“What is joy?” is a question that inspires us to seek its true meaning.

On Saturday, March 30, my grandson had his 4th birthday party at our home. All the planning, games, and little ones running around brought connection and joy.

That night, we decided to watch “The Gospel of John.” The movie displays the text of John’s book while also showing a visual representation of the text. A passage that stood out to me from John:

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15: 11-13

The words hung in the air, “that your joy may be complete.” Complete joy. Joy from the Father that no one can take away or influence with events, emotions, or words. The joy that only comes from understanding God’s love for us. In that understanding, we extend that love to others even when the love is hard.

On Easter morning, I was able to sing in the praise band that morning. Our worship leader prayed for joy over us, and in our huddle, our Pastor shouted, “Let’s have fun today!” Songs, signs, and conversations throughout the day confirmed the importance of enjoying God’s world, people, and why He invented play.

After church, we rented a yurt at a local restaurant called Brambley Park. When the rain came, we could safely hang out inside, but we also went to get our faces painted and to dance in the rain.

Another scene that captured my attention in the movie was the thief on the cross and Jesus’s conversation with him. My dad wrote a book, “The Man Called Jesus,” that captured the thief’s story. He is in heaven this Easter celebration and celebrating with Jesus. What impressed upon my heart was that my dad was with the thief he wrote about. They can talk, exchange joy and conversation, and get to know each other. I smiled. It was as if my dad walked and talked with me on Sunday. It was good to have his remembrance. Anderson Cooper has a podcast that interviews folks who are experiencing loss and grief. One of the interviewees shared that you can absolutely get to know your loved one in deeper meaning after they are gone if you desire to have that space open and be curious. My dad’s conversations and book allow me to reflect and get to know him deeper in my current context and happenings.

Shifting our mindset to choose joy can be a challenging task, but it is crucial to find happiness and contentment in life. It’s important to be mindful of our emotions and allow ourselves to feel them, even the negative ones while keeping in mind the love and peace that God provides. By doing so, we can navigate through any obstacles in our path with the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Feel free to explore these questions in your discussion, and remember, there are no right or wrong answers. The aim is to facilitate reflection and deepen understanding through shared perspectives.

1. Reflecting on the birthday celebration and the viewing of “The Gospel of John,” how do you think shared experiences contribute to our understanding and experience of joy? Can joy be fully realized in solitude, or is it inherently connected to community and shared experiences?

2. This passage suggests that complete joy comes from loving others as we have been loved. How do you interpret the command to “Love each other as I have loved you”? What are practical ways we can embody this command in our daily lives?

3. The text suggests that complete joy comes from an understanding of God’s love. In your opinion, how does spiritual belief influence one’s capacity for joy?

4. The Role of Worship and Celebration: Discuss the impact of worship and celebration on community joy and individual joy. How do songs, communal prayers, and shared spaces like the yurt at Brambley Park enhance or reflect the joy discussed in the text?

5. The conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross is a poignant moment in the Gospel. What does this exchange tell us about forgiveness, redemption, and joy in the face of despair? How does it relate to the overall theme of joy in the text?

6. Remembering Loved Ones: The text shares a personal reflection on connecting with loved ones who have passed, particularly through the legacy of writing and shared stories. How do memories and the legacies of those we have lost contribute to our ongoing experience of joy and understanding of love?

7. Choosing Joy in Adversity: The conclusion of the text touches on choosing joy despite challenges. What are some strategies or practices that can help individuals choose joy in difficult times? How does faith play a role in this choice?

8. Joy in God’s Creation: The text mentions enjoying God’s world, people, and the concept of play. How do you think appreciation for the natural world and engagement in playful activities contribute to our sense of joy and well-being?