Joy in the Morning (04/06/2024)

In April, it starts about 40 minutes before sunrise. He sits on the same branch almost every day. A male robin starts singing and he sings until the sun rises above the horizon. In March he sings for 30 minutes. By May, he sings for an hour. The sound is pure joy. How is it, I wonder, that the creatures with smaller brains are more receptive to the LORD’s existence than we are? How is it, I wonder, that they cooperate with the LORD’s divine design and so consistently?

As I sat and listened to the beautiful and joyful song of that robin this morning during this Easter season, I thought of all the LORD has woven into our beings, we human beings. And I believe we’re wired for joy through love. I thought of my children and grandchildren and their joy as children. I thought of the children I see every week at Mass. I thought of little Monica, Patrick, and Ann and how their smile could melt an iceberg.

And I wondered, how would the world be different if we adults began every morning with songs of praise and joy? Would starting there, sure of the LORD’s power and presence this day, help us live the lives we’re created to live, lives created from love for love, love of our LORD, love for ourselves as children of the LORD, love for one another? Would it help us to see what we share more often than how we’re different? Would it allow us to appreciate the difference and diversity as part of the LORD’s divine design and recognize what we can be together?

And then I remembered my first discovery when studying the scriptures for my master’s degree. Genesis 1 and 2 tells us clearly and plainly that we were created in relationship for relationship. We are created by our LORD from love, through love, in love. We are created male and female, from the beginning, it was clear that the LORD desires us to focus on relationships with the LORD and with one another. And everything I learned after that only supported that initial read – we are created for loving relationships with our LORD and with one another.

This past week, I heard of a new book called Build the Life You Want  written by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey. I haven’t read it. I’m not recommending a book I haven’t read; however, I heard Brooks on a talk show talk about the book and its conclusion – we need to get back to faith, family and friends as our priorities. That conclusion I can support.

And so, this morning, as I sat listening to the robin nearby sing his heart out in joy, I found myself thanking the LORD for my life, for the lives of my family and friends, for the lives of those who enrich my life by their very being. And I thanked the LORD for salvation, for a love that in human terms is almost unfathomable, for a love that would be accomplished and proven through sacrifice. I thanked the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for my life here and now and for the promise of life in abundance beyond this life. And as I sat in gratitude, I thought again of the robin. Is gratitude the secret of the robin’s joy? I wonder.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.