Francis Friday: What is Perfect Joy?

Today I read "What is Perfect Joy" in my Writings of St. Francis book. As usual St. Francis of Assisi shared quite a few wise words. Here is my summary.
"What is true joy?"
True joy is not all of the masters of Paris joining the (Franciscan) order, or even the King joining the order. 
"What is true joy?"
 It is not converting all of the infidels in the town.
"What is true joy?"
True joy is when you are out in the cold, wet weather; you are frozen. You come across a shelter but your brother will not let you in. Again you ask and he will not let you in. Again, and again you ask, to no avail. The persistence and patience is true joy.

But Francis... You are out in the cold. You wear pretty minimal clothes to begin with. How is this true joy? How are you even slightly happy about this?
As usual he is realizing something that I never would in the situation. He realizes that this life is temporary. As the lenten season is about to begin, we are reminded that we are from ashes and ashes we will return. This is depressing if you are thinking about your life on this earth. That is the small picture, just like Saint Francis's frozen toes. The big picture is that we have hope and a promise for a perfect, joy-filled life in heaven. Our heavenly father gives us so much hope that we have no reason not to be filled with true joy. 

I tell you, if I would put up with all this and not be upset, in this is true joy and real virtue and the salvation of one's soul!
~Saint Francis of Assisi, "What is Perfect Joy"

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
~Luke 11:5-13

Our Abba will not be like the brother in St. Francis story. As we keep knocking, he will let us in. He will open the door into his warm home, and give us shelter from the cold wilderness even when we do not deserve it. This is true joy. 
My cup runneth over.