The Fullness of Joy
I have an old Peanuts comic that my friend Monte Marshal cut out for me. In the first panel, Linus is standing outside—very still, eyes closed. Lucy approaches, staring at him. Linus says, “Stand real still and feel the warm sun on your back…” As she continues to look at him, he asks, “Doesn’t that feel great?” She stands still as well. Then, in the last panel, Linus says, “And it’s free!” Lucy smiles.
I just love that. How often do we overlook the small gifts in life? Gifts that cost us nothing. Gifts that are from God.
In the late 1300s, Julian of Norwich claimed, “The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.”
John O’Donohue put it this way: “God is breath-near, skin-touch, mind-home, heart-nest, thought-forest, otherness-river, night-well, time-salt… soul-feast.”
Our prayer today was written by Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.
Let us pray: Loving God, every day you call us from our dark sleep with your celestial light. You leave your footprint on the scarlet sunset. You surround us with your love. Pour into our hearts and minds the wine of wonder, gratitude and grace, humility and hope. We believe… help our unbelief. Help us to be connected, to love more, to love beyond love’s comfort. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Message Author: Joe Albright
Rev. Joe Albright is a graduate of Flagler College and Columbia Theological Seminary. Together, he and his wife Robbie have five children. He loves spending time on the ocean and especially enjoys surfing and fishing. Before entering the ministry, Joe taught high school Spanish in Cape Hatteras North Carolina and Lawrence Tavern, Jamaica. He has pastored churches in Sarasota and Jacksonville, Florida and is currently serving Trinity Presbyterian Church in Palm Coast. Full Bio “I believe deeply in the power of the Gospel to bring hope, love, and new life. I have seen firsthand how this beautiful ministry of hope has touched people’s lives. It gives me great joy to serve Dial Hope as Lead Pastor.”
