Uncovering Joy Amidst Turbulent Times: A Holiday Reflection

Amid what we often call the season of joy, it can sometimes feel elusive, as if joy is playing hide-and-seek.

Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, exacerbated by the winter cold, and the diplomatic struggles surrounding the Gaza conflict sparked by a terrorist kidnapping, it’s challenging to spot joy.

And if that weren’t enough, a quick visit to Facebook or Twitter can reveal a landscape littered with hate, fear, and anger as scorching comments.

Where is the joy?

Well, it’s not always glaringly obvious.

Isaac Watts, when composing the popular Christmas hymn that begins with “Joy to the world, the Lord has come,” had to announce joy to the world precisely because war was the prevailing norm on all fronts.

Yet, even as we adorn the story of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke with tinsel and celebrate with apple cider toasts, there is a darker side to it all.

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.” (Matthew 2:16, ESV)

No one sings songs of glee and grace in that context. Instead, the wail of a mother replaced a baby’s cry. Where’s the joy in that story?

This scarcity of joy is because the world isn’t exactly in the business of spreading joy. Bad news drives commercial interest, and angry posts generate clicks and engagement, both used to sell unnecessary products.

If you want to find joy, you must actively seek it out. Where can you find it? Pay attention, for joy often hides in the small, easily overlooked things.

Just last week, I lined our sidewalks with Christmas lights and inflated our blow-up decorations. One of them features Santa Claus riding a motorcycle.

As I worked on my weekly blog post, I glanced out of my window. On a frosty morning, I saw a father and his toddler daughter taking a walk. Suddenly, the little girl stopped in front of our house and touched the light bulbs. Her father had her stand in front of Santa and took a picture.

I couldn’t help but smile because, in that moment, joy had escaped into the wild.

This holiday season, become a joy detective. Look into the face of a child and see the twinkle in their eyes as they gaze at lights, wrapping paper, and ribbons.

Observe people holding doors open for one another or discover a plate of cookies delivered to a shut-in.

Feel the warmth of a fire crackling in a fireplace or even the comforting predictability of a Hallmark movie plot. In all these things, you’ll find joy.

Remember, joy is always there if you’re willing to look for it.

Lee Horton found it. He and his brother, Dennis, were unjustly convicted of robbery and sentenced to life in prison. Years later, they were granted clemency and set free.

After enduring years of captivity, Lee cherishes his newfound freedom and embraces it with joy, not regret. He shares:

“One of my daily rituals is sending a message of ‘good morning, good morning, good morning, have a nice day’ to each of my 42 contacts. They wonder how long I can keep doing this, but they don’t understand that I was deprived. Now, it’s like I’ve been released and reborn into a better day. The person I once was no longer exists. I’ve stepped through the looking glass onto the other side, and everything is beautiful.”

So, keep your eyes open, because joy might just sneak into your life when you least expect it.