Hope and joy.

Good morning. Saturday, Jan 17, 2008. What can give me hope and joy? What in this world makes me happy. I realize that there are various such things. It is joy when things work - that is the first thing which comes into my mind after a long working day. When you succeed in doing some things it creates the feeling of joy. I think that this is a quite common experience for humans.

When you face illness or difficulties, there can be joy in even the most trivial things. When you had a broken leg, it is joy to walk. When you could not eat a piece of bread can be fantastic. When you were lonely a friendly word is absolutely great. Thinking about all these things I realize that the most basic things of life can be the most joyful things.

Jesus tried to point us the the basic things of life in his sermon on the mount. He said that we should be happy with having food, drink, shelter and clothing. Nothing more is needed for a human being than the basic things when we have the community with the God and creator of the world. This is quite a challenge sometimes, but it is a relief at other times! We are invited to discover the joy of faith, the joy which God gives with his spirit and which does not depend on the many possessions or on the success in this world. [R.P., Reading, UK]

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