Double the Joy no. 63: Time for Joy?
January 24th, 2025
It has been a very busy week, with back to back to back 10-12 hour days, with each evening taken up in one way or another. Comes with the job.
What I hoped to write on for my brief reflection on joy, which has become my practice (not what I had set out to do when I first started this newsletter, but I am grateful for how it has morphed), will have to wait.
But that is not to say there has not been any joy this week. It has just had to come in smaller doses and moments, like finishing a book (see below).
Or anticipating the joy of a wedding that I will officiate tomorrow. The very fact that I am officiating this particular wedding contains a variety of emotions, as the bride was my primary infusion nurse for my chemotherapy treatments. There is joy that she would ask. There is joy to behold in the fact that I am still alive to do so. That is not hyperbole. I have known too many people, many young and several close to me, who have died of that awful disease. I do not take for granted the privilege to officiate this wedding.
So, while I have not had the time to write of my joys, as much as I would like, I always want to have my eyes open for the joys that exist, whether I have the time or not.
Reading Joy
Completed since I last wrote about books
I finished reading the quirky, somewhat light, mystery novel Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson. This author’s books, of which there are three in this new series, having consistently been recommended by various outlets. I confess to being a little turned off by the title, but the title holds the conceit of the book. And that is what makes it engaging. He lists Ronald Knox’s Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction as the very beginning and then references these commandments through the book. Well done mystery largely without any vulgarity, which is appreciated. One short sentence at the end of the book will remain with me, but I won’t spoil it beyond this: “Family is gravity.”
On the Nightstand
Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson. I try to read a few pages of this book most nights. At this point I am about 15% through, so it may take little while.
Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson. This is the third in the Longmire series.
Adventures in Scripture
I have decided this year to read/listen to the Bible two times this year. My goal is to complete the New Testament in a month and then use the remaining five months for the Old Testament. To date, I have read and/or listened to Matthew-2 Corinthians.
And related to my reading of Andrew Davis’ little book, I am working on memorizing the book of Philippians. Stalled out a little bit this week, so will return to some verses I have struggled with.
Listening Joy
This would be considered “ambient” music, but one of my favorite groups to listening to when I am desiring that style. It is orchestral, rather than electronic, which is my preference. This whole album was produced in the aftermath of tragedy and touches on the emotion of grief, but also with hope.
One of the members of Hammock said: “Good art can be a response to the sadness and suffering we go through in life, but it can also come from light and joy.”
Contemplating Joy
{I am seeking to capture more of the quotations, articles, or similar items on joy that I come across in my reading of newsletters and other resources. My disclaimer here is that I am not necessarily promoting the individual or every word, phrase or sentence that is shared. Put another way, this is something that moved me towards contemplation and perhaps will do the same for you.}
Suffering is ever-present. Joy is ever-present. They are here together and always will be. So how will you live within this reality?
Joe Primo
Pug Joy
We get to pugsit this weekend, which we are happy to do. After last week’s post, my son accused me of trying to monetize his dog. I assured him there’s no monetization involved!
Thank you for reading!
Forgive any grammatical or typographical errors…no time for that either!