The Wrong Name

       The name of the movie was like  a fingernail scratching on a chalkboard (if anyone knows what a chalkboard is anymore).   One of the most beautiful words was blasphemed in my mind.  I saw the trailer and felt a cognitive dissonance.  I saw the movie and I felt sick.  The story was interesting, but how could they name it Joy?  The character in the movie never even showed an ounce of joy!
       It was the story of a self-made millionaire who invented the Miracle Mop and became successful through QVC and Home Shopping Network.  Her name was Joy Mangano. The title was given because of her name,of course, but this did not work for me. I wanted the movie to be about joy.
       Her disfunctional family, strong ambition and "rough road to hoe" made the movie made me feel many things, but not joy.  It could have been called Fortitude , Drive or even Stamina, but not Joy.  The movie's story was a lot like Erin Brockovich, only without the cheerful face of Julia Roberts.
       Is joy just a feeling?  I think it is much more.  Is joy just another word for happiness?  I think it is not.  Is joy only something spiritual?  I think it can be physical, emotional and mental, too.
      Can joy come about in a disfunctional family?  I think yes.  Can joy come through fulfilled ambition?  I think yes.  Can joy come when life give us a "rough road to hoe"?  I think yes.
       Christians are supposed to "count it all joy when you fall into various trails, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience..."  Joy can fit with trials, difficulties, dysfunctions and ambitions, when viewed through the lens of faith in Christ. The character in the movie made no reference to Christianity.
       I hate it when a word does not fit.  All the emotional packaging that goes with a word like joy was wasted on this movie.  In this sad world, I hope that viewers of the movie, Joy, do not think that joy was what they were seeing.  Joy is a powerful, special word.  When  "joy" was used to a name a movie without containing any, I felt the emptiness of unfulfilled hope.  Why would a movie called Joy, not be joyful? (Would the Hateful Eight be about eight loving guys?)
       "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver," said Solomon, the Wise.  The contrary is like a pearl in the snout of a pig or a fingernail scratching on a chalkboard.  Word choice is important, at least it was back in the day!