LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Jesus, John 15:11 (ESV)

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Wrapping up the conversation around JOY today. It's been really good to camp out on this theme for a few weeks. READ BACK to see all the posts on JOY. Also, read this book by Matthew Kelly, Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. It's been good to go back through this book at a "slower pace"!

In John 15, Jesus tells us to ABIDE IN HIM. He's telling us that when we abide (when we REMAIN) with Him, He will help us understand what joy is all about, not just simple joy, but FULL JOY, the kind of joy that can only come from Him.

We've talked a lot about JOY over the past number of weeks, and this passage and promise just puts it all in perspective.

Jesus is telling us what we must do, he's "commanding" some things from us, but it's not to add to our burden, it's so that His joy can become our joy.

He wants us to live a genuine joyful life, and he's showing us the path to get there.

Read the full chapter of John 15. Love and Joy Abound.

Over the past number of weeks I've been sharing some thoughts and ideas around how to figure out JOY in your life. I've been challenged by the book by Matthew Kelly, and I've become aware of how much my "PACE and RHYTHM" affect my ability to see, appreciate and experience JOY.

However, this passage actually makes it clearer:

"Abide in me, and I in you." (John 15:4)

When you read John 15, what does ABIDE look like and feel like for you? What is He asking of you?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"The speed of joy is the speed that allows you to flourish." Matthew Kelly

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Continuing on in our conversation around JOY for another 2 weeks.

I've been talking about this book by Matthew Kelly, Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy, and this quote is just a theme throughout the book.

Basically Kelly is saying that Joy isn't found by moving faster - it's found by moving at the right pace for you.

The core idea: modern life pressures us to do more, faster. But joy - genuine flourishing - has its own natural rhythm. When you outrun it (overcommitment, constant busyness, chasing the next thing), you lose it. When you slow down below it (stagnation, avoidance), you also miss it.

"The speed of joy" is whatever pace lets you be fully present, engaged, and growing - not burned out, not coasting. That speed is personal and varies by season of life.

Here's his major takeaway: "If you're not experiencing joy, you might not need to try harder - you might need to slow down."

I won't bore you with more stories about my bird watching! (see last weeks post if you missed it) but that experience last week did something in me that I'm trying to figure out.

Steps from my home office is an incredible back yard. We've been working on this yard over the past number of years and Gina has everything blooming, the landscape looking great and the yard is "flourishing".

We enjoy the yard, and often use it to host our family and our friends, but it seems that the only times I'm using the yard by myself is when I'm working in it. I'm not taking advantage of this refuge we have right here.

The bird watching experience reminded me of this great space that I don't use and appreciate near enough.

This past weekend, I found myself on one of our chaise lounges, not only watching and listening to the birds, but just enjoying the silence around me. I didn't reach for my phone, I didn't have a book in my hand, I just sat in the silence. This led to a short nap which then led to an even longer nap on the couch.

I can't tell you when the last time I fell asleep sitting outside was. It's been a while. I really don't nap, but for some reason, this weekend, it was a gift!

I'm trying to slow down. I'm trying to not be so tied to my phone, to the news, to what's happening every minute of the day. I realize that slowing down isn't just shifting from one pace to a slower pace, but it's actually stopping completely: stopping to catch my breath, stopping to replenish, stopping to just sit in the moment. I'm tired of living at a pace where I continually miss the things that are right in front of my face.

What does personal FLOURISHING look like to you?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Let your joy be in your journey - not in some distant goal." Tim Cook

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

Continuing on in our conversation around JOY.

Apples CEO Tim Cook made this statement during a university commencement address years ago, and it was a simple reminder to the graduates to focus on the process, embrace the present and appreciate the personal growth along the way.

I'm reading this book by Matthew Kelly called "Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy". (Thanks again Brad for the recommendation). There's a short section in the book that is simply called:

JESUS WAS NEVER IN A HURRY

Kelly talks about the idea that Jesus didn't have these words in His life: urgent - busy - hurry

Jesus consistently took time for Himself, He allowed things to play out in front of Him, He paid attention to the things that were most important, He valued relationships, and He didn't mind making others uncomfortable with His time frame to address urgent needs.

The 3-year journey Jesus embarked on was the goal. Yes, there was an end goal, but He took advantage of every opportunity along the way to invest into peoples lives, to commune with His Father, to meet peoples needs and to model love and compassion.

I don't know about you, but I'm in a hurry... a lot! There is always something on my list that needs to be done or an urgent interruption that needs to be addressed.

The words: urgent - busy - hurry are not only attached to my life, but often they are words that people use to define me. I cringe when I hear people say, "Russ, you're so busy" or "Russ, I know you are in a hurry so I'll be quick." What am I communicating to people by my life? What am I living out?

I want JOY to be a part of my "every day" experience and not be the goal that I'm working hard to achieve.

This past weekend, I walked outside to our backyard and I found Gina sitting with her "BIRD APP" open, identifying the different birds that were making sounds in our yard and zooming in and out to get access to the water and food she has for these birds. I sat down, pulled out my BIRD APP (yes, we have a Bird App - see below) and at one point there were 11 different birds in and around our yard. We saw them, we identified the differences and we even got out the binoculars for a different view. What started as a short "good morning" turned into about 30 minutes of just JOY... acknowledging the sounds, the beauty, God's creation that is right here, in my yard.

What would it take for people to say: Russ Was Never In A Hurry?

How are you experiencing JOY in your journey on a regular basis?