Choosing Joy
Photo by Catalin Pop
“Happiness, not in another place, but this place ... not for another hour, but for this hour.”
I recently watched the performance on America’s Got Talent by a lovely woman singing her original song, “It’s Okay.” She goes by the stage name, Nightbird. Her hope and joy touched so many hearts as she told the judges, “It’s important that everyone knows I’m so much more than the bad things that happen to me.” The bad thing(s) is cancer. She hasn’t been able to work for several years because she’s been fighting it. At the time of her performance, cancer was still present in her gorgeous, slight body … lessening her chance of survival to 2%. But she’s living in hope, she has 2%. You wouldn’t know her struggles by watching her. She sang the words, “It’s okay if you’re lost, and we’re all a little lost, and it’s okay” leaving the audience momentarily silent as they absorbed the message and the moment. Before it was all over, Nightbird spoke one more jewel,
“You can’t wait until
life isn’t hard anymore
before you decide
to be happy.”
When someone, who has suffered this much, speaks…you listen.
I imagine she has certainly cried her tears, but she has also made a million little choices to choose joy. (I know some would say there’s a slight difference between happiness and joy, but I’m going to use them interchangeably here. I think we understand her meaning … that it is a choice).
Nightbird is victorious – no matter the outcome. She is victorious because she lives in hope and joy. This is her beautiful choice. And she glows.
I am humbled by her. My life currently isn’t as difficult and the irritants in my day are not life-threatening. But I too have decisions to make regarding my challenges in life. Will I choose joy? Will you?
I would love to hear her recommendations, but from what I glean from her story and understand about God, here are some joy-filling choices worth making:
Look for the good and keep it at the forefront of our minds
Refuse to let the odds discourage us
Find the sliver of hope
Admit our errors
Forgive others, and ourselves
Accept that we can feel lost; we don’t have to be in control
Avoid spilling our joy by thinking with criticism and judgment
Offer grace
Love deeply
Which of the above choices would make the most difference in the joy you experience? Whatever the challenges, I hope you will savor what’s good and choose joy today. When we see it so clearly in someone like Nightbird, we know it’s possible.
I think you’re starting to glow already.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”