Sorrow and Joy

One of the verses of that Easter hymn “When I survey the Wondrous Cross” brings together the two themes of Easter – sorrow and joy:

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down,

Did e’er such joy and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown.

The world routinely presents as a troubled place. Never-ending wars, tragic tales of loss of life and thousands of refugees. Problems seem harder to solve, inequalities increase, and societies are becoming more polarised and conflicted. There is so much sorrow… Joy cannot be conjured at will; it is not guaranteed.

It is very hard to find anything joyful if you are suffering grief, loss, pain or sadness. However, joy can emerge as a result of our faith; it is one of the “fruits of the spirit”. For Quakers, this can mean silent worship or prayer, either individually or in a group. We seek to come closer to the Spirit and to be open to Divine Guidance. As a result of worship, many of us feel deep connection to each other, to society, to the universe. While faith does not remove suffering, it can transform how we experience it. Many have felt transformed or liberated, reassured or strengthened, and yes, joyful and loving! I’m sure these are experiences shared by many people of faith. For me those feelings don’t stay with me, so I find myself returning to silent prayer over and over again.

But we are called to act in the world to do what we can to act justly, to walk humbly and to love mercy. (Micah 6:8). It’s not an option to throw up one’s hands and do nothing, but you can’t take on the whole world either. Caroline Fox (1841) wrote “Live up to the Light that thou hast, and more will be granted thee”.

Bruce Henry, Presiding Clerk
Religious Society of Friends in Australia (Quakers)