Spiritual Reflections on Nurturing Joy

I met with my spiritual director yesterday, which I do once a month, and we had a really good conversation about nurturing and maintaining joy. 
At one point, he asked me to complete this sentence: "my joy is..."

And my answer was, unsurprisingly, about embodied joy - a feeling of peace and restfulness that is most prominent when a soccer cup is happening where Brazil and Mexico are playing. The USA is (or was) in this current cup, the Copa America which comprises teams from North, South, and Central America. So, I've been spending the last two weeks rooting for my 3 teams: Brazil (where I grew up and learned to love soccer), Mexico (where at least one of my biological parents is from), and USA ( where I've made my home for many years, and have family roots). 

There's something that happens when there is soccer to be had. It's like my heart and mind align with my body; my body that remembers World Cup '96 when the whole church gathered together with food and Guarana soda, in the linoleum covered sanctuary area. Some grown-ups wheeled in a little TV from one of the classrooms and we all watched, transfixed, as Italy and Brazil went into a penalty shoot-out during the final, and finally, one of the Brazilian players faked out the Italian goalie, and Brazil won their fourth World Cup. 

My body remembers being in Mexico during a Cup - I think it was a CONCACAF Gold Cup. The energy on game day was elecric. A few times, the mission teams I was with, serving as a translator, would huddle around a TV in a church member's home, and there would be treats and soda, and loudness and joy. 

My body remembers watching USA v Portugal during the 2014 World Cup as a member of the Young Adults Ministry at North Atlanta Church of Christ. We were at someone's beautiful home for a watch party. Snacks, soda, and loud fun. I sat next to my friend and fellow soccer enthusiast, Rosie; and I remember how we both almost came out of our skin when a kid who didn't know any better said at the end of the tied match, "at least we didn't lose!" 

We didn't loose but it was the knockout round, so we didn't advance either. That was the year that saw Germany's national team absoulutely massacre the Brazilian national team, in my hometown of all things, too!  Most disappointing World Cup ever. 

As our conversation progressed, I was asked to describe what joy feels like in my head, in my heart, and in my body. I said that rationally, in my head, this joy feels like it might be fleeting because its tied to a very specific circumstance but I hope not - I hope I can harness it and evolve it and grow with it for a long time. I said that in my heart, joy feels like a synergy, a connection of mind, sould, and body that emanates from who I am at my core: a person who remembers relationships, places, tastes, and experiences. And remembering those experiences in an embodied way is how I maintain joy. And I said that in my body, joy feels like better rest, less anxiety, and more time being "at rest."

We wrapped up the conversation with an invitation to explore further what I need from God, from the people in my life, and from myself, to maintain and nurture, and cling to joy. 

So I'll leave you with the same exercises:

Complete this sentence: "my joy is..."

What does joy feel like... 
in your head/mind?
in your heart?
in your body?

What do you need in order to maintain, nurture and cling to joy? What do you need from God? From the people in your life? From yourself? 

Have a blessed week.

- Pastor Sara -