Joy is not the absence of struggle but the discovery of strength through struggle. Many people imagine happiness as a life without ups and downs, but that is neither realistic nor healthy. A living heart does not beat in a straight line; it pulses with rhythm, with rises and falls. Life, too, must have movement. Joy is not denial of pain, nor is it a superficial smile—it is the power to see light within every experience. It is an inner clarity that allows us to recognize vitality, purpose, and growth even in moments of challenge.
The Chanukah lights teach us that joy itself is a form of light. It is a tool, an inner energy that allows us to stand defiant in the face of despair and to rise above any storm. We may wish for fewer challenges, but challenges are part of the human condition; the question is how we meet them. When we respond with joy, we tap into a force that lifts us beyond limitation, beyond heaviness, and beyond fear. The flame reminds us of the light within our own soul—a light that defies gravity, transcends constraint, and gives us the strength to soar.
