C.S. Lewis wrote about his search for God in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy. It recounts his spiritual journey, which led him from the Christianity of his youth into atheism, and then, back to Christianity. C.S. Lewis suggests that all of us long for joy in our lives, which is different from happiness. Once endowed with joy, a person is not likely to lose it and in fact it grows with awareness of it. Joy is like the sun, always shining even when night falls or clouds cover it.
Happiness is like the moon, waxing and waning.
Happiness is a kiss, joy a golden wedding anniversary. Happiness is born in the mind, joy in the heart. Happiness comes from humans, joy from God. 2 The gladdening star of Christmas brought joy to the Magi, for they came to worship on bended knee the One who had been born king of the Jews. When Lorie and I were in the Holy Land with members of our church two years ago, we visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.