Joy

     I've been thinking a lot lately about joy and not taking ourselves too seriously, and wondering if there's a connection between the two. I believe there is and strangely enough a professional basketball team helped me make the connection.

     The Golden State Warriors made history Tuesday night by being the first team in the NBA to start the season with 16 wins and 0 losses. Throughout their remarkable winning streak, people have been noticing certain traits that are not characteristic of other teams. The Warriors are often laughing on and off the court. They can be seen teasing one another and cheering each other on every game - whether it's a pivotal moment or not. Analysts have noted that out of all the other professional basketball teams, the Warriors appear to have the most fun. It all made sense when I learned that the core values of the Golden State Warriors are Joy, Mindfulness, Compassion, and Competition. Joy? It seems a strange value for a sports team, but no one can deny it's effectiveness. The players aim to take joy in the game, put each other first, and not take themselves too seriously. Interesting. Pride is a killer of joy and by not taking ourselves too seriously we steer clear of pride. 

     Working here at Outflow and being involved in serious issues like poverty and homelessness, I sometimes fall prey to taking myself too seriously. Usually when this happens, pride follows close behind and joy takes off running.

     Richard Foster said, "Joy, not grit, is the hallmark of holy obedience. We need to be light-hearted in what we do to avoid taking ourselves to seriously. It is a cheerful revolt against self and pride." Sounds like good advice to me.

"But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
    what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
    take God seriously"

Micah 6:8 (The Message)

Philip