the surpising power of joy

I have never known anyone so obsessed with the subject of joy as my old friend James McReynolds. When I read his books about joy, I have the feeling that his whole being is somehow absorbed in his one great human emotion.

His writings simply exude the perpetual excitement he experiences at merely contemplating the subject. His scholarly approach will contribute to infamy as years from now his work will holds its value.

I envy that. Jim must live continuously on the verge of tingling and shouting at the mention of the word. He is indeed a ＂joyologist,＂ as he has styled himself.

He is someone whole life has been devoted to and absorbed in his one vitally important human emotion. Apparently, Jim and his wife Laurel live in a constant state of enjoyment. They become instantly excited at the thought of it.

Their home must glow with a special aura. I can’t imagine what it would be like living next to one of the world’s great generators, so that the atmosphere would hum with the power and energy emitted by their love and excitement.

Jim’s readers can feel this. They can sense it after reading even a page or two of his latest book. The emotion is almost beyond infectious. Sharing his joy permeates the entire atmosphere of the words as they arise from the paper on which they are printed.

Let’s face it. Most of us live in rather joyless worlds. We deal with countless problems of all kinds including overwork, a lack of work, shortage of funds, and many varieties of illnesses. Some things soluble and some not.

There are times when we feel simply overwhelmed and don’t know where to turn or what to do. Joy is the last thing we think about. It seems like the wisp of a dream, something beyond our comprehension, much less something applicable to our very desperate existence.

This is true for Jim as it is for the rest of us. He and Laurel undoubtedly have their problems, sometimes in abundance. Nobody can escape them all of the time.

However, they have found the magic key that can instantly transform their situations from dire to beautiful. The moment when they stop thinking about the negative things that come into their lives and concentrate instead on the potentially positive things, the whole landscape changes dramatically.

Suddenly life is overflowing with love and beauty and possibility.

Most of us will never achieve this rare and glorious ability to alter our situations. But reading Jim’s books will help us to do that. Just seeing how he thinks and being willing to envision the shining possibilities in our own lives is a big step in the right direction.

I know that when I read one of his books, or even a part of one, I feel a frisson of excitement about the things that are open to me. They were there all along, of course, but suddenly they become apparent to me and I see everything in an exciting new light.

I don’t know any other author who possesses his kind of revelatory power. So I am more than happy to recommend this book, and all of Jim’s books as well as something that can change your life. It really can. Just give it a chance.

--Dr. John R. Killinger is a retired professor, pastor, and writer of worldwide renown. He lives with his wife Gloria in Warrenton, Virginia.