Chasing Joy: Musings on Life in a Bittersweet World

by Edward Hays

Book Overview

The spiritual imagination of Ed Hays comes alive in each of the forty reflections on joyful living found in Chasing Joy: Musing on Life in a Bittersweet World. Joyful living is our God-given right,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0939516780
• ISBN13: 9780939516780
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Forest of Peace Publishing
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A life without true joy is barren, indeed.

I found this book by accident (if there is such a thing) when searching for texts by Henri Nouwen, and the title intrigued me. Hays' work filled in a major gap in my understanding of the true nature of joy and happiness, and opened my heart to God's leading me to a new place, a new world of love, gentleness and strength. I have since purchased 6 other copies to give as gifts. Edward Hays' gift for writing in a simple, yet profound way, using examples and illustrations from diverse cultures, helps to lead the seeking reader to new depths of love, peace, and - surprise - joy! The chapters are short, and stimulate healthy thinking. Just try praying the Lord's Prayer while smiling -- quite a novel idea.

Grumpy Prayers, the Herescope and Other Roads to Joy

Fr. Hays describes his latest book is a headlong collision between his efforts to live joyfully while confronted with "cheerless stories of war and the horrors of torture, murder, and street violence" as well as personal difficulties and disappointments. He defines authentic joy first by ruling out the false joy of the pious, the unremitting happiness of the simple-minded, and the blissful ignorance of those who refuse to face reality. Rather, Hays explains, authentic joy encompasses feelings of the highest pleasure, delight, happiness, gladness, conviviality, and joviality. Such an experience requires a living consciousness of our birthright as children of God. With that background, Hays offers 37 short chapters containing reflections on practicing joyful living in today's world. He imagines a "herescope" similar to a telescope but designed to focus on the present, where we will discover that we have all we need to be happy. In a chapter on grumpy prayers, he points to the woeful quality of the Hebrew psalms and offers examples of present-day complaints to God in "The Cancer Victim Psalm" and "A Lamentation for a Lost Job." Situating the art of complaining to God in his theme of authentic joy, Hays characterizes "bellyaching prayers" as the overture to prayers of joy and gratitude. He also reflects on the reason images of Jesus and Mary are never smiling and why the gospels never show Jesus laughing. Though this book could certainly be read straight through, any of its chapters might be used for daily reflection or as a discussion starter for a faith sharing group.