Joyful, joyful we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee
Opening to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the dark of doubt away,
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.

.All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee

Mortals, join the happy chorus
Which the morning stars beganFather love is reigning o'er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sun-ward
In the triumph song of life.

Joyful of joyful
Lord we adore Thee
The God of glory
The Lord of love

I apologize , as of late , one might say my writings have been ummm.....
melancholy, maybe even a little depressive...
But this fight for joy has been ,well, just that, a fight
Someone asked me if i was happy not to long ago?
I almost laughed and cried.
Happy? Oh fleeting sentiment.
It is not happiness that i pine for ...
no , it is joy unspeakable.
That i pray for grace for,
and at times i admit i cant see.
I feel so frustrated ,
for the capacity and the knowledge for this joy has been given...
Yet,
yet ,
yet,
i still chase other things
I watch myself do it
futilely
to no avail
and i know in my mind the truth
but oh how my heart breaks
for YOU
FOr YOU.
Why wont you come?
Why are you far off?
When you return and reveal yourself to me in such a way that all other things, once again loose taste?
OH Grace, please be gracious to me.
OH heart why do you not delight in the very things that would bring you life?
But in false food.
I feel as if i am going in a circle.
I must admit
I am weary .


wait....
i think i see something on the horizon
here it comes bounding over the hills like a gazelle...