Sometimes some non-threatening humour can help us explain some different viewpoints to people deeply convinced of viewpoints that seem unproductive, or even dangerous, to us. ole joyful ... the "joyful" added later - forgot to hit "space" first time written, forgot that makes the previous word disappear ... and didn't notice prior to posting (and had to write "posting" again ... as forgot the penalty for not, again). Rats!

I'm remembering the recent story of the family out for dinner, saw someone looking a bit down, invited him to sit with them, he demurred, but thanked them for their kindness as he was leaving ...and paid for their dinner. Sometimes (often?) a kindness offered begets others I talked to a few in the grocery store(s) just now, there were some smiles, not much more or less a shrug of the shoulders. If we can put a smile on the face of someone, it often adds joy to the day. Usually when I make that comment following a smile, people agree. ole joyful

The minister of the suburban church has been suffering problems with her neck for most of a year and there's a possibility that it can't be treated sufficiently for her to resume her career. Our former minister, who achieved her doctorate prior to her retirement from this congregation a few years ago, recently made a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain and has referred to it on recent Sundays as she led worship. Recently her sermon titles have been "Joy happens when ..." and today's title was "Joy blooms wild and bright" and she challenged us to build on new and worthwhile, interesting ways of living, and to build in joy while doing so. Guess who was paying close attention. We collected a number of gifts for residents of a local housing complex for disadvantaged people, where their chaplain told us that many of the residents come to stay for a while while they are putting their lives back together, then leave to make room for others trying to achieve stability. Good wishes for embracing some rediscovered joy as you journey through this week. ole joyfuelled

If you see that some aspect of your society is bad, and you want to improve it, there is only one way to do so: you have to improve people. And in order to improve people, you begin with only one thing: you can become better yourself. Leo Tolstoy in A Calendar of Wisdom