What is the nature of joy? How is it different from happiness? What brings us joy and how do we bring joy to others? These were some of the questions explored by the Daughters of Province III at our annual retreat, themed, "Lord, make me an instrument of Your joy."

     After a period of concentrated Bible study, Province Chaplain Linda Calkins, our retreat Leader, divided us into small working groups, each with its task. One group imagined joy through the five senses, as illustrated above. Another identified books that brought them joy (answers included "All Creatures Great and Small" and "Anne of Green Gables"). Another group found joyful hymns in "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (including "Revive Us Again" and "Sweet Sweet Spirit"). One group received a cryptic, one-word assignment -- "Beethoven" - and produced variations on his Ninth Symphony. And there was a marvelous skit in which the Devil tried to deprive earthly sufferers of their Christian hope, but was beaten back and ultimately converted. A group asked to deal with synonyms concluded that happiness is fleeting and depends on externals like shopping sprees and happy hour, whereas joy is lasting and comes from within. Happiness is in the leaves of a tree; joy is in the roots.
     The assignments took us out of our comfort zone. We were placed in groups by number and couldn't stay with the people we knew. We had to operate as a team: those who could draw, print or sing had to step up and make their talents available to the group.
     Province III centered its retreat on joy to celebrate the unity of the Order and the blessing of sisterhood. We see joy as the best prophylactic against apathy and member burnout.  
     Ideally, a gathering of Daughters - at the chapter, diocesan or province level - is a magnet drawing women together. Something precious is lost when participation becomes a chore to be checked off a list or is a default activity - something you do when there's nothing else on the calendar. At the retreat, we sought joy in being with each other to pray, serve - and play.

     We had a dazzling, out-of-the-box Eucharist, the Lord's Prayer from which is reproduced below.

Eternal Spirit
Earth-Maker, Pain-Bearer, Life-Giver
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all.
Loving God in whom is heaven;
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever.
Amen. (New Zealand BCP)

 

     We were honored to have with us National President Pam Runyon, who discussed the Order's worldwide growth and aired DOK's International video, helping us connect to Daughters around the globe.  The video humbles and inspires through multiple viewings: many international Daughters face political instability or economic adversity yet raise their song. 

Laura Richards