Why be joyous and authentic in times of suffering: came across these quotes today…(from a christian monk, but applicable to all, i think..)

“Just being in authentic joy, being truly ourselves, gives permission and dignity to those who are struggling in our times to feel safe enough to be themselves. Joy of being, and the courage to be, are contagious.” ( Jesuit Monk who lived through war, and still found kindness and courage to be in his heart!)

“Informed Joy is not escapist or denial of suffering, it is courage to be in clear view!”

Best deep quote from today, which felt relevant to now (from a modern christian monk, but applicable to anyone following that way, i think) I promise I’ll stop getting deep soon, something about being a monastic part of the world, stirs deeper heart parts in me. Sometimes it’s good to come to places who have already been through enough suffering to learn to know what how to integrate it into your spirituality! “Don’t waste your trials”!

“Some people think you are being selfish to enjoy life, to be yourself, when so many are suffering; i think to alleviate suffering we must continue to say yes to life in full view of its endless suffering; we must continue to radically be our true selves, so that others feel safe enough to show up and be their’s! That’s incarnate Hope. To refuse to be anything other than who God says I am, regardless of the amount of fear or terror around us.

That is what St Paul was trying to teach about spiritual contentment–whether in prison or palaces, whether I abound or am bound… And we are followers of an Incarnating Immanent God, who choses to suffer with us, and was as oppressed as any of us.

So, we don’t try to escape suffering, rather we meet God in and through it! We seek out the Cross in everything, which is why we have true Joy! As christians specifically, we are in Emanuel, God with us, the One intimately acquainted with all our griefs, who was born on the run, a refugee from the start, hunted before birth; so we have no excuse but to live authentic lives of hope, and sacrifice, even as we suffer. Joy is our calling!”

Enjoying researching those who learned to live during intense suffering all around them. Who said yes to joy and life, in full naked view of pain.

To true gospel is not escapist or in denial, but says yes, nonetheless—for the Joy set before Him He endured the cross.

Nice studying monks who went that route. Seems needed again nowadays!

Great art includes suffering, but has hope for redemption. That complexity gives it a weight of being, the weight of a true gospel song, which is true to how things actually are!

The poppies do return! Even with blood in the soil. As another chaplain put it after the wars!