“Surprised by Joy”

Midweek Reflection

May 27, 2020

Matthew 9:9-17

Intro – story of my kids this past Easter – didn’t want to dress up in the morning, but when we set the table for a fancy dinner (china, silver, centerpiece with candle), then they got it and went to go change into fancy clothes

1.      There are times when we’ve got to set the scene for how we want it to be.

a.       I’ve talked about this before – sometimes to feel better, all you have to do is dress nicer and the nicer clothes help to elevate your mood. Sometimes, you need to dress how you feel and wear the sweats. But other times, clothes can help get you out of the blues.

b.      Similar to “fake it til you make it” – dress better than you feel, act better than you feel, and you’ll likely start to feel better. John Wesley even had an experience with this when he was concerned that he couldn’t preach when he was experiencing some doubts about his faith. A friend told him, “Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.” It boggled John Wesley’s mind, but he found that it worked.

2.      “Surprised by Joy”

a.       Title of semi-autobiography by C.S. Lewis – story of his conversion from atheism to Christianity – he went looking for joy – book is about the events surrounding his accidental discovery of and consequent search for the phenomenon he labeled “Joy,” his best translation of the idea of Sehnsucht (German: longing). This Joy was so intense for something so good and so high up it could not be explained with words. He is struck with “stabs of joy” throughout his life.

b.      Title actually comes from a poem by William Wordsworth “Surprised By Joy — Impatient As The Wind,” about a time when Wordsworth was surprised by joy, and turned to tell his daughter about it, having completely forgotten that she had died. It was published in 1815; his daughter died in 1812. I couldn’t find out just when he wrote it, only the publishing date.

    Surprised by joy — impatient as the Wind

    I turned to share the transport — Oh! with whom

    But Thee, deep buried in the silent tomb,

    That spot which no vicissitude can find?

    Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my mind —

    But how could I forget thee? Through what power,

    Even for the least division of an hour,

    Have I been so beguiled as to be blind

    To my most grievous loss? — That thought's return

    Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,

    Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,

    Knowing my heart's best treasure was no more;

    That neither present time, nor years unborn

    Could to my sight that heavenly face restore.

c.       Part of what I love about it is that it holds two strong emotions within the same poem – joy and grief. Wordsworth has this high moment of being surprised by joy, and then this low moment of having to remember again his daughter’s death.

3.      There is a relationship between joy and grief. In normal times, I’d say especially for those of us who work in helping professions (medicine, teaching, pastoring, etc.). During this pandemic, it is obvious for everyone. We are going thru trauma. We are hearing so much news of loss. We are feeling so much grief. I heard an interview this week with Gary Haugen, the founder of International Justice Mission, and he said, “Compassion is the job; joy is the oxygen.” Their job, and our job as the church, is to have compassion on those who are hurting. It’s to be like the Good Samaritan and help the wounded man on the side of the road. It’s to love our neighbor and not turn a blind eye to injustice and suffering. Compassion is the job. And compassion fatigue is real. I preached a whole sermon on it a few years ago at my previous appointment. One thing that helps combat it is finding moments of joy. It’s the antidote. It’s the oxygen in the room that lets everyone breathe and get through the hard stuff. And this is where my example of our fancy Easter dinner comes in. We all have stuff we’re saving for special occasions, right? Well, this is the special occasion. Make your own special occasion. Especially if the grief and time has been wearing down on you. Pull out the fancy china and crystal and have a fancy dinner. Put on your favorite music, be your own DJ, and throw yourself a dance party. This is the rainy day you’ve been saving for, because this is a time when we need extra-special things to get us thru. Pull out that dress you got for a special occasion but then you never had the chance to wear it. Tonight is your chance! Make your own special occasion. Tomorrow is not promised to us. We are only given today; that’s why it’s called the ‘present,’ right? Pull out whatever you’ve been saving. Create your own fancy occasion. And by doing so, you’ll find your spirits lifted. You’ll find joy. Maybe even be surprised by it.