Stripped Down to Simplicity, What Brings Joy Becomes Apparent

Many things bring us happiness. Many of us who live in luxury are spoiled for choice. A promotion, salary increment, expensive restaurants, or a holiday overseas all make citizens of first-world countries happy. I have been blessed with many material goods, all from God’s providence. No doubt that I am very happy and grateful.

A recent mission trip to a suburban region of Northern Thailand reignited a different form of happiness. One that is fueled internally rather than by anything external. It is a joy that seeps into one’s heart, makes an imprint, and radiates to those around. It surpasses and permeates all circumstances.

My friends and I visited a group of sixty girls, aged between five to eighteen years old. Due to various family circumstances, they stay in a center run by the Sisters of Providence, who provide shelter, food, education, and lots of love. God’s providence has been upon them all these years, bringing generous donors to fund all their needs.

Surely, some of the girls have been through tough, troubling, and traumatizing times. Perhaps some of them are still healing from emotional wounds inflicted early in their childhood. Some, without national documentation, would face barriers in receiving higher education or finding a job, a lifelong burden to carry.

Despite that, none of the undesirable circumstances had robbed them of their joy. The center is filled with joy overflowing. They are extremely friendly and generous. Sharing their special delicacies, wanting to spend time with us either chatting or playing games. There is nothing too little to be shared. Even in one’s nothingness, one can always be present and generous with prayers. As October is the month of the rosary, the girls visited a villager’s house every night to pray the rosary with them. We joined in this beautiful experience of communal prayer across cultures and languages to bless others.

Their joy is not inspired by their external circumstances, but one that springs forth from within. A certain security that God is always present and with them. The Sisters of Providence have been and continue to be the face of Christ to them, instilling this joy that the material world would never give.

Although I only stayed with them for about a week, their presence has been a blessing to me. The experience got me pondering why I feel so joyful in this place and how to impart joy. I came to these reasons.

1) Acceptance

Accepting each individual for who they are, all their gifts and flaws. Every person’s presence is a gift from God. All sixty girls were unique in their way. Some are artists, some are musicians, some are dancers. Some are still discovering their gifts. All are accepted and welcomed by each other. My friends and I visited to serve them, but we were welcomed as guests in their home instead.

Accepting ourselves for who we are. Being proud of who we are, and okay with who we are not. To wallow in resentment of who we are not is a disservice to who we really are and called to be. There is a special place and role for each of us. Take joy in who we already are.

Accepting life circumstances with joy. Life has its many twists and turns. Good or bad is all about perspective. These girls may appear to be unfortunate since they may lack the opportunities that many children of developed countries enjoy. However, the greatest opportunity these girls have is to be brought up with faith, virtues, character, and habits that only some parents in first-world countries are able to impart.

2) Companionship

Friends to walk the journey together always make the journey more enjoyable. Being a friend to another sparks joy within. Sure there will be differences, but there is strength in diversity. I witnessed how living as a community was therapeutic in lifting some of the girls out of their darkness. I saw how each Sister, with different gifts and strengths, came together to run the centre smoothly. I experienced how the different personalities among my group of friends annoy each other but still gather with laughter, drawn by a common goal to love God and love others.

3) Giving of oneself

There is happiness in receiving gifts. But deep-seated joy is received in giving the gift of oneself. In return, seeing light in the other person. Since God created each of us precious with love, naturally each of us has God’s love embedded, ready to be shared as a gift to others. I visited the center to serve. But I may have received more than what I have given. I may be physically tired, but I’m more alive than ever.

Thou hast put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. -Psalm 4:7 (RSV)

Originally published on Koinonia on Medium.com

Photo: MI PHAM, Unsplash / PD-US