"Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism.  And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated, and isolated,  joy is a fine initial act of insurrection"

Rebecca Solnit

Well…i have to watch.  I feel like i need to understand anything that i can about how all this came about.  I am a spawn of the 60's.  If you told me anywhere along that this could be happening,  i would not have believed it.  But it is happening.  And a vast number of my fellow citizens are thrilled.  I want to understand why.  What makes them feel so needy of this puppetmaster?    What part of them does he represent,  vindicate,  set free?    But it's a fine line…learning and becoming so sad.  

So i look for kinds of joy.   There are kinds of joy that are so Bright and Sharp they pierce the Heart and fill beyond the brim.  There are kinds of joy,  more frequent that are soft,  quiet,  …. just a touch,  just for a single second.  

 

DSCN2021f

 

DSCN2019f

this girl.  From National Geographic,  how long ago?,  i don't know,  but from a National Geographic article on the children of Darfur.   Look at her.  her dress.

the chair.  the chairmother.  the chair,  giving comfort in its worn ness.  This girl,  being photographed and keeping turned away,  protecting the sense of safe haven,  after walking and walking.  See her foot.

a kind of joy for me.  not seeming so much so,  but for me…she made it.  Through whatEver she did.  To rest on this chair.  There is a very certain kind of joy to me in this photograph.  It is with me every day through years.  today.

Look  it all says.  This is humanity.

 

DSCN2009f

 

DSCN2010f

 

DSCN2014f

 

DSCN2013f

 

DSCN2011fg

 

DSCN2017f

making marks on cloth.  another kind of joy.

 

Posted in

25 responses to “the different kinds of Joy”

  1. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    (Grace) just listened to the On Being interview with Rebecca Solnit. . .and the wonderful clarity with which she can identify things that are wrong, yet also track (as Krista does) the very positive and real reasons for hope. . .for things working out in quiet ways. knowing how long it takes. . .a feminine quality, I think

    Like

  2. Jan Avatar
    Jan

    and the cloth is all beautiful. . .

    Like

  3. grace Avatar

    Jan…i am GLAD you are back!
    This is what we are living through…and how can we do it well
    and with use and with any kind of joy at all…how can we
    carry joy in this Time?

    Like

  4. Mo Crow Avatar

    white light

    Like

  5. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    I wish I had a simple, clear answer to carrying joy in this Time that didn’t sound so singular…all I can think of is that we can carry joy in this time by holding fast to who we are, to what we believe in, to remaining open to what I call the simple joys of life that present themselves in ways that matter to each of us, even when they are not as readily found some days.
    Solnit made an important point between happiness and joy. She said, “And joy is so much more interesting, because I think we’re much more aware that, it’s like the light at sunrise, or the lightning or something that is epiphanies in moments and raptures, and that it’s not supposed to be a steady state, and that’s OK. And I think it’s a word that comes up a lot more in spiritual life than happiness…”

    Like

  6. Tina Avatar
    Tina

    Grace your cloth..wow wow wow. Just like you believed and patiently waited for the dyes to take hold and work their magic. So must we believe and patiently wait for what the future holds. Thinking back 8 years I would not have believe that the people voting were ready for Obama. Like your pieces of cloth Grace…I am going to be patient and believe that he WILL trip over all his trash talking.

    Like

  7. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    After seeing the young and courageous girl on her chair, I see a Phoenix with outstretched wings in your darker cloth…to me that gave total joy. A beautiful and soulful post , Grace.

    Like

  8. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    I just had to come back because in partial answer to your question to what makes people respond to this puppet master: the thing is that when people feel threatened by what and who they do not know, when they feel that jobs are being taken away, in other words, when the economic scales tip over, people become afraid and their fear manifests itself into hatred, bigoted language, mean spirited acts of disrespect, etc. What I find so terribly sad and ironic is that these people have chosen the PT Barnum of the Republican party to lead them, the very epitome of the 1%! who knows exactly how to manipulate and fan the flames of their discontent…

    Like

  9. Kristin Avatar
    Kristin

    Grace in this time of what could be held as despair. I, too, seek to rest my eyes and spirit on the bits of the journey that give a restful, peaceful, calming energy place. The young child photo is just such a bit..and I thank you for the sharing of this.
    Your cloths drying in the wind also give a sense of hope…that from the unknown comes beauty.. a thought that I will carry along with me today as I pull weeds and plant a few small rows in the veggie bed. The winter/spring weather holds this gardener back from her usual early digging and planting urges…now the time feels just right. It is delightful to see so many things growing in your land – each year more and more green and surprises.

    Like

  10. Cathy Avatar
    Cathy

    The cloth is truly BEAUTY full! Black and tan. Hints of burgundy wine. Not too busy.

    Like

  11. Els Avatar

    Love the photograph 🙂
    Amazing Grace, these little cloths with the marks !!!!!

    Like

  12. Liz A Avatar

    Prayer cloths … odes to joy

    Like

  13. saskia Avatar

    such beautiful cloths, especially the very graphic black and white one, where i definitely see a bird and feathers

    Like

  14. grace Avatar

    yes….so much….it’s not supposed to be a steady state….
    this is Important…and what allows up to experience whatever
    something is as
    joy

    Like

  15. grace Avatar
  16. grace Avatar

    yes…this is a much loved essay

    Like

  17. grace Avatar

    the seeing things through the lense of time…this is what
    Solnit teaches me
    tripping over his trash is a good way to put it

    Like

  18. grace Avatar

    i see that phoenix too

    Like

  19. grace Avatar

    well…people feeling threatened…that’s an old bone
    that’s been chewed for so so long….
    i am thinking that it gives a more suitable image to the
    basic mindless bigoted hatred. Economy is an excuse to
    hate

    Like

  20. grace Avatar

    seeding days have come slow this year, yes?
    This year has brought many many surprises.

    Like

  21. grace Avatar

    the not too busy is IMPORTANT…it allows for a story to
    appear….yes….not too busy….

    Like

  22. grace Avatar

    oh Hey Els…hello and hello! love your two little felted
    boys…!

    Like

  23. grace Avatar

    prayers and odes
    cloth and light
    joy

    Like

  24. grace Avatar

    these marks can be so many things…that’s their beauty to me

    Like

Leave a comment