“Rejoice in the Lord always; and again, I say, ‘Rejoice!’”- Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
I can’t remember when I first heard the saying, “Happiness is fleeting. Joy is lasting.” I don’t remember who said it either, but since then I have heard it in countless seminars, church sermons and Bible studies again and again, and I am 100% in agreement.
Mosaic International’s website states: “Happiness is dependent on happenings and external, temporary circumstances. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, rooted in a relationship with God, and remains even during trials.” GotQuestions.org, the flagship website of Got Questions Ministries, which provides biblical answers to spiritually related questions, states: “If a person is joyful, then he or she is happy. There’s no such thing as glum joy. We cannot drain joy of emotion and still call it ‘joy.’ When God’s Spirit gives us joy, then we are happy people. Christians should be joyful; happiness should characterize our everyday lives.”
I personally don’t equate happiness with joy. I have found in my own life experiences that happiness is often temporary and comes and goes in waves. Joy is more of a confidence or, at least a hope, that reminds me of who I am and what truly gives me peace and contentment in the long run. It’s especially in those most desperate hours when I’m unsure of what will occur in the short term that I rely on my faith. Faith gives me that inner peace, that sense of joy that, even in times of tribulation, I am still focused on my blessings.
As for our happiness and joy, my wife and I have had one of the happiest and most joyful months in years. It started with a trip “home” to Hockey Valley for the historic outdoor hockey game in Beaver Stadium and alumni weekend. We followed up immediately with a visit with our great friends Paul and Sarah Cohen in Raleigh, N.C. Paul was the long-time faculty advisor for the Penn State Icers and a distinguished professor of industrial engineering at Penn State and NC State. The following weekend we visited our great friends Steve and Eileen Smith and attended the wedding of Emily Martha (PSU ’21), daughter of former Icer Geoff Martha (PSU ’92) and his wife, Staphanie (PSU ’92), in Naples, Fla.
This past weekend my wife and I attended the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) “Realtime” Global Conference in Orlando, Fla., and it was awe-inspiring.
The cherry on top? When the final session of the FCA conference was over, they put the Olympic Gold Medal men’s hockey game on the huge screens in the conference room, and we celebrated Team USA’s first gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team as they defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime! Winning the game absolutely brought me an emotional high and feeling of happiness, especially seeing the toothless smile from the golden goal scorer Jack Hughes (even if he’s a Michigan grad).
Yes, it’s been quite a month with a lot of happy moments. But the joy, the real joy, comes from celebrating life-long friendships, being a part of some amazing accomplishments and realizing how truly blessed we have been. By the grace of God, we get to do these things with friends and loved ones, again and again.
The FCA “Realtime” conference theme was “Faithful.” I returned inspired and full of hope for sharing the many lessons learned from an incredible group of speakers and in discussions with colleagues, coaches and former athletes from around the U.S. (49 states represented) and the world (38 countries). I have come to believe in my heart that it is our relationship with our lord and savior Jesus Christ that has been the most joyful blessing in our lives, and we feel honored to be able to serve and help others to seek a relationship with him.
The four-day event featured stories and testimonials that literally stop you in your tracks. A real highlight of the conference was watching the Downs family interaction on stage in front of 3,000 FCA staff and their spouses. It was so inspiring that it brought many of us to tears. The emcee for the conference was NBA broadcaster Kristen Ledlow, a former All-American volleyball player, and she interviewed star football players Josh and Caleb Downs and their father, former NFL player Gary Downs.
Kristen asked Josh, an All-American at North Carolina and a current member of the Indianapolis Colts, “How do you keep your faith at the center while playing in the NFL?” Josh answered, “Highs and lows come with the game. It’s my faith that sustains me by attending Bible study and team chapel.”
Penn State fans likely remember Caleb Downs as the Ohio State defensive back who wreaked havoc against us over the past few seasons, including a critical interception this past season. When asked about the rigors of school, football and fame, Caleb responded, “Makes you rely on your faith. I was taught there are five gospels including the gospel of me. I have to live my own Bible story.“
Their father, Gary, a recently retired college football coach, told a story he shared with his sons. “The Lord said to me, “Don’t steal any of my glory.” So, he told his sons, “When you get on that podium, you remember to give glory to your God.” He made our host Kristen cry. ”I’ve been around a lot of athletes, and I am just so impressed with your sons.” After Gary was done coaching in 2023, he immediately asked “how can I help FCA?” Now he is an area representative on the FCA staff in Atlanta.
FCA President Shane Williamson encouraged all of us to remember that the seeds that are planted with coaches and young athletes will pay bigger dividends than NIL deals and athletic fame. It’s the joy, that inner peace of a relationship that affects us eternally that is most important. We are helping one another through the power of sport.
FCA’s One Global Mission is impacting lives in over 80 countries all over the globe. It was sad realizing that when a panel of international speakers came on stage that they asked us not to take any pictures, not to use names, and not to mention places on social media for fear of the folks that are in this world who still persecute Christians.The FCA staff overseas are trying to spread the Gospel in places where it’s not always safe and lives are in danger. But these brave men and women do it anyway. It was encouraging to see people giving young girls a chance to participate in sports in countries that have limited opportunities for women for decades and longer.
I think this younger generation is hungry for real joy based on deeper beliefs and not just the constant dopamine hits from video games and doomscrolling social media that they can no longer determine if it’s real or AI. I come across so many naysayers who have become these cynical and sarcastic people, and as they age, they often just become bitter and angry curmudgeons.
My hope, my prayer, for those of you on the sidelines of the spiritual revival taking place all over the world is to give it a try. Talk to friends who go to church, research options for attending yourself and you may find it’s not as scary or far-fetched as some would have you believe. In fact, I’m willing to say that you will not only potentially find happiness in a relationship with God, but you will also find a much stronger and deeper sense of joy as well.
