“Fill my joy to the brim by being in harmony, united in love, spirit, and mind” (Philippians 2.2).
Somewhere either on some streaming service or movie station, I’m going to bet that Jerry Maguire is running this month. It’s climactic “you complete me” admission is just ripe for Valentine’s viewing. Least, I’ll gamble it is.
The sentiment seems close to how Paul’s words are commonly rendered: make my joy complete. It fits for how we think of things like love and joy and even ourselves. We’re lacking, missing something, imperfect. We need something to bring us closer to that perfect, otherworldly Form of ourselves and our feelings.
Let’s face it, it’s what lies behind each bouquet and heart-shaped box at the grocery store that will sell by the thousands this week. A gift, an admission, a token will fill the missing piece, complete the joy we share—or long to share—with another person.
But Paul’s words seem to be less about filling in a missing part and more about what comes when we are less worried about us and our internal selves and more about the people that surround us. Maybe it’s in hearing of the single-mindedness and love of the Philippians, Paul found himself rejoicing in what he’d been a part of—helping them become who they were born to be.
It’s not a sentiment that sells cards or flowers or fills up the reservation calendar at the restaurant, but it does point us toward being and becoming people of love, who are focused not on perfection but wholeness, which can then overflow onto those around us.
Love Incarnate, lead us to wholeness so our love and joy might spill over to the people in our lives.