Friends: It is a blessing to share our joy with others, and for others to share their joy with us. Have a great week. Bob

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Spirituality Column #1002

January 27, 2026

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Sharing the Joy

By Bob Walters

“… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” – Paul, Philippians 4:11

Though it was never part of my plan, especially not my retirement plan, I somehow blessedly wound up now in my later years teaching high school history and civics at Mission Christian Academy in Fishers, Indiana.

I mention it often; MCA is a private K-12 school of 500 students this year heading north of 600 students next term in just its seventh year of existence.  It was born out of the Covid shutdown and opened in the fall of 2020 with 38 students. In its second year, with 150-ish students, my wife Pam became the high school English teacher. Two years later I came aboard teaching high school history, government, and economics.

We start the econ term in January discussing Christian perspectives of unlimited human wants discerning and deriving contentment amid choices of limited resources.

I.e., we want it all, but there’s only so much to get. Supply, demand, pricing, value, propensities, basic business structures, an overview of financial markets, and a mix of personal finance exercises (credit cards, insurance, banks, taxes, etc.) come later. I happily defer in-depth discussion of monetary policy and the Federal Reserve Bank for their college professors; there’s a reason econ is called “The Dismal Science.”

MCA’s is not a watery Sunday school treatment of a serious topic, but our econ text book integrates biblical principles and scripture.  We spend a couple of early econ classes deeply discussing the nuances of joy vs. happiness vs. contentment. I wrote a column about that two years ago (Link: #898 Happy for Now), but a story popped up this week having to do with IU’s football championship that showed me I missed something.

Heisman Trophy winning Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a member of the St. Paul Catholic parish on the IU campus, the day before Christmas phoned Father Patrick Hyde and asked if he could “stop by with the trophy.” Hyde’s story about that appeared in a First Things post January 19, (Link: The Joy of Being a Hoosiers Fan).

It’s a fun story to read, and Hyde had this brilliant line: “Joy, from a Christian perspective, is a gift to be shared.” I had missed that in our econ discussions.  We can be content in our circumstances and happy with a situation, but joy is special because it is something of God that we can truly share. Be happy, yes.  Be content, yes.

But share your joy. In all circumstances share this Godly gift, and be content.

As an aside, the “page ribbon” in my Bible stays tucked in Philippians 4. Mainly that is because back in early 2003 when my mother Ruth, then living seven hours north in Alpena, Michigan, was in the final months of her life – and we knew it – I began one of my regular drives from Carmel up I-69 by calling friend and minister Russ Blowers.

I was in borderline tears; Russ knew my situation and suggested we pray his wife Marian’s favorite Bible passage, Philippians 4:4-9. I listened as he quoted, “Rejoice in the Lord always” through “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or praiseworthy” to “think about such things” … “And the God of peace will be with you.”

Mom died that March. Marian, in memory care, died 18 months later. Because of Mom, and Russ’s tender prayer and his unwavering love for Marian until the end, I leave my Bible’s page ribbon in that spot as a fond reminder. Also, it is a quick “jumping in” point when finding the shorter books Paul wrote. Everything from Galatians to Philemon is within a few page flips, and that wonderful prayer is always right there waiting for me.

Sorry to wander a bit, but be joyful in the Lord, and content in His love. Always.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) is happy, and wrote about joining MCA HERE.