Sheri Wohlfert
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Talks & Topics
    • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Women's Ministry
    • Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Hospitality Training
  • Events & Bookings
  • About
  • Contact

Joyful Words Blog

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. 

– Psalm 119:105

Joy & Delight

8/10/2022

3 Comments

 
​Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12

I’m sure we’ve all heard the line, “if you aren’t part of the solution; you must be part of the problem.”  They are wise words but perhaps a bit  misunderstood.  I think being part of the solution doesn’t necessarily mean solving the problem single handedly but rather making an honest attempt at working toward something better.  There are some mighty problems in this world to be solved and I sure shootin didn’t cause them, plus I know for a fact that I am not in the position to solve them.  So should I throw in the towel and go cry in the closet?  Nope!  I was reading an article about an amazing woman named Dorothy Day and she had one little idea that put it all in perspective for me.

Dorothy Day was a saving grace to so many who were left physically, spiritually and emotionally crippled by the devastation of the Great Depression.  Her motives and actions were genuine, compassionate and life changing.  She provided a beacon of hope during a time when there wasn’t much.  She didn’t solve the financial problems of the day but she worked in her own way to be part of the solution one person and one family at a time.  She didn’t offer money, but rather provided the most basic needs of the  suffering.  She offered dignity, shelter, hope and joy…so much joy.  She didn’t give a lot ,but what she gave mattered greatly.  She said, “We contribute to the misery of the world if we ignore beauty and joy in life.  If we seek the will of the One who sent Jesus, we need to open our hearts to joy.”

It’s not hard to find the problems, but we get in a big pickle when we have an even harder time finding the beauty around us.  It isn’t often we see a smiling baby or a gorgeous harvest moon on the front page of the paper or newsfeed but when we do see them they give us a lift.  Who doesn’t love a good giggling baby video shared on social media? They just let us escape for a few minutes.  After reading the article I realized my role in the solution was easier than I thought.  It’s my job to connect with beauty and joy.    John Ruskin was a famous art critic from England who used to say “We have the duty of delight.”  That line made me realize we sometimes see joy and beauty and peaceful things as frivolous and non-productive.  We think we have to work and take things to task and ponder serious matters in order to be responsible, informed citizens.  Did you hear that, I think God just belly laughed!”  We’ve got it so twisted up it isn’t even funny.

God is the maker of joy and beauty not the creator of evil, cynical, corrupt or absurd so why not focus on the things he made and leave the rest of the mess alone?  Dorothy Day didn’t solve the problem of the Great Depression, but she sure was a solution to those she was able to bring delight to.  Sounds like a much better way to spend my day, what do you think?

A Seed To Plant:  Take some time to sit and make a list of things in your world that are beautiful and joyful and then go about the duty of delighting in them instead of stewing over problems you can’t solve. It is perhaps the most important work we can do!​

Blessings on  your day!
3 Comments
Sue
8/10/2022 07:59:09 am

This made me smile. Dorothy sounds like a wise lady.

Reply
Catherine Wohlfert
8/10/2022 01:37:54 pm

Just what I needed to hear! Thank you Sheri ❦

Reply
Pam
8/11/2022 07:46:43 am

A very good reminder!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to Joyful Words Blog
    Subscribe

    Sheri's writing can also be found at Faith Catholic Publications and on CatholicMom.com
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

Email     [email protected]

Phone   989.640.6673

Subscribe to Joyful Words Blog

* indicates required
/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Content is the intellectual property of Sheri Wohlfert
Created by Olivia K Design
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Talks & Topics
    • Discipleship & Evangelization
    • Women's Ministry
    • Catholic Schools
    • Catholic Hospitality Training
  • Events & Bookings
  • About
  • Contact