Knowing Another’s Joy
“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.” –Proverbs 14:10
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy, and yet we keep trying, don’t we? We keep writing songs and poems and novels. We paint pictures, we dance, we build buildings in the attempt both to share our joy and express our bitterness.
Why do we keep trying? Do we think the wise one that wrote the proverb is wrong? Maybe it was just a rough day and he didn’t feel like his wife (or wives?) understood him.
We can leave the discussions about whether we can ever really know what is happening in anyone but ourselves to the philosophers. What I find interesting is that we can’t give it up. I think about this a great deal as a poet. I can’t ever force a reader to experience my precise feelings. I know my own joy, but sharing it is tricky. The best I can do is to send a reader into her own joy or bitterness.
And it doesn’t help that Paul chimes in with “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” I have a great deal of admiration for those among us who are gifted with empathy. It’s not my strong suit, so it always looks miraculous when I see it in operation. It might be miraculous every time. The proverbs writer expresses the purely natural perspective, and Paul expresses the spiritual perspective. I need to keep my hands open and accept that both are true and I need to move within that tension.
Several of the makers and creatives of Novo work to do that in their neighborhoods. We find the joys and bitternesses and express them in painting, in music, in dance, drawing, film, and words. We believe that part of bringing the Kingdom of God to a place includes celebrating the good in the place as well as exposing what is broken. As Kingdom workers we keep trying to express the bitterness of the city and share its joy. It’s impossible, of course, at least on our own. Fortunately, we are not alone.
Reflect:
Do the words of the Proverb writer discourage you? What do you think is a good response to this ancient observation?
How have you worked to express your own bitterness or joy? Have you ever tried to identify and express those things for your neighborhood or your city? Your church or gathering? Your nation?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Erickson has been with Novo for 13 years and serves with the prophetic and artistic makers in Novo. He lives in Kansas City, Kansas with his wife and three adult kids.
