Chasing Joy: Musings on Life in a Bittersweet World

by Edward Hays

The spiritual imagination of Ed Hays comes alive in each of the forty reflections on joyful living found in Chasing Musing on Life in a Bittersweet World . Joyful living is our God-given right, says Hays, as he challenges readers to dig through life's miseries and darkest pains to discover the goodness God continues to promise all of humanity. Hays uses common joys and struggles of ordinary lives, blending them with some of the great wisdom figures and traditions of our world to offer a wide variety of delightful hints and spiritual exercises for cultivating deeply rooted joy.

188 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ode to Joy, don’t let how it took me to read this mislead you into thinking it wasn’t worth the time. Feels like one of those books you want to read a little every day so that it lasts.
Perspective that I need every day.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful philosophy on how to live joyously while acknowledging the flawed world we live in. I read one reflection each morning and it never fails to brighten my day.The book is based on a verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be always Joyful, Pray continually, and give Thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for" Imagine what the world would be like if we all tried to live like this every day.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I got just past half way through before I gave up. While I did find a handful of really great scriptural insights, the writing was difficult for me to get through. I don't share his philosophical theology so I found it touching on blasphemous at times.

[Susan Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to be taken in small bites. Each chapter is rich with ideas about how negativity brings us down and how we can and should find joy in our lives in the smallest ways.

[Caedi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quaint and well intentioned, but poorly structured and full of contradictions.