David Brooks’ spiritual journey, as detailed in his essay “The Shock of Faith: It’s Nothing Like I Thought It Would Be,” is a tender portrait of longing and discovery. The New York Times columnist describes moving from agnosticism to a faith fueled not by arguments or certainty but by awe-filled moments — a mountain vista, a cathedral, a subway car — where the divine broke through the mundane. It’s a story of yearning, wonder and the profound beauty of being drawn toward something greater.

The ER isn’t the first place you’d look for evidence of God’s love, but even there, grace can surprise us. A crowded hallway, overworked caregivers and long delays reveal a deeper truth: healing is rarely straightforward, but no one is ever turned away. Even in uncertainty, there’s a quiet beauty in the kindness of strangers and the assurance that God is always at work.

True joy doesn’t avoid the heaviness of life — it embraces it, journeys through it and emerges on the other side, fuller and brighter. Rob Bell calls cynicism “lazy,” a superficial retreat from life’s complexities. Joy, by contrast, takes courage. It acknowledges the heartbreak and injustice of this world but refuses to be undone by them. Instead, it chooses gratitude for what’s fleeting and beautiful, savoring every precious moment while it lasts.