Church and back.
On some trips around the block, we don’t see anyone. Other times, it’s as if a puppy parade was announced and all the neighborhood dogs want in on the action.
This week, Maggie and I witnessed quite a few things we never saw in Atlanta, Irmo, or even Downtown Cleveland. One instance was so unexpected that I needed to blink to make sure that my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me.
Maggie and the deer from early September.
7:00 PM Sunday. We live in an area where deer roam freely in packs. It’s rare to see one on their own, especially if it is young. On Sunday evening, a fawn in our front yard wanted to play. His little horn nubs just visible when he shook his head to signal it was time to frolic. He pranced trying to get Maggie’s attention. Hopping left and right, he followed us for a few houses. Once he figured out that Maggie was not going to give him the time of day, he scampered off to eat a neighbor’s flowers.
9:45 AM Monday. I spotted a lady slowly walking a purse-sized dog on a leash. I needed to get home quickly, so we crossed the street to pass them. As I got closer, I realized the lady was talking to the unleashed animal following her. The animal lay down on the sidewalk as if willing Maggie to cross back to play with her. I did a double-take to ensure my eyes were working. Turns out, the orange and white cat, Kit Kat, did not like to be left alone so she went on walks with her dog friend. The cat followed at a respectful distance and even returned to the safe side of the street when the UPS truck came. Have you ever seen a cat go on a walk?
3:30 Monday. While walking down the divided boulevard near our house, a voice called out. I thought it was someone yelling from the school bus. A moment later, a middle-school-age boy on a bike zoomed by. I can’t remember the last time I saw a boy riding a bike without parents hovering nearby. A few blocks later, I saw another boy riding his bike while doing a wheelie (balancing on his back wheel). He balanced and pedaled making it look so easy. He transported me back to my own bike riding days. We turned the corner and saw yet another boy on a bike.
There are so many hard things happening in the world and we find out about them instantly. Simultaneously, good things are happening with just as much frequency, but the good is often silent.
The playfulness of the animals and the boys stirred my soul and brought a smile to my face. Their quiet joy reestablished my inner equilibrium, balancing out the noisy news of suffering. The joy did not deny the existence of suffering, rather the two co-exist without competing.
The funny thing about joy is that it is always waiting just around the corner. It is up to each of us to put ourselves in its presence and receive all that it has to offer.
Take Action to Give Joy
My daughter spent a decade of summers in Western North Carolina, going to and eventually working at a summer camp for girls. This area was a haven for her. A place that allowed her to escape from screens and phones where she learned to be a friend and a leader. Her time in the mountains deepened her faith in Christ and other people.
Emily Claire is collecting cleaning supplies, medicine, and basics for those affected by the flooding. She will deliver everything this weekend.
Maggie is the sweetest!! Love this so much!
I love that Maggie is leading you into joy!