That Feeling

That feeling as the lights dim to darkness. The clergy begin to sing “Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the angels in heaven sing. Enable us on earth to glorify Thee in purity of heart.” The first candle is lit in the altar and the clergy continue to sing.

That feeling as the light spreads into the whole temple and the congregation join the clergy in singing, “Thy Resurrection, O Christ our Savior, the angels in heaven sing. Enable us on earth to glorify Thee in purity of heart.” As the clergy and congregation exit the temple to spread the good news to the neighbors as they process around the church continuing to sing.

That feeling as the Gospel is read and we proclaim with great joy “Christ is Risen”. The doors of the temple are opened and everyone comes in proclaiming, “Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!” as they enter a brightly lit Nave.

That feeling bubbling inside your heart, your soul.

That feeling as the choir begins to sing the Paschal Canon, “This is the day of resurrection let us be illumined, O people, Pascha the Pascha of the Lord. For from death to life and from earth to heaven as Christ our God led us, as we sing the song of victory! Christ is Risen from the dead!”

That feeling!

That feeling is the feeling I want with me not just on Pascha (Easter) itself, but on every single day of the year. Christ is Risen every day, not just one day a year.

Shortly after Pascha(Easter) 2017, I began thinking about this. It was at this time as well that I feel God began revealing to me a little more deeply, that I am far too negative. My whole life I have struggled with depression and feelings of self-pity. This is not who I want to be. On this one day a year where joy bubbles up out of my soul, that is what I want to capture. So, I asked myself, “Why can’t I feel this way all the time? What’s wrong with me?”

Over the next many months, I saw other signs of encouragement to look for, capture and live this feeling all the time. As much as I possibly could.

It is this feeling, and the deep desire to nurture it, that has brought me here to this journey, learning to be a Kindler of Joy. By documenting my journey, it is my hope that I will most of all reinforce this in my own life, but also maybe there are others out there, who like me would like to become Kindlers of Joy. Because as Christians, Paul urges us…

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Phil. 4:8 nkjv)

And I believe that this is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle in kindling joy, in finding “that feeling” every day; “meditate on these thing.”

Will you join me on this journey?