I was in my car, driving down the main thoroughfare of our small city, when I heard a dog bark. And then I heard it again, and again, and again. I looked around me, trying to discover where the dog was and what was the reason for the barking. Then I spotted him. He was in a plastic crate securely attached to the back of a moped, riding with his owner. And he was barking non-stop. I smiled. That was one, happy dog.
Dogs are like that. They don’t hide how they feel. They are exceptionally authentic creatures. As I continued to watch that happy dog ride and bark, I found myself wondering why we humans of superior intellect would surrender our authenticity so easily to fit in or to get along. I admitted that I might let out squeals of glee on a roller coaster, but I doubt I would on the back of moped, even though I’d find it extremely fun.
The image of that happy dog announcing to the world in the best way it knew that it was happy, that it was having fun, stayed with me all the way to evening prayer. It was such a vivid reminder to me that I, too, am called to be authentic, to live fully and out loud, to appreciate the small things in life. I thought of the dog with his owner. Was part of his joy the fact that he’d not been left behind but was allowed to accompany his owner? Was the sense of companionship part of his joy?
I remember as a young student in St. Joseph Academy in Waycross, Georgia, being told by Mother Rosemary in class that one of the surest signs of a Christian who gets it is joy. She told us that there is joy in receiving the gift of life in Christ, knowing that He is with us always, that allows us carry on even during difficult time with resiliency. I sat and reflected on my life and how well I have shown my joy day to day.
I thought of the joy I have witnessed in some congregations gathered for liturgy. I admitted it isn’t there in every congregation. But it is in some who gather with great joy rather than a sense of mere obligation whose faith, hope and love ring out in their songs of praise and are visible in the expressions on their face and in the time they linger afterwards chatting with one another. Time in those congregations are truly life giving and joy enhancing, for sure.
How about us? Is joy evident in our faces, in our demeanor, in our actions? Do we Christians on our way during any given day give the world indications of our deep joy in our life in Christ? Or are we sour and gloomy and look more like individuals who just lost a winning lottery ticket?
As we continue this day living our love of Christ through our love of one another, may the world witness joy on our faces and in our voices and through our deeds.
Until tomorrow, let us all love well.
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