God says, Please, my child, help me. Help me to spread love and laughter and joy and compassion. As you do this … you discover joy.

Desmond Tutu

You Discover Joy

Theme: Joy

Dear Child of God, you are loved with a love that nothing can shake, a love that loved you long before you were created, a love that will be there long after everything has disappeared. You are precious, with a preciousness that is totally quite immeasurable. And God wants you to be like God. Filled with life and goodness and laughter—and joy.

God, who is forever pouring out God’s whole being from all eternity, wants you to flourish. God wants you to be filled with joy and excitement and ever longing to be able to find what is so beautiful in God’s creation: the compassion of so many, the caring, the sharing. And God says, Please, my child, help me. Help me to spread love and laughter and joy and compassion. And you know what, my child? As you do this—hey, presto—you discover joy. Joy, which you had not sought, comes as the gift, as almost the reward for this non-self-regarding caring for others.

Desmond Tutu

Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 1931 – 26 December 2021) was a distinguished South African Anglican Archbishop and theologian known globally for his dedicated work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. His involvement in the fight against racial segregation in South Africa during the apartheid era was steadfast and resulted in significant contributions to the nation's quest for racial equality. In recognition of his efforts, Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. His leadership and moral courage were instrumental in transitioning South Africa towards a more reconciled society.

Tutu was deeply religious and his belief in God, perceived as both a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, played a major role in his life and advocacy. This belief, which extended beyond traditional Anglican theology, played a significant role in his stance on gender equality. His faith, therefore, wasn't simply a personal doctrine, but it also guided his public advocacy and influenced his approach towards human rights.

Tutu was also a strong proponent of Ubuntu, an African philosophy that stresses the interconnectedness of humanity. This concept aligns with the idea that one's well-being is tied to the well-being of others. Tutu's acknowledgment of advancements in human rights and his continued efforts for improvement were reflective of this philosophy. Despite the challenges he faced during the apartheid era, Tutu remained committed to advocating for a world where peace, justice, and dignity were accessible to everyone. Through his lifetime, Desmond Tutu left an enduring mark on society, and his legacy continues to inspire those who pursue equality and human rights.

(1931-2021) Christianity
The Book of Joy

The Dalai Lama, and Desmond Tutu. The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. Edited by Douglas Carlton Abrams, Viking, 2016, pp. 7, 193, 257, 275, 298 [Archbishop Desmond Tutu [With His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Douglas Abrams [The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (Avery: 2016)].

Desmond Tutu

Theme: Joy

About This Archbishop Tutu Quote [Commentary]

Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s quote, “God says, Please, my child, help me. Help me to spread love and laughter and joy and compassion. As you do this … you discover joy,” highlights that joy comes from serving others. Tutu conveys that true joy is not found through seeking personal happiness but through acts of love and kindness. When individuals engage in compassionate behavior, they unknowingly invite joy into their lives. This shifts the understanding of joy from an individual pursuit to a shared experience rooted in selflessness.

Desmond Tutu’s message reminds us that every person is cherished by a divine, unshakeable love. This love invites humanity to reflect goodness and vitality by being “like God.” Joy, in his view, comes from spreading laughter and compassion, creating a cycle where joy grows through connection and caring for others. This joy is enduring, arising not from self-focused pursuits but from giving.

Tutu’s vision of joy as a result of self-giving centers on communal well-being. He describes joy as a “gift” that comes when we focus on empathy and service. This challenges the idea of joy as solely personal and instead frames it as a shared experience. True joy, he suggests, is found in enriching others’ lives, revealing that giving and receiving joy are deeply interconnected.

Related Archbishop Tutu Quotes

“Our human nature has been distorted, . . . I mean, we are actually quite remarkable creatures. In our religions I am created in the image of God. I am a God carrier. It’s fantastic. I have to be growing in god-likeness, in caring for the other. I know that each time I have acted compassionately, I have experienced a joy in me that I find in nothing else.”

—Archbishop Desmond Tutu [With His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Douglas Abrams [The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (Avery: 2016)] pp. 7, 193, 257, 275, 298.

“When we practice a generosity of spirit, we are in many ways practicing all the other pillars of joy. In generosity, there is a wider perspective, in which we see our connection to all others. There is a humility that recognizes our place in the world and acknowledges that at another time we could be the one in need, whether that need is material, emotional, or spiritual. There is a sense of humor and an ability to laugh at ourselves so that we do not take ourselves too seriously. There is an acceptance of life, in which we do not force life to be other than what it is. There is a forgiveness of others and a release of what otherwise might have been. There is a gratitude for all that we have been given. Finally, we see others with a deep compassion and a desire to help those who are in need. And from this comes a generosity that is “wise selfish,” a generosity that recognizes helping others as helping ourselves. As the Dalai Lama put it, “In fact, taking care of others, helping others, ultimately is the way to discover your own joy and to have a happy life.”

—Archbishop Desmond Tutu [With His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Douglas Abrams [The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World (Avery: 2016)] pp. 7, 193, 257, 275, 298.

You Discover Joy

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