Joy. It is a quirky subject.
But for Artists, all strong and uplifting work comes from the place where joy resides. In the heart. If joy lives there. Well, guess what that does…
When I was studying in Bible College, one of the most fascinating subjects was that of Joy. There is a scripture verse written on my heart that I frequently in life’s trials, find myself needing to refer to. “The joy of the Lord is your Strength”. You will see that tenet reflected everywhere in both the Old and New Testaments. I sometimes find myself shouting it inside at the obstacles I see before friends and family, and me too.
Here is a resonant example of Joy in the work of John Butler in his famous piece entitled “Ocean” (Go figure, LOL)
A few images that spark joy for me below. Yes of course they all say “Ocean”. My touchstone. My Home. I find joy there. It is why I share it. I want my fellows to have that, joy, strength, solace. The world turns, so do we. It is what matters: Joy.
Uncle,
Go figure the first album I paid for with my own money when I was 11 years old in 1975 was Three Dog Night’s Naturally. All because it had the song Joy to the World on it. With lyrics like “Singin’ joy to the world, All the boys and girls now, Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, Joy to you and me.” It’s also cool to look back an see that I knew who I was wanting to be as an adult at 11. Then as an adult my first email address was JoyousJeff@yahoo.com because of the smile it puts on my face just saying it.
and yesterday I read this: http://thoughtcatalog.com/christine-stockton/2015/07/7-reasons-people-who-love-the-beach-are-the-happiest-people-to-be-around/
Mahalo’s
Jeff