It's always difficult to raise to a challenge, much more so when the situation is really adverse. The reward, however, is precisely that joy that Schiller and Beethoven celebrated; a joy that has nothing to do with circumstances, but comes from a sense of fulfillment. And no, empty optimism has nothing to do with it. Those who know the real stuff would feel insulted with the mockery.
Yes. You put this very clearly, the absolute of joy--I used to say (should, still) that joy is the center of being. If you get through the rest of it, that's what you come to.
Especially how present it is in life, right now, right here. Mind you, I would also add that it will extend into the future, that one of the greatest parts of joy is in watching the work of the Holy Spirit (directly, and through us to others) in the salvation and renewal of hearts and families and friendships and minds and souls; even in expecting its fruition.
Do you know where I could find these lyrics? I don't know this version of the song, so I don't have a context for much of what you wrote.
Also, I realized just now that I had neglected to add you to my "Christian" filter (now corrected), so you probably missed my partial response: http://eliskimo.livejournal.com/207737.html
I am currently in Rome and without access to the record, but when I get to London (next week) I shall try and copy out the lyrics. There isn't that much of them, three stanzas or so. The opening is something like: "Sing a song of joy, for men shall be together..."
Come sing a song of joy for peace shall come, my brother Sing, sing a song of joy for men shall love each other That day will dawn just as sure as Hearts that are pure are hearts set free No man must stand alone With outstretched hand before him Reach out and take them in yours With love that endures forever more Then sing a song of joy For love and understanding
Come sing a song of joy of freedom tell the story Sing, sing a song of joy for mankind in his glory One mighty voice that will bring A sound that will ring forever more Then sing a song of joy for love and understanding
Come sing a song of joy of freedom tell the story Sing, sing a song of joy for mankind in his glory One mighty voice that will bring A sound that will ring forever more Then sing a song of joy for love and understanding
The best thing I can say is that I always try to take trouble to be informed on what I comment on, and I think you can take it from me that there has long been a reflexively pacifist and even vaguely moral-futurist tone in all the things that come from the Vatican to do with contemporary political issues. That is what has made the "Hitler's Pope" legend credible: though Pius XII (and Pius XI) did in fact oppose Hitler by every possible means, and save tens of thousands of Jews and other intended victims in the process, the public is too used to hearing Popes making no difference between Wilhelm II's Germany and the Allies, or between the Soviets and the Americans, not to assume that a Pope must necessarily be a pacifist, an appeaser, and a bit of a hypocrite in international politics. Unfortunately, even an exceptional intellect such as the current Pope (whose book on Jesus is required reading) is still a prisoner of the contemporary way of thinking, and appeals to PEACE taken to be a positive value in itself flow practically weekly
( ... )
I used to listen to "The Goon Show" on the radio in Hong Kong in the late '60s. (The English service of Radio Hong Kong -- now Radio Television Hong Kong -- used to relay a lot of BBC programmes back then.) So I'm familiar with Harry Secombe's name from that. I didn't know he was also a musician, and as far as I know I've never heard his Song of Joy. Like eliskimo, I'd be interested to know the words if you can either give us a link to them or copy them for us, if that's not too much trouble.
Speaking of JOY -- and also of conversion and of life-changing commitment -- have you ever read C.S. Lewis's story of his conversion from a kind of pagan agnosticism to Christianity, Surprised by Joy?
I have read practically everything I could lay my hands on of both Lewis and GK Chesterton. In fact, the sub-title of this LJ comes from Chesterton. However, to be frank, Surprised is one of those books I read rather less frequently than others, and when I do, it is mostly for the school chapters.
Lewis is one of my favourite writers of non-fiction*, though I can't claim to have read all his books and essays yet. I'm still working my way through some of them. I keep getting interrupted.
(*Yes, I know he wrote fiction too, but I haven't found it as compelling reading as his essays, radio talks, etc.)
I'm afraid I'm not so familiar with G.K. Chesterton. About all I have read by him is some of his Father Brown mysteries. Evangelical bookstores here and in the U.S. don't promote his works like they do those by Lewis. Perhaps because Chesterton was Roman Catholic? I don't know. I've seen his writings well spoken of by Evangelical writers -- but the bookstores don't carry his writings.
Doesn't matter. All you need is your Internet connection (and I hope your eyes don't get tired staring at computer screens), since almost all his works are available online for free. Check these addresses: http://www.cse.dmu.ac.uk/~mward/gkc/index.html and http://www.cse.dmu.ac.uk/~mward/gkc/books/index.html. Chesterton is indeed very Catholic, but I know that Evangelicals also read his work with pleasure and profit, and at any rate, at the first of these two addresses you will find an essay on him from a Protestant perspective.
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Especially how present it is in life, right now, right here. Mind you, I would also add that it will extend into the future, that one of the greatest parts of joy is in watching the work of the Holy Spirit (directly, and through us to others) in the salvation and renewal of hearts and families and friendships and minds and souls; even in expecting its fruition.
Thank you for posting this.
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Also, I realized just now that I had neglected to add you to my "Christian" filter (now corrected), so you probably missed my partial response: http://eliskimo.livejournal.com/207737.html
Cheers!
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Sing, sing a song of joy for men shall love each other
That day will dawn just as sure as
Hearts that are pure are hearts set free
No man must stand alone
With outstretched hand before him
Reach out and take them in yours
With love that endures forever more
Then sing a song of joy
For love and understanding
Come sing a song of joy of freedom tell the story
Sing, sing a song of joy for mankind in his glory
One mighty voice that will bring
A sound that will ring forever more
Then sing a song of joy for love and understanding
Come sing a song of joy of freedom tell the story
Sing, sing a song of joy for mankind in his glory
One mighty voice that will bring
A sound that will ring forever more
Then sing a song of joy for love and understanding
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(The comment has been removed)
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Speaking of JOY -- and also of conversion and of life-changing commitment -- have you ever read C.S. Lewis's story of his conversion from a kind of pagan agnosticism to Christianity, Surprised by Joy?
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(*Yes, I know he wrote fiction too, but I haven't found it as compelling reading as his essays, radio talks, etc.)
I'm afraid I'm not so familiar with G.K. Chesterton. About all I have read by him is some of his Father Brown mysteries. Evangelical bookstores here and in the U.S. don't promote his works like they do those by Lewis. Perhaps because Chesterton was Roman Catholic? I don't know. I've seen his writings well spoken of by Evangelical writers -- but the bookstores don't carry his writings.
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