The struggle and hope of joy

Joy has long been a component of the retail landscape this time of year. I’ve seen it on department store windows in Manhattan — most amusingly nearby St. Francis of Assisi Church. Of course, even if you are the easiest person in the world to please, there is no consumer exchange that will deliver true joy. And yet, in the face of hardship and torture, joy is possible. That which is so casually referred to in order to make a sale is one of the most hard-fought and enduring treasures.