Joy is not a myth

 In a world that echoes depression, it sounds insane to claim there is joy. Well, call me insane, but I do believe there is. 

That blind man, Bartimaeus: the son of Timaeus, pursued joy as we did. Begging by the roadside of Jericho, he had nothing he possessed other than his hope. Hope, that someday the Messiah people talked about will pass by. I bet he was wondering what he would say to him if asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Jesus: son of David, otherwise known as the Messiah, came to Jericho once. He was leaving the city when a scream from a soul stopped him. And so he asked Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Bartimaeus could have asked for anything. He could have inquired for money as most of us would if given a chance. But people had given him money before and it didn't fill the void in his heart. That insightful man instead wished for his sight, wailing out to his healer, "I want to see."

The line between joy and misery is obvious, yet we miss it so easily. We perceive joy as ornate jewellery gained by the labours of our hands. That, perhaps, is the greatest folly one can think of. Joy is a result of observation, and misery is the product of ignorance. The way to live a fruitful life is to notice. 

That wise blind man knew that joy is in the hands of the eyes. If one could see truly, one can understand the purpose and the beauty of the world. 

So I say to you, in the same world that depression rules, joy is not a myth. 

Photo Credit: Eyob Kebede ( @snap_b12 on Instagram)