Sunday, November 13, 2016

The US Election - A Surprising Revelation of Joy

In reading about how Kellyanne Conway as President-elect Donald Trump's campaign manager (she took over the role in August) made history as the first woman to manage a victorious US presidential campaign, I was intrigued by her comments on joy.

She had observed that Hillary Clinton appeared to be the most joyless candidate in presidential political history, so she told Donald Trump that their campaign should be one of joy.

She wanted the Trump campaign to be joyful!

When reflecting on this, it is apparent in the massive turnout where thousands would even wait up to after midnight to hear Donald Trump speak. It was apparent in their contagious enthusiasm and support.

Joy is a community experience. While individuals can be happy, as well documented in the Bible true joy is found in community, in shared aspirations and experiences, in hope and faith; in enjoying the moment while trusting in tomorrow.

For example, we read of the joy in the Bible when we share something:

A newly married man does not serve in the army for a year, so that he can stay at home “and bring joy to the wife he has married” (Deut. 24:5).

Moses informs the nation of Israel that: “There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and rejoice (be joyful) in all you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deut. 12:7).

The festivals as described in Deuteronomy are days of joy, precisely because they are occasions of collective celebration: “And you shall rejoice (be joyful) before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you ...” (Deut 16:11).

Joy involves a sense of connection to other people, or to God.

So in this incredibly perceptive insight,
Kellyanne Conway improved the message of the 'Trump Train'; she removed the negative declarations as much as possible (which included taking Trump's Twitter account off him!), and the whole team focussed on their positive policies and the movement that was generated in a joyful and hopeful manner.

It worked.

Beethoven's amazing Ninth Symphony also needed to be shared with human voices and became the great choral symphony, 'Ode to Joy'

Beethoven had known suffering, isolation, hardship and rejection. This music though speaks to hope, as does the movement that has caused a revolution in America, and rejected the lies of the political elite and MSM.

Enjoy!
https://vimeo.com/58611141

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