Laugh with us, Merciful Joy. In between the bouts of pain, the sorrows, the troubles, open our hearts to the mercy of little happinesses: the shared giggle that releases another, the pleasure of a flower opening, the bounce of a dog following the bounce of a ball, the savor of salt with something sweet. Sing with us, Merciful Joy. When we need a song of defiance, when our spirits flag and our hearts fumble to hold what matters, when we yearn to be done with what is and dance into our imaginations or, at least, another story, open our hearts to mercy of a singing happiness into being. If the wren may sing sheltering under the song and a tangle of summer brambles now made skeletal, then why not join the merciful joy of singing happiness into being. Dance with us, Merciful Joy. When we have much to celebrate, whether a crumb of cake or peace breaking out from one heart and home to the next, open our hearts to the mercy of dancing in happiness and dancing until happiness sweeps us on and on until we are once again aware of oneness, of our belonging well to this earth and belonging well to each other. Laugh with us, sing with us, dance with us, Merciful Joy, in the hours of need and the hours of hope becoming real. Amen.