A Thesis on Joy

[Colin_Ginger 76]

Colin of Brelus slowly eased himself into the chair at his desk. He smiled thinking back to his youth when he fervently wrote, with the mindset that he was going to fix the world. He thought to himself before dipping the quill in ink once more, that of his life. He began writing.

 

"Joy is a precious resource. As you work hard for bread on your table and money in your pocket do not forget to work towards joy. I am an old man, and have lived a long life. As I look back I find myself, not remembering the hardships and struggles, but of the laughter, and friendship. My name sake comes from a dead town, that was ruled by a man who was long ago executed. Yet when I think of my time at Brelus, I am not sad. I am happy that I got to sit across from young men and women like myself and laugh at our own mistakes. I am happy of the many masses I held in the beautiful cathedral there. I am happy knowing, that though the town may have been burned to the ground, that the life I led there was not one invested in myself, but invested in others. That is the root of my joy, service to others. 'For I placed into thy heart a wealth of virtue, and I have created for thee a garden of abundance. And thou shalt give unto the world the physical abundance of fullness and warmth, and the virtuous wealth of the spirit. For the wealth of the spirit is never divided, but multiplied.' Horen 2:3. When we share with others, we not only satisfy their physical needs, but the needs of the spirit as well. I have often heard it said that a full stomach listens better. So let us feed the people first, and then they will know of the Creator through our actions. 

 

Do not mistake my words though, for hard times will fall on all of us. Yet in the midst of this darkness we must find joy. As a child food was scarce for my family. Yet on the nights when we had no food, we still gathered around the table. My mother would ask every one of my brothers and sisters of their day. And on those nights it was not hard to forget your empty stomach, as we were fed by the love of each other. In all of life's struggles, we must look for the hand of the Creator. 'For I have given to thee the pains of the world, and I have given to thee their cure. And thou shalt know the trials of the theatre of virtue, and know that all creation is for thy benefit.' Horen 5:3. When struggle comes our way, let it not drag us down. Let it be known that our struggle comes with a purpose, and though we may not have the wisdom to see the purpose now, that we will gain it later. 

 

I regret the nights that I went to sleep angry, or sad. Much like how the physical body has scars of our past, so does our spiritual body. When you go to sleep with anger or despair in your heart, you let these wounds fester. An infection like this will surely kill the spirit, as an infection on the skin will kill the body. You and I cannot prevent the bad from happening. But what we can do is change our mindset on the issue. If someone has wronged you, or you have wronged someone else, do not rest until the issue is fixed. For only then do we truly clean out the wounds of our psyche.

 

In my long days in the wilderness, I would often ask the Creator 'Why am I here?' I would feel so small and insignificant against the sweeping forces of this world. Yet my reverse narcism did not accomplish anything. Learn from my mistakes children, do not spend your life in despair. The Creator does not want us to question our importance. For we all have a part to play in his world. And we should do so with diligence and play the part to the best of our ability.

 

In all I have said, I hope you find peace my child, and I hope you find the joy in your own life. As always, go with the Creator.

-Colin of Brelus"

 

Edited November 8, 2015 by Colin_Ginger

[Heff 2460]

Rafael stows a copy of the thesis in his records, smiling.

[Daisy 9738]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.