The emotion of delight is often confusing for humans. There are so many elements to feel all the time, about feelings one is having and whether or not one should. For some reason, over time, humans seem to grow shy about the simple, deep directness of delight.

Delight is fundamental. It is simple. It is safe. It is a blossoming sensation, arising from within the heart and mind. It can be as easy as a laugh, breaking forth in spontaneous combustion of the soul, a little blip of joy escaping and then bursting like a bubble in air.

Delight is sometimes anticipated, which can either increase or decrease the actual experience of delight. Your choice. Your view. Your perspective.

Allowing yourself to be surprised by the world – for some people, that is a challenge. But for the moments when you rest in confidence of the space the world holds for you, any beauty, any connection, any glimpse of the holy nature of existence can bring delight.

It is not often thought of in scripture, but simply to be in the world is the delight of the gods, who cannot fully incarnate because of their nature. They find delight everywhere on Earth. They do not, as some worry, delight in the suffering of mortals. But they do wonder, occasionally, at the lack of delight mortals show.

When did you all become jaded, and tired, and spent? Do you not glance up in your dusty cell to note the fragile beauty of the new-spun spider’s web? And do you not, when she catches a fly, delight? Not for the woe of the insect entrapped, but for the demonstration of the arachnid’s art, and of course, the prospect of their supper. And do you not, for that moment of delight, forget the sorrow of being yourself, trapped in the world?

Delight is the path to liberation, spiders, flies, et al. ❀

Choice can be a challenge, or an opportunity, or an obstacle. Choice can open things up or go clunk. It depends on what the options are, and how soon you need an answer. If you are used to having choices, you may not be troubled at all. If Choice brings you to panic, you may need to breathe, and take a little more time. Your preferred choice may not be offered to you in the moment, in which case you can say hmmm, I see nothing I like, try again. Or hmmm, I will wait and see what else arises. Or even hmmm, I want something other than what is offered, and I will take myself elsewhere in search of it.

You are not required to accept as a choice that which does not suit you. Sometimes, on a dime, you have to make a choice that does not seem to take you where you want to go. You may need to suddenly turn right or left when you meant to go gaily forward. In which case you might travel around the block or take a different flight or make a U-turn when it’s safe or even just pull over to get your bearings. You are not required to stay with your choice any longer than it serves you.

Each choice leads to all other choices, so remember this when you feel trapped. Any choice will bring movement. Each choice brings opportunity. You will never be entirely certain of them all. Sometimes you just have to wait for things to clarify, like when you stop stirring up the silt in the pond and allow the transparent nature of water to reveal itself. Sometimes choice will make itself known only when you stop interfering with it.

Choice may sometimes appear to be kept from you, but very often you just need a shift. You may need to call in your allies (of the seen or unseen worlds), or go to court, or run away. You may need to take a leap of faith or go back to bed. You may need to throw it away and start fresh. Other choices, other times, will always arise. No choice lasts forever, not even the ones you regret. There is an overarching framework to your life, and you will always see Choice within that context, whether you recognize it or not. ❀

To rest is to draw into yourself all the resources and energy you have been expressing out into the world. It is to take a period of time out of time, and space out of place, and withdraw what is generally given out.

When the body or the mind or the spirit fatigues, some people try to push on. Which is an interesting thing if you think about it. Like trying to drive a car without power or fuel. Even getting out to push the beast to the final destination, instead of crawling into the back seat for a nap, or waiting for the day to break so you can see what you’re doing, or waiting for help to arrive.

It is not necessary at every moment of every day to be moving forward. It is not a requirement that all the action you take be under your own steam. Sometimes it’s the better part of valor to ask for help, and then accept it when it arrives.

If you don’t know where to seek help, that is a useful meditation to have with yourself. Maybe write a list of ten places and people from whom you could seek assistance. If you don’t know how to receive help, this is as good a time as any to begin to learn. It is a skill, after all. It is a skill everyone needs. Nothing gets done in pure solitude, not really. So, resting in your efforts is mandatory.

Confront your fear of being lazy. There is a false equivalency between resting and lazing. Also, there is nothing wrong with lazing. But resting is purposeful in the accomplishment of your life. (OK, lazing is, too. Everything has a place.) You will not get as far as you think without resting. It is the reconstitution of the dried-out tissues of your soul. It is the rejuvenation of the skin of your being and the organs deep within, which keep you going. Is your fear of laziness and judgment greater than your longing for health and well-being?

Nobody ever exhausted themselves into better health. May we say, while we’re at it, that of course effort is called for in living your life, doing your work, loving yourself and others? May we say that at times great effort is required, to meet a deadline or launch a task, or even just to get through a day? Effort is not an objective measure; therefore, neither is rest. Both are required for function. Ask yourself, perhaps, why would you skimp on or sacrifice half of this equation? ❀