Choosing Joy

               I was initially attracted to this book by two things – the title Choosing Joy: The Secret to Living a Fully Christian Life and the eye catching cover art.  The title intrigued me for two reasons; a longtime online friend has a blog entitled Choosing Joy and who would not want to know the secret to a full Christian life especially since we know that includes heaven? The pieces of colorful fruit stacked to look like a slightly tilted 3-D puzzle caught my attention – why would the author choose this graphic?

                Dan Lord starts his book with telling of his father’s life and all its troubles but that despite all that his father found joy. Lord reminds his readers that “joy is our ultimate destination” and joy is for everybody. He also talks about the definition of joy and the fact that joy doesn’t come from external goods that we enjoy. Lord also discloses the secret to joy since it’s a secret that should be shared with all.

                The rest of the book is the nuts and bolts of more fully understanding joy, the obstacles to choosing joy in our life, and a great question and answer chapter. Lord then finishes up with the apex of the book – abandoning oneself to God’s will followed by chapters on putting our beliefs into action, the Eucharist and heaven.

                Choosing Joy was not a difficult read but nor was it light summer reading. It is definitely a book to go back and reread after a short time so that one can digest it again as we continually grow and change spiritually.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Choosing Joy. The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.