KOWS 92.5 FM radio recording above of the
Scent of Light episode from Radio Spotlight Magazine
with host Andre' Marc, includes background music Andre' has chosen: Manose
Suskera, Solo Bamboo Flute; Label: 2002 Garuda Records)
The audio file below is the spoken word recording
without background music provided to Radio KOWS 92.5 FM broadcast of the
Scent of Light episode for insert into the Radio Spotlight Magazine
with host Andre' Marc.
Mp3 Player
Transcript
Welcome to the Scent of Light. This is Ken Norton.
Today I would like to talk about Joy. Joy is one of my mentors' Ten
Words To The Creative Spirit, in which he penned: "Give me joy so my
heart has enough and to spare for others."
Joy is nourishment for the heart and it's warmth.
When I feel joy there is gratefulness involved, and want to share the
feeling of joy with others. Joy is more than pleasure which comes and goes.
Joy may be at times under the radar given what is required of one's
attention, be it sad, fearful or painful. But joy is present enough to
return when the strong emotions have been satisfied. Even in loss, joy
reveals an understanding that deepens one even with the death of a loved
one.
Can joy be owned? Can joy be had? Joy is felt, but
can joy be kept? Can joy be bought? Can Joy be found other than within? Joy
is realized to be very close to life, if not life itself.
Schiller wrote his Ode to Joy, that Beethoven wove
into the final movement of the Ninth Symphony, to celebrate the unity of
humanity. Here is the English translation as a exposure to his sense of joy:
Ode to Joy
O friends, no more of these sounds!
Let us sing more cheerful songs,
More songs full of joy!
Joy!
Joy!
Joy, bright spark of divinity,
Daughter of Elysium,
Fire-inspired we tread
Within thy sanctuary.
Thy magic power re-unites
All that custom has divided,
All men become brothers,
Under the sway of thy gentle wings.
Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife,
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join our song of praise;
But those who cannot must creep tearfully
Away from our circle.
All creatures drink of joy
At natures breast.
Just and unjust
Alike taste of her gift;
She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine,
A tried friend to the end.
Even the worm can feel contentment,
And the cherub stands before God!
Gladly, like the heavenly bodies
Which He sent on their courses
Through the splendor of the firmament;
Thus, brothers, you should run your race,
Like a hero going to victory!
You millions, I embrace you.
This kiss is for all the world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
There must dwell a loving father.
Do you fall in worship, you millions?
World, do you know your creator?
Seek Him in the heavens;
Above the stars must he dwell.
---
Schiller and Beethoven take us beyond the stars with
that symphony to a feeling within that is uniting and creative.
In the midst of sorrow or dismay joy has a way of
keeping lines of consciousness open to it, sometimes just a sliver, but that
is enough to bring us hope for continued life.
My mentor wrote the following poem on Joy when he
was around 80 years old. He had enough tragedy in his past or among his
relations to bury him in sorrow if he so chose, but the urge to belong to a
loving humanity and universe kept his creative spirit active throughout his
life to encourage us to continue toward the light. I personally see this joy
now in the large smile, coo, and waving arms and legs of my great
granddaughter.
I am the joy that fills the big udder -
How that little tail wiggles and wags.
I light the eyes above the cradle,
And fill with warmth the Baby's rags.
I am the joy that washes the child,
And dresses him in a fine clean shirt,
And if he comes home full of mud and weeps,
I kiss from his face the tears and dirt.
I am the joy that feeds the pine,
And carries it home through the twilight cold,
And fills it with light. How it glitters and gleams.
I am the joy that never grows old.
This is Ken Norton on the Scent Of Light. You can
contact me via Ken at KennethENorton.com. The Scent of Light episodes are
archived on the web at kennethenorton.com. Thanks for listening.
Ken Norton earned his master's degree in Materials Science from Stanford
University as the Vietnam War was ending. During that time Ken served as the
personal assistant to a poet/sociologist Dr. William Hermanns as he prepared
his writings for publication, exposing Ken to not only the sciences but also
the humanities and comparative religion for making conscious and
conscionable choices.
Ken is a regular contributor to Radio Spotlight Magazine with his episodes
on the Scent of Light. Ken lives in Santa Rosa with his life partner Elaine
and their little dog Rosey.
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