Week 5 Day 6: Adventure
Question: What has surprised and delighted you most recently?
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Transcript of Video:
I think a little bit of the playfulness of God is actually coming to learn about your own creation. In other words, getting in touch with who God created you to be: in that there’s just, kind of, this adventure of discovery. And Father Benson actually told the little story – I think in the Instructions on the Religious Life, where he talks about, you know, here God is like the adult: God is like the momma sitting there, who knows all of this stuff already that the toddler is amazed at. But yet the toddler is coming up with a ball and bringing it to the mother’s lap and go, “Look, a ball!” And the mother is sitting there going, “Oh, how wonderful,” and is just delighting in the fact that the toddler loves the ball. And so Father Benson’s message was that, I think, God delights in us being delighted, just like a mother who is sitting there, delighting in the fact that her baby loves the ball.
-Br. Jim Woodrum
Each AM, I rise, take gratitude time, make the bed (closure and thanks for rest) and go downstairs and outside to fetch the New York Times. I step out in bare feet, intentionally, in all weather, and robe and stop to become one with the weather. Every single day, every single season, the new day and the endless differences, delight me.
Watching the birds outside my kitchen window.
I was brought up in a very legalistic church. Recently I discovered that all the rules and things done for appearance sake are not God. God is someone completely apart from the human need for control.He is I AM, and can not be fit into any book of rules… or even the bible. This delighted me because of the freedom that I immediately felt. I was no longer constrained by dogma, if you like. God is not the dogma, He is God. It was such a joy to know this, and to separate to the two.
What has surprised and delighted me most recently?
I needed to build a fence to keep my dog in because she has a bad habit of barking at occasionally passing children. My nephew came to help me – neither of us had any idea what we were doing, but it was so great to have his help and I loved the fact that we just muddled along and worked something out – the fence is still a work in progress but I love being able to play around and try to work out something that I have no training or aptitude for, letting myself be a designer, letting myself imagine, letting myself play.
The antics of my mini-Chihuahua. She never ceases to make me laugh.
The simplicity of things around us, I delight in a sunny day, the new season of spring with colour, new life and flowers all coming through. My greatest delight is not only am I blessed with the ability to be independent, reasonably fit, to be able to do my own thing but also I am amazed and delighted that I am a grandmother to three beautiful children who hug me when I see them, give me cuddles and tell me how much they love me. I thank God daily for the blessings he has given me.
I was surprised and delighted that with prayer and asking for God’s direction I was able to change my behavior toward someone and turn what seemed like a doomed relationship into something comfortable and nurturing once more.
This question and a few preceding questions on play have been difficult for me – which is telling in itself. Surprise and delight aren’t emotions that I feel frequently. My life is good – my emotions tend to be more muted – likely in part due to an absence of playfulness in my life. I need to free myself up emotionally – and present myself with experiences than can generate surprise and delight.
The animals that I saw at a large rescue event: a gorgeous dark blue parrot, a loving pit bull puppy, a black snake that I held as it crawled onto my shoulder, watching a dachshund with two lame back legs still run and win a race for fun.
I am two days behind, having had my three grandchildren with me, but I want share that the youngest, 3 years old, for the first time did not cling to his mother in desperation when his parents were saying good bye for the evening. What a delight that he wanted to spend time with his Oma. We, and his siblings, had a great time together, including lots of bed time stories.
Just realizing that I all I need to do with my daughter is be with her and we are both filled with a joy that makes us giggle together.
Well, Br. Jim hit the nail right on the head for me. My children surprise and delight me almost daily. I love watching them make discoveries in the world, telling me about concepts I’ve been hoping they would grasp, seeing them love each other. It is truly the most delightful thing that happens for me.
I was surprised and delighted when I discovered that my friend also had a gift certificate to a nearby spa. So, we spent the morning deciding what luxuries we were going to enjoy TOGETHER!
I am always surprised and delighted by the beauty of this world. When walking in my neighborhood I invariably look up and see the beauty of the winter trees framed against a blue sky, and I give thanks to God for the beauty he has created for us, just to delight us!
Being invited out to lunch by a colleague; being able to have a small shouting match & seconds later cuddle the same colleague & laugh our socks off about it & delight together in the freedom we share in our friendship; watching others reactions to the recent moon eclipse; new projects writing & in art & a new mystery I feel God is slowly opening up to me for the future. Oh, and I get to see my Dad in about 5 weeks – he’s in another country. Can’t wait.
That should read solar eclipse… blush…
The other day on my way to work, I came over the brow of a hill and before me stretched across the road was a flock of about 25 wild turkeys. I had never seen more than a handful at one time before. It was a delight — also a delight was the fact that they moved out of the road faster than the Canada geese we have. And today I was delighted to be made aware that as any parent, God delights in the fact that we are delighted by things in His creation. What a wonderful insight!
…recently? nothing Ha!
Several things have surprised and delighted me recently: unexpected notes from a friend, remembering the show I bought a ticket for so long ago is coming up on Sunday, this beautiful late winter/early spring snowfall, the great turnout we’ve had for our evening Lenten series at church.
I (together with many others in Europe)had a most wonderful awe inspiring experience today an eclipse of the sun. It was just amazing to see the interest, wonder and joy in everyone , The birdsong stopped and the world was silent at the peak and suddenly the trill of blue tits could be heard and the sun was shining once again. A perfect moment of nature and God*s creation.
I heard about the eclipse on the BBC. So far whenever I have been in an area where there was an eclipse, it has been overcast. So I have never really seen an eclipse. I’m glad that you had this good fortune.
A lunch with a friend this week resulted in us laughing ourselves silly as we ambled through our local bookstore, looking at and playing with all the goodies, and riotously guffawing over the section of humor/quirky books.
We’re kindred spirits and it was an absolute delight–the thing you just can’t plan!
This morning as I walked the dog on a rather dreary, rainy and chilly first day of spring, I was startled – and of course delighted – to see a whole group of daffodils I’d not noticed before well our of the ground and showing a lot of color! In my zumba class I was amazed – and delighted – when someone asked me if I was a ballroom dancer. I’ve done a bit over the years, but would never described myself in that way – fun!
Last night at choir practice, I was able to sing the entire Easter anthem correctly! It has been a difficult one, and I missed the last practice due to a bad cold, so I was truly surprised and delighted to be able to complete the anthem correctly.
Sharing a video with an online friend. The video brings me such joy and it was delightful to share it.
On this cloudy morning as I drove to my church for our Friday morning “sit”, I was surprised and delighted by the sudden view of the clouds hanging in front of the Sandia Mountains, like tufts of white cotton candy against the dark gray of the mountains. It was so beautiful!!! What a gift!!
I was surprised to receive a thankyou call from an elderly lady who I had fed through our council on aging. She didn’t want me to know who it was but she was so grateful.
I am surprised and delighted by God nearly every day, so I could tell a thousand such stories, but this is the most recent, so today I will tell this one:
My daughter has a book that I have been wanting to read for over a year now. But she keeps loaning it to various friends, and a few months ago loaned it to a friend who recently moved out of state. Last night, I was packing to go on a trip, and was thinking about what I would read while travelling. I thought about that book and decided I may as well download it to my electronic reader, since all hope seemed to have been lost for me to be able to borrow my daughter’s copy. At the exact moment that this thought was swirling in my head, my daughter walked in my room and said, “Mom, here is that book” and handed it to me, completely out of the blue. We haven’t discussed the book in months. I have no idea how or when it ended up back in her hands. Often, I hear God giggling, and this was one of those moments.
I agree that God experiences a parental sort of delight at our reactions when we continue to be surprised by the little joys and “coincidences” that God gives to us. The baptismal covenant asks God to give us “the gift of joy and wonder in all your works” — I am so very thankful to have received that gift.
On Tuesday, I got to feed carrot sticks to a giraffe at The Living Desert in the Palm Spring area of California. That was cool! What a tongue! The other thing at the animal park that really caught my attention and made me delight in the creatures that inhabit our world were the Ankole-longhorn African cattle. Talk about longhorn… their horns can reach up to eight feet from tip to tip. I had to take a picture of this amazing sight. It’s a good thing these horns are porous; otherwise the animals would not be able to lift their heads. Of course, there were many other things to delight in at The Living Desert. Everything from butterflies and ocotillo in bloom to cheetahs resting in the shade and the large transparent ears of the fennec fox… from the giant desert tortoise to the birds of Australia’s Outback. Another moment of pure wonder and delight happened when my husband and I went to our hotel’s pool at about 9:00pm. I was able to just float on the surface and look up at the stars between the palm trees. Amazing! All of these experiences were true gifts from God that surprised and delighted me. Thank you, God.
The other night when I was reading a book to my grandson I read a response of a couple words a certain way. He thought it was so funny. He laughed and laughed and said “read it again Grandmom” … he laughed just as hard … finally after the 4th time he let me continue with the book. I am still smiling.
I was looking for a new church for months and the church I eventually ended was was the one I visited on a lark!
I am surprised and delighted each time I experience the limitless love of God. Each time I experience this love I realize I do not have to earn anything. Jesus tell us to love the lord God with everything we have or do and to love our neighbors as we would want them to love us.
Can you imagine what this world would be like if it would take this to heart and actually do it? Wow!
I have cancer (survivable, Thank the Lord!!), but was told that I would have to undergo both chemotherapy and radiation and that after surgery, more radiation and chemotherapy. My treatments would last for about a year. The tumour group met last Friday and said that I wouldn’t have to have chemotherapy because my lesion was in a different place than they originally thought, before all the tests, and I would only have to undergo a short time of radiation, no chemotherapy, surgery and then further surgery up to six months later to remove what they put inside and then I would be ok. I jumped up. Thanked our Lord and Saviour and then started phoning, e-mailing all the wonderful people who have been praying for me. My faith is strong, but I think I experienced a miracle. I have been truly touched by all that prayer and love. We are so blessed to be surrounded by competent Doctors, a country that is free and people who love us. I continue to pray for those who do not have such advantages and are suffering both emotionally and physically.
Celebrating with you! 🙂
This series! Watching the homily presentations is very special. Each one is carefully delivered, though done in an impromptu manner. You are so kind and one-on-one in delivery, that it gives me courage to be delving and straightforward in my eventual answer, sometimes lightening the load of certain information, in stating it. This all has happily surprised and delighted me, every day of Lent, thus far. Thank you again and again for a wonderful experience.
Amen!
A few days ago, as I approached my backyard bird feeder to refill it, a bird that had been feeding there refused to move. I spoke to her gently and approached very close. But she wouldn’t budge, so I went away for a while to give her more time. When I came back about 15 minutes later, she was still there. So this time I approached very close and held out my hand with seed. To my astonishment, she turned away from the feeder and ate out of my hand. I was delighted by this sign of her trust.
For me, there is something each spring that never fails to surprise and delight me. It’s grass in all its prosaic glory, complete with cheerful nodding dandelions and tiny spring wildflowers dotted about. I am ever amazed at how grass can go from looking so brown it cannot possibly have any life left in it to a verdant carpet of lushness just begging you to roll about in it — and all that seemingly overnight! I saw the grass beginning to green the other day, and my heart lifted.
My husband really surprised me by making a party for me with several friends at a restaurant for my birthday. It is so un-like him to put something like this together .. it really touched and delighted me and made me fall in love with him all over again….
Thank you so very much in giving us this image of God taking delight in us. To think that I might bring delight to my God brings such joy! I know God loves me but to possibly delight Him; how wonderful!
Yesterday, when I got my mail, I looked over to my planter and discovered one of my winter pansies opened up among the dead leaves. It was a pretty orange pansy. I was totally surprised and excited to see it.
Yesterday a friend who I dearly love laid an amazing compliment on me. She’s in the midst of the struggles of her own life and is often misunderstood, yet she took the time….for me….our Creator sends His love constantly, and surprises us with the means by which it comes.
Dawn is a new day everyday. Yesterday God painted the clouds an iridescent pink and this morning the hills are dressed in purple.God created and it is good
My brother just called me from out-of-state.
He is visiting our 98-year old mother in the nurseing home near his house.
She is nearly totally deaf and blind, but remains upbeat with a thankful spirit for everyone and everything.
He wanted to see if she might be able to hear me over his cell phone.
I very slowly told her, “Hello” and “I love you.”
After a slight pause my mother replied, “Thank you” with a very loving, angelic voice.
I will cherish this always!
That is a wonderful moment.
I am surprised and delighted by just how much I am enjoying walking with my neighbors. They have taught me to take time to notice things while getting much some needed exercise and avoiding the imperfectios of the sidewalks in the area. We walk in the midst of a busy city yet we can take time to “adore” the trees and flowers that are blooming, to watch the squirrels play, to greet other neighbors and their dogs and to notice the architecture of the houses around us both old and new. We take the time to remove something that is out of place or which may be an impediment to someone else. And, I delight in the conversations that we have and what we are learning from each other. This is a real blessing to me.
I am delighted and surprised when observers express amazement that I am running… And I think, “Would they be even more amazed if they knew my advanced age?”
My father is in his early 70’s and still playing racquetball several times a week. His former racquetball buddies before he retired and moved are playing while in their mid 80’s — and winning in the Senior Olympics! Joy builds endorphins!
We are spending a few days in the Outer Banks and I am delighting in the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, the birds flying hither and yon, the rain, and hoping for a dolphin sighting! We’re visiting the aquarium today, so I’ll also delight in the underwater life there. My husband is an aviation nut and yesterday we visited the Wright brothers’ Memorial – seeing him have so many ‘Wow!’ moments was truly delightful!!
I am surprised and delighted by a forced stillness- a brief hospital visit makes me still, peaceful, and in touch with the present moment-
Maybe God know this it what it takes to slow me down.!
At the first session of a discernment committee I am on (a former Catholic priest now going through the discernment process to become an Episcopal Church)–I was surprised and delighted to find that the new “curriculum” involves all of us going on a journey and reflecting on the same questions as we support Dennis on his journey. So different than the last time I did it about 15 years ago. I’m looking forward to our next session Saturday and having a space to reflect on my own journey while we listen to his journey. Dennis is in his late 60s and a wonderful preacher and has offered wonderful sessions in our adult forum on early Christianity (he used to teach in a seminary before he fell in love and married 20 years ago)
Christian Scott’s 2012 album, ‘Christian aTunde Adjuah’, the television series ‘Treme’, Sylvia Plath’s poem ‘Blackberrying’, the antics of our cats.
I was walking between buildings on a large semi-rural corporate campus. Some movement on the ground caught my eye. A robin. Then I noticed another, a third, a fourth, they were hopping out of a large shrub and I marveled that I had never seen more that 1-2 robins ever in the same space before. I think I counted about 7 in total. I watched them hop along the ground, feeling so lucky and glad to have this moment. Similarly, on my last day at this same campus I came out to my car at day’s end to find a deer grazing the small bush beside my parked car. I love those encounters with nature. The give me hope and renewal.
That perhaps the dream I have is not dead. Maybe it is forming in others ways and different times, or perhaps is has simply re-blossomed
Dreams have a way of doing that. Keep the faith, and see what emerges as the path! That is in itself an adventure. 🙂
Yesterday I heard this rustling in the woods just near the house. I knew it was either kids on our property or animals playing. It got louder and louder; I went to the edge of the screened in porch and saw three dogs from a neighbor far down our street running up and down the hill; in and out of the trees. They have never been down this far that I know of. I walked out to see what all their commotion was about and they had already taken off towards their house. While walking back, still listening to the dogs somewhere in the woods, a beautiful azalea flower caught my attention. I walked over to it, and while bending down to take a closer look, something caught my eye to the left. I looked up and saw the reason for the dogs being so far from home: a HUGE rabbit ran in front of me, never caring about me, just trying to get away from those darn dogs; and it had. Seeing that rabbit get the best of the dogs delighted me.
Bold songbirds, who are not afraid to perch nearby and sing their hearts out.
A few precious days of gorgeous warm weather after such a bleak winter
Genuine affection from my students
The snowdrops, emerging from a mountain of snow shoveled off the walk, absolutely fresh and unharmed and bobbing in the breeze!
It rained last night! I love the sound of rain. In Texas we need the spring rain to fill our lakes for the summer. I love seeing the lake levels rising. I love thinking about God taking the waters of the oceans and pouring them out on the earth to nurture and sustain us. Bluebonnets are coming!
Oooh, bluebonnets! I bet they are spectacular. Spring glories are such an extravagant gift of God!
Just yesterday the concern and honesty of two strangers created joy in my soul. Thank you Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
today I delighted at the soft rain, a good night’s sleep and a healing body. I ask God to help me be delighted throughout the day. Great message and thank you
My first thought was of my grandson, who is almost 3. He comes up with sentences with words that totally amaze me. The other day he asked us what was in the attic. I had never showed him the door in the ceiling and said attic, but he knew what it was and what it lead to. Wow moment!
Melting snow and the grass showing through!
I was surprised and delighted this week when I met Elliott Holt on the trail while walking our dogs. She’s a writer and teacher and we discussed recent works of fiction. She knew some of the authors and I knew the stories, and it was a perfect outing in Rock Creek Park with Brady and a bright young woman talking about the art of writing. It was totally serendipitous,
My latest adventure was to explore the Island of Kos last November. After a 2-week church trip in Greece and Turkey, I flew by myself to Kos for 4 days where St. Paul spent at least one night. I was delighted to see temple ruins, a castle from the 14th century and beautiful beaches. Pristine photos of Greek churches and blue ocean to remind me of my discoveries.
Like a child, my Golden Retriever is constantly discovering new things (a black squirrel, newly formed ice on the river, a new toy) and I take delight in every one too!
Dogs are a wonderful gift in discovery, joy, and total selflessness. You wouldn’t think there could be so much pleasure contained in one squeaky toy, but there is!
Indeed, my first thought was watching my dog drink water when we are walking outside. He’s a chocolate labrador and he gulps, gulps, stops, scans with his eyes, resume gulping, stops, lifts had, scans with his eyes. He does this at least 3-4 times. And I delight in it because I ask myself, “does he need to stay be sure no other dog is going to steal his water? Does he want to make sure of our safety? All kinds of questions. I’ll never the know answer and I delight in being able to be with the mystery.
An invitation to have luncheon with a friend, in whom I am delighted and with whom I am ceratin that God would be delighted even though the friend is not a believer. I think God is also delighted with the event and will join us. Thank you Br. Jim! Peace!
One of our ex-doctors was in difficulties recently. Even though it had been many months since she worked for it, she came back to our team to seek advice and our support. Are delighted me that the care and love that we share in our team was felt so strongly that even though she was no longer a formal part of it, she felt she could come back to us.