Long enough have you dreamed contemptible dreams,Now I wash the gum from your eyes,
You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light & of every moment of your life.Long have you timidly waded, holding a plank by the shore,
Now I will you to be a bold swimmer,
To jump off in the midst of the sea, & rise again & nod to me & shout, & laughingly dash with your hair.—Whitman, Song of Myself
Last month my family embarked on the 5th Annual Father's Day Ice Cream Tour. Even though my heart was heavy with grief, I enjoyed the tour. It was good to have a ritual that reminded me of the joy that exists in this life.
The joyful possibilities were clear as I browsed the menu board at Sylas and Maddy's.It was clear in the company I kept during the afternoon.
(Picture at stop #2 on the tour)
I pray that I'm always able to see the joy life has to offer.
I pray that I'm always able to bask in the "dazzle of the light and of every moment in this life."
What's one simple thing that brings you great joy?
trampin' the perpetual journey,
muddy
7 comments:
Joy = Being home on the ranch in Nebraska
Aw, seeing those pics of you with your dd brought me joy just now. (She looks so much like you!) It brought back fond memories of my dad taking me for ice cream. His favorite was mint chocolate chip, so for a long time that was my favorite, too. It's no longer my first choice, but every once in a while I like to have a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream in his honor. One of my kids went through a phase of that being their favorite flavor, and that really tickled me. So many little things like that remind me of him, and when I read Whitman I wonder if my dad liked him. I bet he did. Someday I plan to discuss Whitman and Thoreau with him, perhaps over a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Do you suppose there's ice cream in heaven?
Much like last night.
Sitting on the veranda after a quick Summer storm, having a cigar, and visiting with my sweetie. The crickets, cicadas, tree frogs, and the resident bull frog providing the background music. Sheer joy.
What a lovely post. Those smiles help to assuage grief. I am so sorry for the loss of your Father. Know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. You asked about things that bring us joy. For me it will always be the first cry of a baby. That's followed quickly by first smiles. Lest you think me otherworldly, I also love a really good hamburger :-). I hope the day treats you well. Blessings...Mary
We're at a Christian youth camp this week. Today, after leaving my comment, I sat in on a teaching on the hope of Christ's return. I thought about your dad and another blog friend's sister who recently passed as well as my dad. Then I thought about how wonderful it will be to be with not only those people but all those still living that we never get to see and the perfect fellowship we will have. The teaching was entitled "The Scope of the Hope". As I sat there thinking all these things, the teacher said by way of wrapping up and encouraging us to study and learn more, "This isn't really so much of a scope as it is a sampling--like a taste of some fantastic ice cream you have to run out and get more of as soon as you've tried it." Such a silly thing to get choked up over, but I did. And then tonight during the evening's entertainment we were served ice cream. Mint chocolate chip was among the flavors available, so of course that's what I had to have. Just a comment and a bowl of ice cream--such simple things to bring joy to my day and remind me of the greater joy set before us. No one else knew about what I wrote this morning, but God knew. How blessed we are to have such a loving heavenly Father Who cares about the little things that bring such joy to His children. What a blessing, too, to be on the way, trampin' onward and upward, homeward bound.
Joy = a nice mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, especially when the mutton is nice and lean.
True love.
Besting a Cicilian in a game of wits.
Saying "thank you very much" in my best Elvis accent, which isn't very good.
hey ... heading to Alaska in a few weeks, and going to spend the weekend in San Francisco on the way home. Trying to talk M into make a trip to Humphry Slocombe but she's afraid of the Government Cheese.
http://www.humphryslocombe.com/|_Home_|.html
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