The Joy of Life

The French people are known for their joie de vivre, the joy of life, the attitude of savoring the present moment and savoring its joy and pleasure. Similarly, Filipinos are known to be a happy people because we tend to smile a lot and to enjoy life’s celebrations and pleasures. But joy may be deeper than happiness, for it springs from faith, hope, and love.

Can there be joy even if this world is wracked with pain and sorrow; threatened by climate change, war, and terrorism; ravaged by two world wars; and made precarious due to the occurrence of crimes, various sicknesses, and vehicular accidents?

Can a person who lost her husband or wife or parents or children from typhoon Yolanda ever have joy in life? Can a couple be joyful even if they are not blessed with children? Can a person who has cancer be joyful?

Where does joy come from? Is there reason to be joyful? What is there to be joyful about?

Joy comes from the thought that this world is still a wonderful place to live in with its blue seas, white beaches, fruits for every season, roaring falls in our country and abroad, tall mountains, diverse species of animals and plants, and human creatures each one unique from all the rest.

Humanly speaking, there is joy in success if one works hard, joy from the kindness of a friend, joy from fulfilling one’s daily duties out of love and not out of duty only, joy in the little pleasures of life, and joy in the mystery of life itself.

There can be joy from a sense of wonder and appreciation for the different cultures and nations in the world.

Spiritually speaking, there is joy in the hope of eternal life and in the love of Jesus Christ in our hearts, from loving and being loved, and the awareness and faith that the God whose eye is on the sparrow knows the details in our lives for He knows the number of hairs in our heads. To be joyful and optimistic is an attitude that comes from faith and trust in a God who is all-loving and all-wise.

Joy wells up in the heart and soul of one who praises the Maker of all things and contemplates His wondrous creation.

Joy comes in every moment if our hearts are full of praise for the One who sustains our existence from moment to moment.

There is joy in repentance and forgiveness; joy in humility and kindness. There is joy in opening one’s heart more and more to greater love for others and joy in accepting God’s will in all things. And there is joy in rising up from the rubbles of tragedies, deaths, and sorrows. It is a joy amidst tears that cannot be prevented from falling.

Joy comes in knowing that we are greatly loved by our God who sent His only begotten Son to be the sacrificial Lamb who was mercilessly scourged; who spoke not when He was hit, ridiculed, and accused falsely; who hung on the Cross for three hours as a ransom for all sins, my sins, your sins, and the sins of all people in this world.

There is joy in communing with the saints in heaven and on earth. And there is much joy in the expectation of meeting God face to face, being surrounded by His glory, feasting at His table with His saints, and basking in His immeasurable love for all eternity.

About the author: Belinda F. Espiritu is a faculty member of the University of the Philippines Cebu. She holds a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature and a PhD degree in Communication. She would like to hear from the readers about their feedback or comments on her articles through her email address: belinda.espiritu@gmail.com to set a conversation going even after her articles have been published.