Joy, a simple word of three letters,
a word that names the highest possibility of human life.

Joy is not a feeling in response to a fortunate event.
That is happiness; and it fades away
as quickly as the happy situation passes.
Joy is not a momentary response to love or sky or water.
That is happiness; and it disappears when love is gone
or the sky turns gray or the water hardens into ice.

No, Joy is a condition of spirit
which so fills my being
that no amount of unhappiness can cast it out.

Happiness and unhappiness are feelings in my heart.
But Joy and the absence of Joy are conditions of my whole being.
Happiness and unhappiness have causes.
Joy comes to pass.

Joy and happiness can each stand alone,
but when they happen together,
Joy can make happiness even more happy
because love and sky and water
can reflect the inner Joy.
Joy echoes up from my depths
when love speaks the first word.
The happiness of sky and sunshine
resound in my being as Joy.

I do not contain Joy as a feeling inside my skin,
but Joy embraces me as the profound tone of my being.

Joy upon depth of unspeakable Joy
flows thru my being.
And my human response to the mysterious Joy is thanks.

88        OUR EXISTENTIAL PREDICAMENT: LONELINESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, & DEATH