Sermons/Talks/Archives

Rising with Joy: Spring’s Call to Resilience

Opening Reflection

Lines Written in Early Spring
by William Wordsworth

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:—
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature’s holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

• The Season
  • Anglo-Saxon Eostremonat
    • Began on the March 29 new moon.
    • Peaks on the full moon.
  • Celtic Beltane falls on May 1.
  • Both holidays are filled with springtime energy.
    • Flowers.
    • Color.
    • Dawning of a new day.
    • Expressions of joy.
• Current Situation
  • Joy seems in short supply.
  • Bad news fills each day.
  • Everything seems an uphill battle.
• Joy as Defiance
  • Last month we talked about trust as an act of defiance.
    • Trusting new life to emerge.
  • Joy is also an act of defiance.
    • Like flowers breaking through frost-scorched ground.
  • In oppressive times, joy becomes a radical act.
    • Joy defies systems that seek fear, conformity, or despair.
    • Joy becomes an act of rebellion.
    • A refusal to let darkness define the spirit.
  • Examples
    • Marginalized communities thriving despite adversity.
    • Polish resistance during World War II.
      • Secret concerts.
      • Theater performances.
      • Poetry readings.
      • Artists sustained morale alongside soldiers.
    • Viktor Frankl.
      • Found meaning—and even moments of joy—through small acts of kindness and connection while imprisoned in a concentration camp.
    • Joyful protests.
      • Hands Off protests.
      • Pride parades.
      • Joy as a vibrant declaration of existence and resistance.
    • The mythical phoenix.
      • Hope.
      • Optimism.
      • Renewal.
  • Joy is not passive.
    • An assertion of dignity.
    • An affirmation of life’s worth.
    • A form of spiritual resistance.
    • A refusal to let fear, anger, or despair control our inner world.
• Spring’s Lesson of Renewal
  • Nature teaches that life persists.
    • Even after the harshest winter.
  • Community resilience.
    • Nurturing joy sustains hope.
    • Nurturing joy sustains activism.
  • Joy as empowerment.
    • Cultivating joy is not ignoring pain.
    • It nurtures the light that keeps us moving forward.
• Finding Joy in Troubled Times
  • Joy often feels most elusive when we need it most.
  • Joy does not require perfect conditions.
  • Joy is not the absence of pain.
    • It is the presence of something deeper:
      • Connection.
      • Gratitude.
      • Purpose.
  • Examples
    • A crocus pushing through frozen soil.
    • A cup of tea shared with a friend.
    • The warmth of sunlight on your face.
• Personal Work
  • Self-care is essential.
  • Connections to therapy.
  • Connections to early Pagan training.
  • Write down what brings you joy.
  • Identify practices that renew your spirit.
    • Music.
    • Art.
    • Storytelling.

Practices for Cultivating Joy in Difficult Seasons

• Gratitude as a Compass
  • Practice noticing small blessings as a way to reorient the heart.
  • Find joy in small moments.
    • A moment of stillness.
    • A shared smile.
    • Laughter with friends.
    • The beauty of nature.
  • These moments become lifelines during dark times, fueling resilience and inspiring collective courage.
  • Write down three things you are grateful for every day.
    • Don’t worry if they seem simple or ordinary.
    • Writing them down helps us recognize the positive even on difficult days.
• Positive Journaling
  • Take time to write about positive experiences.
    • A fun day with friends.
    • A good movie.
    • An activity you enjoyed.
  • Positive journaling develops the habit of focusing on what is life-giving.
• Creative Expression
  • Writing.
  • Music.
  • Art.
  • Creativity transforms pain into beauty while celebrating life.
• Exercise
  • Helps reduce insomnia.
  • Stimulates brain growth.
  • Acts as a natural antidepressant.
• Meditation
  • Reduces anxiety.
  • Encourages more positive emotions.
  • Can help restructure the brain toward sustained happiness.
• Acts of Kindness
  • Do something kind simply because someone needs it.
  • Small acts of kindness often transform the day for both giver and receiver.
• Fostering Relationships
  • Strong social connections influence our emotional well-being.
  • People who intentionally spend time with friends and family consistently report greater happiness.

Collective Joy as a Force for Change

• Community and Ritual
  • Gathering together for meals, storytelling, or ritual strengthens relationships.
  • Communities that celebrate together build resilience and solidarity.
  • Joyful gatherings are essential tools for renewal and resistance.
• Integrating Joy into Activism
  • Bring joy into the work of justice.
    • Sing together during protests.
    • Create art that speaks truth to power.
    • Find beauty and humor even during difficult times.

Wunjo: The Joy Rune

• Introduced during the June 2023 sermon on “Delight.”
• Shape and Meaning
  • Resembles a flag or banner of celebration.
  • Represents success after struggle.
  • Achievement born of perseverance.
• Wunjo reminds us that joy is more than a feeling.
  • It is a way of being.
  • It arises through connection:
    • Connection with ourselves.
    • Connection with community.
    • Connection with purpose.
  • Joy is not merely personal happiness.
    • It is collective harmony.
    • It is well-being.
    • It is alignment with our deepest values.
• Wunjo’s joy is not passive.
  • It emerges through perseverance.
  • Like spring flowers pushing through frozen soil.
  • It flourishes through hardship.
  • It is linked to friendship, community, and shared victories.
  • Joy grows strongest when it is shared.
• Joy as Defiance
  • Wunjo never promises an easy road.
  • It points toward joy that survives hardship.
  • Like a torch in darkness, its flame may flicker but never disappears.
  • Claiming joy means refusing to surrender to fear or despair.
  • By choosing joy we reclaim our agency and refuse to let oppressive forces define our inner lives.
• Wunjo is the:
  • First Bloom After Winter.
  • Wind That Awakens Life.
  • Joy of Growth.
  • Song of Returning Birds.
  • Hearth of Homecoming.
• Meditate on where you find joy.
  • Relationships.
  • Nature.
  • Personal passions.

Closing

• May the rising sun remind you of your own strength.
• May the flowers bloom as your joy unfolds.
• May you walk forward with courage, knowing that love and laughter are seeds of justice and hope.
• Joy is not a fleeting feeling.
  • It is a practice.
  • An active choice to claim beauty, humor, and connection in defiance of despair.
  • As spring reminds us, life always finds a way to return—vibrant, stubborn, and joyful—even after the longest winter.
• May your joy rise not in spite of hardship, but because you choose to bloom anyway.
• Like the Wunjo rune,
  • May your spirit glow with a quiet, unwavering light.
  • May it remind you that joy is your birthright, your strength, and your gift to the world.
• Spring does not ask whether winter was difficult—it rises regardless.
• May your joy bloom boldly this season,
  • Reminding you that life, love, and light always return.

Closing Words

JOY
by Rabindranath Tagore

And Joy is Everywhere;
It is in the Earth’s green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;
In the living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the human figure, noble and upright;
In living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of knowledge;
In fighting evils…
Joy is there, Everywhere.