Article August 26, 1996 Issue

Go to give, not just to get

Judith E. Cole

A Family member recently commented that she doesn't expect to be happy. Many believe boredom, strife, disappointment, criticism, and lack of appreciation from others are just part of life. But life does not have to be without joy if we understand the real nature of joy.

True joy emanates from divine Love. The Scriptures describe God as Love, and man as made in the image and likeness of God. Then, man must be the image of Love, and because God is Spirit, man must be spiritual. In fact, divine Love, Spirit, is the very origin of man's existence. Joy is an element of man's life as the expression of divine Love. Man is inseparable from Love; therefore, man is inseparable from joy.

Man's being, purpose, happiness, are not defined—or even predetermined—by environment, culture, heredity, gender, or marital status. Assertions to the contrary ignore the infinite nature of divine Love and are based in the false belief that life is in matter. To accept such a perspective as valid subjects us to its limitations. However, understanding the spiritual source of man's life frees us to experience and express the power of Love in our lives. This is why Christ Jesus could confidently assure us that he came that we "might have life, and ... have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). By following his example of life at one with God, we increasingly prove the abundance of life and joy in our daily experiences.

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