Patricia's Passing Thoughts

Saturday, May 23, 2009

I have been working on a sermon for tomorrow and Jesus
prayer for his disciples that they might have joy. I must admit that I tripped over this concept. Of course you can pray that people might have joy, but how do you encourage it. We can be advocates for compassion, love, hope, justice, peace. But joy, that is a feeling not an action. So much of life is burdensome for so many people these days. Joy would be such a light in life. It could be life giving. Jesus actually compares joy to giving birth. Beyond the pain, which is soon forgotten, lies joy in bringing new life into the world. I know what he is talking about. Giving birth was such a joyful experience in my own life. Maybe we can be advocates for joy. Joy is a spiritual noticing of all that is good. I better get back to writing my sermon.

On another note, I am waiting for my author's copy of "Work Beyond Patriarchy: A Pastoral Perspective." It will be here soon. Do I dare throw away all the earlier manuscripts of this book and all the notes I have made and articles I have collected. I will hold on to them a little longer. But eventually I have to let go of them. This book is the culmination of all of that, the birthing of all that material if you will. The process leading up to the completion of the book is behind me. Thank goodness! Do I dare rejoice?

Penned by Patrica Budd Kepler at 8:53 AM