成人头条

[Author: Jo McIntosh, Department of English Instructor]

Have you done the 鈥渕y one word鈥� challenge yet? I鈥檝e done it with Bible studies, with my kids, and even with some of my cancer-lady friends. You can find 鈥測our word鈥� like this: where do I want growth, and what is one word I can focus on for the next year to realize growth? Then pray.

I chose JOY a few years ago, and now I see it everywhere.

• Watching a student鈥檚 eyes light up learning new concepts鈥� online
• Deep dives into poetry (alliteration makes you listen!)鈥� online
• Showing off our lapdogs while discussing St. Augustine鈥� online
• Learning about literature and journaling for medical or other professionals鈥� online
• Students brave enough to offer opposing views in chat discussions鈥� online
• Students asking questions we all have to look up鈥� online
• Taking an afternoon drive with my kiddo鈥�

My whole JOY list won鈥檛 fit!

Finding Joy

Unexpected joy over the last few weeks appeared when I felt the most afraid and alone. Joy didn鈥檛 appear out of nowhere in those moments. I鈥檝e been practicing finding joy like an athlete, so it鈥檚 becoming a muscle memory response. This summer, I鈥檓 at it again, creating a course entitled Finding Joy in Literatures. The premise? Joy holds hands with hope 鈥� looking toward a future that is better or equally as good as what exists in this moment.

Vocation & Joy

Before the break, one class of students decided that we should have a class t-shirt based on each of us sharing the purpose behind the fields we鈥檝e chosen.

(Front) The Advocators! (Back) Words Matter Because People Matter

Our t-shirt design, like our career and vocation, is driven by wanting to help others as we鈥檝e been helped. Our humanities students will become lawyers, doctors, executive-level managers, AI developers, psychologists, writers, and professors, so I know there is hope holding hands with joy in our futures.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)