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Email a FriendPosted by Claire on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 2:34 PM (EDT):
Beautiful! Being a very wordy person, I had a tough time with the one-word resolution challenge. But you’ve hit the nail on the head!
Rejoice Always
My resolution for 2010
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, January 05, 2010 1:00 PM
I was a little stunned when I hopped over here a few days ago and caught Rachel’s post about one-word resolutions for the new year, because before I’d already independently decided on one word that is my resolution for 2010.
Joy.
Our pastor once mentioned in a homily that the shortest verse in the original Greek New Testament is not John 10:35’s “Jesus wept” but 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice always.”
“Always,” Father emphasized, does not mean “when you feel happy” or “when things are easy and life is going well.” It means always: even when life is exhausting or frustrating or scary or tragic. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 means we are supposed to celebrate the joy of the Trinity in every sort of circumstance.
My life at this time is incredibly blessed. Although it is sometimes exhausting, it is rarely frustrating and almost never scary or tragic. I have no need to rejoice in spite of my circumstances; my circumstances in themselves are a reason for rejoicing.
This is how I know I need joy to be my new resolution: because I have dozens of concrete reasons to rejoice, yet day in and day out I fail to live a joyful life.
I need help.
There’s no way to *make* joy, but there’s a simple way to get it: be open to receiving it. The One who is Perfect Joy wants to pour his joy into my heart if only I am willing to let him.
So I’m determined to let 2010 be the year when I am whispering into my Father’s ear at every turn: Lord, give me your joy. On the fifth day of the new year it’s early to tell, but I think it’s already starting to help. I firmly believe that Joy is a resolution I cannot fail to keep, because it depends not on me but on the One who made me. I falter constantly, but He is always faithful.
That is something to rejoice about.
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Posted by Elizabeth on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 3:53 PM (EDT):
Here’s a great book, if you want a recommendation: ‘Philip Neri: The Fire of Joy’ by Paul Turks. It’s fantastic - I think St Philip really had the secret of rejoicing always. I’ve been working on an academic paper about him for a few months now and he’s definitely become my favourite saint. Sometimes, I find myself grinning from ear to ear while I study!
Posted by Mary Therese on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 4:13 PM (EDT):
I too had independently chosen “joy” as my virtue to work on this year. I like your take on it though, about how we will not fail if we keep asking our Father for it…“Lord, give me your joy”. Thanks for sharing your perspective on it! I needed to see this boost already because we are headed into very cold snowy weather, and I struggle so with this weather. I will have to work hard to see the joy as our schedules get messed up (snow days from school) and I constantly battle to stay warm. I can do this, though, with the right help! 
Posted by Lisa@SoundMindandSpirit on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 6:02 PM (EDT):
You just summed up what I’ve been thinking about for a resolution in one word!
Posted by Jenny P on Tuesday, Jan 5, 2010 6:10 PM (EDT):
While not my New Year’s resolution, I’ve been working to increase the joy in my life the last several months. I’ve had a lot of success with three simple techniques. 1) Smile more, especially when out in public; 2) Act as happy to see my children as they are to see me (mine are 1.5 & 2.5); 3) Strive to never complain about anything, not even the weather (makes you realize how much conversation is just complaining and how joy-draining that is).
How lovely. This year, after finding much ado about this one word resolution things, I have decided (along with some heavenly inspiration) to pick the word: present.
I wish to be the present Christ gives the world this year…the one that everyone wants to receive. But most of all, I want to focus on living in the present. Not living in the past. Or constantly dreaming about the future. I want to live now. To live now abudantly. To take life by the horns and love Christ to my full potential. In the present moment.
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