Repeat the Sounding Joy.
Repeat the Sounding Joy…
I am stopped in my tracks by these timeless lyrics.
Hoping they still mean there is something wonderful to repeat
In our time,
Something sorely needed.
 
“Repeat the Sounding Joy.”
I find that joy doesn’t always make a sound.
That the silent or murmuring joys often go unnoticed,
Overlooked, missed.
While others jump right up and kiss us on our hearts,
And yet we might walk right on by,
Forgetful as we are.
 
So, let us all become joy finders,
Joy collectors,
Joy watchers,
Detectors, magnets, sleuths, excavators.
 
Let’s ruthlessly seek them out, these joys of all kinds!
Let us not discriminate.
Like pilgrims, we’ll sling satchels around our shoulders,
In which we’ll stash them all as we come upon them:
 
Outbursts of laughter, sly giggles, tears of happiness and relief,
Glances of gratitude, words of love, touches of friendship,
Vibrations of music, works of art, artifacts of hands,
Elements of surprise, displays of nature,
Chances to help,
And choices to be kind.
 
And may we not just collect these, but absorb them,
Embody them, breathe them,
And hold them up to the light in the face of all that wants to deny their
existence.
 
Then let’s pay them forward as fast as we find them,
“Repeating the Sounding Joys”.
So that our satchels remain light,
Always with room for more and more joys.
Sounding joys.
Ever repeating.
 
Repeat,
Repeat
The Sounding Joy!
Elissa Cobb
Bristol