Joy in 2025

 

I have always loved horses and rode them at a riding stable, the two I rode were Sunset and Frosty.

My pink rose bush in spring or summer., It is an old rare variety that I bought at a university arboretum about 30 years ago.

I am hoping that 2025 will be a joyful and hopeful year overall for all of us.

I purchased the above painting from a charity store named something like Habitat. This is a large painting 32" x 44" and it barely fit into my car and on the wall in my bedroom, but it did fit. It gives me smiles when I look at the girl and and the flowers and woodland scene. What do you have in your home that brings you smiles?

Sehnsucht or Longing, C.S. Lewis and the Welsh word Hiraeth

 

 

I first encountered the German word Sehnsucht which means "longing" in the writing of C.S. Lewis. To me this word and the emotion it alludes to are ... powerful, beautiful, wondrous, a beauty beyond what I could imagine. Elizabeth Camden wrote that Lewis described Sehnsucht as an inconsolable longing in the human heart “for which we know not what.”  It is a haunting sense of longing which Lewis first experienced in childhood and encountered throughout his life.  Sometimes the characters in his Chronicles of Narnia experience it, which he wrote about very evocatively. To my understanding these stabs of joy and longing are pointing us toward what we call heaven.

 

That longing draws me deeper in being a Christian, just as it draws countless others around the world and throughout different centuries. I feel sehnsucht when I see something that moves me beyond myself. I have put my hand on the trunk of an ancient redwood tree and felt a powerful connection to its age and perhaps a wisdom it has. Most days I stand on the shore and watch ocean waves and I find it comforting that the waves are endless, one after another. I feel God's power and his calm when I watch waves. "He hath made everything beautiful in its time" -- Ecclesiastes 3:11

Also "The heavens declare the glory of God" -- Psalm 19:1. For me the waves and the redwood declare the glory of God. Sehnsucht, such a beautiful longing.  By the way I read that it is pronounced ze.nzuxt. Blog friend Dori, is that correct? 

In Surprised by Joy, Lewis wrote about joy or sehnsucht that "All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still 'about to be' ." I see a look of longing and perhaps sehnsucht in the eyes of this dear dog.

On June 25 I am adding this note, thanking Chris and Liz Hinds for leaving comments about the Welsh word "hiraeth", which means a longing to return home to Wales. How beautiful to have a word describing your heart felt desire to return to Wales, the home of your heart. Also, Chris reminded me of the great movie "Shadowlands" about C.S. Lewis, and now I want to watch it again. I recommend it, and she said Shadowlands mentions "sehnsucht."

Quotes and Pictures to Share

 I gather funny and serious quotes and pictures to share. Here goes.

Above is me, frazzled, after reading the news, and seeing our country's push in a bad direction. Protests turning violent, President pushed off of social media, mass out of control illegal immigration, threats to free speech, ignoring God, the list is long.

A humorous take on Covid above.

The above makes me smile!

I am in a Zoom group for 8 local ladies over 55 who are encouraging each other in this time of pandemic. We had never met each other before joining the group; I heard about it in a tiny mention in the newspaper. One tip I shared with the gals is that sometimes my To Do lists get overwhelming so I write in JOY on the list. Remember to take a half hour or so each day to relax, or the new word I like, chillax. Below is a sample of a To Do list of mine. Do you see that I wrote a reminder to Brush Bounce's teeth? Yes, who knew I would brush my dear pup's teeth each night? He is a sweetie and well worth it. Remember to Chillax each day.

And remember to write JOY on your day's activities when you can.

Joy and Cyclamen

Originally uploaded by mjbinut
Sometimes do you do a small thing and find it brings you joy?
Share here in a comment please, as we all appreciate ideas about adding beauty in a simple manner to our lives.
Yesterday I bought 2 red cyclamen plants and 2 green ceramic pots, and put the cyclamen in said pots.
They now reside on my south facing kitchen window sill where they lend a red glow to the kitchen, and lighten my mood each time I spy them.
For the price of 2 bouquets I got this longer lasting treat. I am also a fan of flower bouquets, I might add.
"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice and sing praises." Psalm 98:4

Joy and Santa Claus Hat

Santa X Factor
Originally uploaded by sarniebill1
One fun thing I have found at this time of year is to wear my Santa hat when I am out and about.

It gives a spark of joy to folks all over town.

One man held out his arms and said "Santa, you are here!" I replied "I am Mrs. Santa, my husband is very busy."

Two young clerks in a bicycle shop, where I was on a secret gift buying mission, loved my Santa hat, and one of them offered to trade me hats. His was a plain watch cap, and I told him no way, mine is prettier. His co-worker said "See that spot on his hat, that is dog drool."

So no way in the world did I do a hat trade.

I realized that the silly Santa Claus hat I wore cheered people up, and that cheered me up just as well.

Rainy Day Book

I wrote an essay "Books That Hug You" that is published in this book. I recommend several books that lift your spirits. This is the first book I contributed to.