Quote of the Day (Steven Petrow, on How ‘Joy is Always Present’)

“Joy is always present—in the silver lining, in the resiliency, in our memories, in the connection to those who share your grief when it comes. It’s in the everyday world, on good days as well as bad ones. You only have to look for it, be confident that it’s there, and be open to it when you find it.”— American journalist and author Steven Petrow, The Joy You Make: Find the Silver Linings— Even on Your Darkest Days (2024)

(The image accompanying this post of Steven Petrow was taken Jan. 1, 2002.)

Quote of the Day (Poet Mary Oliver, on Why ‘Joy Is Not Made to be a Crumb’)

 “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the
case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.”—Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Mary Oliver (1935-2019), “Don’t Hesitate,” in Swan: Poems and Prose Poems (2010)

Quote of the Day (Sally Rooney, on Life’s ‘Moments of Joy Despite Everything’)

“Still, Connell went home that night and read over some notes he had been making for a new story, and he felt the old beat of pleasure in his body, like watching a perfect goal, like the rustling movement of light through leaves, a phrase of music from the window of a passing car. Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything.”— Irish novelist Sally Rooney, Normal People (2019)

This post is dedicated to my friend Holly…

Quote of the Day (Eugene Peterson, on How Faith ‘Begins and Ends With Joy’)

“The story of our faith, our very existence, begins and ends with joy. Joy at the beginning, joy at the end, joy everywhere in between. Joy is God’s creation and gift. No authentic biblical faith is conceivable that is not permeated with it.”—Presbyterian pastor and scholar Eugene Peterson (1932-2018), As Kingfishers Catch Fire: A Conversation on the Ways of God Formed by the Words of God (2017)

Quote of the Day (W.H. Davies, on Pleasure and Joy)

“Now shall I walk

Or shall I ride?

'Ride,' Pleasure said;

'Walk,' Joy replied.” —Welsh poet W.H. Davies (1871-1940), “The Best Friend,” in The Bird of Paradise, And Other Poems (1914)

Quote of the Day (Fr. John J. Burke, on Joy as the ‘Power and Presence of God’)

“The joyous man is the strong man—ready to sympathize: to appreciate: to help: a comfort and a light to others. Into a world where there is a surplus of sadness, of despondency and of despair, he brings something of the power and presence of God that in turn warm and cheer the hearts of men. Joy is the power and presence of God—the interior sense that we live in Him.” —Attributed to Monsignor John J. Burke, C.S.P. (1875-1936)

(Thanks to Pat McNamara for suggesting the quote.)