Joy, a drop at a time
1 Peter 1:8-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
By Tess Vandiver
I have a unique relationship with water. This started from a young age, partnered with a few unfortunate events and (voila!) I have developed a deep respect for the vastness of this liquid that covers approximately 71% of the earth. While my swimming skills will do absolutely nothing for me in the event of a flood, I ironically still find that I feel like my best self when I am by the water. Whether I am next to the ocean, feeling the waves rise and fall from the comfort of a boat, or simply listening to the sound of the rain, a sigh of contentment is always coupled with the closeness of water.
Water comes in so many variations in Alaska. In the summer, I see pearls of water pool up in beads on our trampoline. With each jump, the droplets fly into the sky only to drop back down onto the tightly woven polypropylene, ready to burst again with each bounce. Dew is nestled in between the petals of flowers and the waves crash effortlessly onto all those flat rocks that were so conveniently placed there for an avid rock painter to stumble upon. When the weather cools down and the water freezes, we are blessed with ice to skate on, snow to ski and sled, and hoarfrost coating the branches of the trees in the mornings. If I want to find water, I don’t have to travel far in any direction to find it. At times I find it difficult to even wrap my mind around how water can sneak into so many spaces and with so many identities.
Joy is quite a bit like water. Sometimes it can come in neat, little packages labeled “joy” and you instantly recognize it for what it is. Those moments are filled with clarity, like watching your kid’s eyes light up with the magic of Christmas morning or pouring yourself a glass of water when your mouth is particularly parched. Other times it maneuvers itself into the darkest corners of life, and when it presents itself, it can be difficult to notice, let alone embrace. These are the moments tucked into the busyness of life, like the fleeting condensation that escapes your mouth on a cold day. If you blink at just the right moment, you might miss it. Whichever way joy appears in your life, with intentionality and faith, I remind myself that it can always be found.
Dear Lord,
Help us look towards the light even when it is hard to see, to trust your plan, and to remember that true joy comes from knowing you.
Tess Vandiver is a St. John member and helps with the Mini-Methodists (M&Ms).