Have you seen the 2015 animated film “Inside Out” or the sequel that came out last year? It’s a journey into the mind of an adolescent child, Riley. The main characters are Riley’s emotions: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear (plus a few new ones as she grows older).
The film does a good job of showing that each of these emotions has an important role to play in Riley’s life, and none of them is inherently good or bad.
What I appreciate about the “Inside Out” story is how it starts out with a lot of conflict between Joy and Sadness. Joy isn’t sure why Sadness exists and, quite frankly, finds her annoying. At one point, Joy draws a little circle on the ground and tells Sadness that her job is to just stay right there in the circle. As the story progresses, however, it becomes clear that Riley’s growth and ability to cope with some serious challenges in her life will require Joy and Sadness to work together. It’s a lovely illustration of what it means to grow up and experience life with more nuance and complexity.
I’m glad that the creators of Inside Out chose to name the character “Joy” instead of “Happiness.” Happiness makes me think of a person smiling cheerfully while experiencing something fun. It’s temporary and often based on one’s immediate circumstances. But joy is deeper. Joy is an orientation in life, a lasting sense of being spiritually content regardless of circumstances. Joy is listed among the “fruits of the Spirit” in Christian scripture along with other virtues such as love, peace, patience, and kindness. And unlike happiness, joy can easily coexist with sadness. If you have ever been to a funeral and found yourself feeling warm appreciation, relishing the closeness with others as you shared favorite stories about the person who died – even as you grieved the loss – then you’ve seen how joy and sadness work together.
At this time of year, many holidays celebrate spring and the return to abundance after a cold winter. Each of these are opportunities to reflect on the resilience of joy.
How are you cultivating a resilient joy in your life during this season? I hope you will join us at St. John’s for worship each week, especially with our upcoming special services in May. If music cultivates your joy, I hope you will get involved with the choir or bring music into our church family in another way. If being with others cultivates your joy, participate in one or more social events or join a Chalice Circle. If working to create a better world for all cultivates your joy, reach out to our social justice committee to get involved in current projects.
None of these activities will make you happy all the time. That isn’t the point. Our life together as a church family is about more than mere happiness. When we join with others to live out our spiritual calling as Unitarian Universalists, we are cultivating resilient joy.