Double the Joy no. 38: "We Shake With Joy"

June 30th, 2023 Edition

Jun 30, 2023

Well, I did not intend for it to be nearly a year between posts.

Which breaks all the cardinal rules of writing a blog or newsletter.

There a thousand things I have thought about sharing - off and on. But I apparently have only had a 1/1000th of the energy to do so.

But there are two things, especially, that I have wanted to share recently with those of you who would open another yet another newsletter or open another email.

Here’s one of them: Mary Oliver’s poem We Shake With Joy

We shake with joy, we shake with grief.
What a time they have, these two
housed as they are in the same body.

Oh, how true this! I have been shook by grief this year, especially in the first quarter of the year.

Grief over having to confront the effects of sin.

Grief over what feels like being a failure in ministry.

Grief over the loss of a dear friend to cancer - that horrible beast.

This one the most. Still.

And yet, there are joys and reminders that the Lord still reigns and He still loves us. The small joys of seeing beauty, reading a good book, or laughter with friends.

And the more expansive joys of seeing how more than the world just continuing to spin, but the Lord continuing to shine upon us. Undeserved mercy and grace.

And the real hope of joy unending.

These have been housed in this same body. How conflicted we can feel as a result.

Reading Joy

Would be impossible to capture my reading over the past year, but maybe I will share more in the future. For the time being, here is the list of everything I have completed reading this year so far:

This means, on the last day of June, that I am on target for my yearly reading goals (52 books — my standard goal for each year).

Feel free to ask me about any of the above.

Listening Joy

I have been listening to a lot of My Sister, My Brother in the past few weeks. The harmonies are gorgeous.

And this is the song that first captured my attention.

Seeing Joy

I do no know how to even comprehend the Astronomer Photographer of the Year shortlist photos. Joy, yes. But also awe and wonder.

Here’s one of my favorites (A Rocky Rise by Carl Evans), but I would not want to be one of the judges or voters:

The full list is here (https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/astronomy-photographer-year/galleries/2023-shortlist)

Which one would you vote for? I’m torn between the above and Solar Flare X1 from AR2994 in 'Motion' by Miguel Clara. But then there’s also Starless Pillars. And…

Particular Pug (Maurice) & Benjamin Joy

Thanks for your time - sincerely.

We shake with joy, we shake with grief

Indeed.

Double the Joy