I’ve Got that Joy, Joy, Joy…

Life can be a bit like a roller coaster. There are ups, downs, twists, and turns…and sometimes, those “seat belts” don’t feel all that secure. A creative and quirky description of the tumultuous road of life is Dr. Seuss’s book, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” The graduation favorite introduces life as a journey where exciting, as well as scary things lie ahead.

One section of the book warns of dark, lonely times:

“All alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
You’ll be quite a lot.”

As a Christian who attends church, I don’t hear about these dark times all that much. Or, if people do recognize these times, they say that it doesn’t bother them. What is worse, people hear that it should never bother them. “Jesus gives me joy! I’m not sad! I’m never sad!” Then you have a problem, because I don’t know of a single human being who isn’t sad once in a while! (Not even a Christian).

Because being alone is difficult. The unknown is terrifying. And that doesn’t concern you a little? Maybe you’re not looking around. Everyone has financial troubles, politics are confusing and irritating, jobs are stressful, spouses don’t communicate, and friends are nowhere to be found… “But God has given me joy! It’s wrong to be sad or scared!” Where did you read that?

It’s fascinating to see so many people (inside and outside religion) who are convinced that things shouldn’t upset them. They believe that, if they have everything they should need in life then they should always be happy. Instead of admitting when they’re having a rough go of it, they put on plastic masks marked with big smiley faces and pretend that everything is okay — even better than okay! But the consequences are sad and destructive.

It is very possible you have already experienced this once before (and if you haven't, you’ll get your turn). Someone relays an upsetting update about their lives: a recent break-up or divorce, trouble at work, or unfortunate medical news… But then, that person will shrug it off and say that everything is okay. Their behavior makes you question whether they even heard themselves. It makes you question them, but also yourself. What am I doing wrong? Should I be that happy?

I want to clarify that I don’t think everyone should be miserable over every piece of bad news they hear and experience. Furthermore, not everyone reacts to tragedy the same. But when someone acts as though a challenge in their life doesn’t even exist, they come across as a little crazy.

Additionally, when it comes to communities (such as churches, in my experience) and everyone is wearing a plastic smiley face, you can’t help but feel a bit cold. It’s like meeting Chris Traeger from “Parks and Rec.” Sure, he’s happy, but it makes everyone else feel awkward. Because that kind of constant excitement for life is frankly unnatural. Now imagine a giant community of Chris Traeger clones. It’s no wonder many people view the Christian church as fake or hypocritical.

In conclusion, our world is full of problems. There’s no escaping them no matter how hard we try. Trouble will always find us one way or another. Does that mean we should focus on the doom and gloom? Of course not! Life was meant to be lived. It’s not a constant drudgery and it’s not a constant slip-n-slide down rainbow. Instead, we have to find a healthy balance between being excited to live, understanding our problems, and being real with others. Or, as Dr. Seuss put it:

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”

Andrea Marie Denning

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