Find the delight
It is a delight to be delighted.
When I lace up my shoes and head out of the house for a long walk, I always tune into one of a couple of podcasts. One day earlier this summer I went out for a walk and played the latest podcast episode focused on happiness. A clinical psychologist sits down with her clinical psychologist friends to talk about how to be or stay happy.
One episode caused me to walk a few more miles because it was just so fascinating. The topic was delight and the challenge of finding it. One of the guests spent the last year finding things that delighted her. Each day for 365 days, a list was made.
Sometimes the observations needed explanation, sometimes they didn’t. What is delightful doesn’t always need an explanation. The only requirement is that it brings a little bit of joy and maybe makes you stop and think for a moment.
Wanting to take the challenge, I set about to do the same over the next chapter of my life; to be intentional about finding delight in the world around me. From things important to things not important, there is delight to be found all over. Admittedly though, it was a harder exercise than I thought.
I wondered if it was a hard task because so much of the world we interact with has been conditioned (or conditioned us) to not find delight, to not find joy. Or was it that I was so out of practice in finding delight that my muscles had just atrophied a little? Either way, the challenge was before me and I was happy to do it because when I found delight in something, it felt like I learned a little bit more about our God, who upon creating the various elements of this world, declared them good.
The first day didn’t start off promising. It was a particularly somber news morning, no good human interest pieces. My commute was just stories about war, rumors of war, political intrigue. The usual. Not much to delight in.
Despite my best efforts, I didn’t observe much to delight in until I went to pick Miles up from school. Before he came out, two boys came running out together and before they headed their separate ways, one had to give the other a piggyback ride. I found this curious. After a few seconds and a few yards of travel, they yelled “Switch!” One jumped off, they changed places and did it again. A few yards later, the one jumped off and they ran their separate ways.
I realized that I’ve never greeted anyone nor been greeted with a piggy back ride. I’m grateful for that in a way, but at the same time, how delightful is it that these two friends have this sort of bond? How delightful that they decided that a proper greeting was jumping on the other’s back?
I don’t intentionally seek out the delight in the same way anymore, but the exercise was insightful for me. It caused me to keep my eyes open and observe more of the world around me that I might otherwise ignore. If nothing else, it forced me to look at the world in a very intentional way.
The experience also showed me that finding delight in my day helped me see the delight God must have for this world. Despite the inherent challenges of living where and when we do, there is still so much around that is beautiful, wonderful, even delightful.
That is my challenge for all of you this week. Find delight, and not just where you know you will find it. Find it in the moments that are otherwise missed. Find it in the absurd, the random, in the things you don’t quite understand. Find the delight and you may start to see the world through the same lens God used when the world was made.
Jim Richardson
As I sat reading your post, my dog sitting next to me placed her head on my outstretched legs. With my wife of 42 years by my other side, it was a delight in a small way to know that we are blessed in many different ways. Welcome to St. Paul and to the Quad Cities.!
Marcia Willi
Pastor Mark, this just happened to me today as a matter of fact! Someone had some beautiful horses that they showed on social media ; asked which was our favorite I picked the horse and the person posting it gave me her name ( which just happened to be my beloved mothers!) I was delighted to have that little “ nugget “
Nancy Ingelson
Alleluia!! Delight—a beautiful word, a glorious feeling, a moment in God’s own grace. Right before our eyes, every day.
Kit Whan
This is just the perfect message!
Thank you!
Irene Hanssen
After having read all the comments, they all said it for the rest of us. Finding delight is a great way to keep us on the positive side of life.
Sheila Mesick
When a dear lifelong friend called and said she wanted to stop by after her dental appointment, I was thrilled. We had a good visit surrounded by good conversation and laughter. It meant the world to me! Since my mobility has decreased and getting out of the house is such a challenge, I simply don’t see people. Not only do I not interact in activities it has spilled over into phone conversations. In my day I was a social animal and never thought I would experience such isolation. I get that people are busy with work, family life, and keeping up on it all. It’s a challenge. Learning to find delight has taken other avenues, which have opened up my interests on another level. And I take delight in that.
Phyllis Hofer
Challenge accepted!
Suzanne Benson
As I walked and listened to a podcast (Yo Yo Ma), the joy and wonder of our world was shining through. Thank you and welcome to you and your family.
Deborah Lamp
What a good thought I enjoyed this reading. I agree we need to find good things in everyday in our world.
Thank you