The second line of the John Lennon’s “Revolution” switches from revolution to evolution. Wise man. This is what will take us to Peace rather than confrontation.
As we begin to turn our faces toward Hope, we change, we soften, we look forward to expanded possibilities. When I say we change, I mean that our outlook changes, and our abilities to look for new solutions that have everything to do with softening barriers and building bridges expands.
What would mean to us to live in invitation rather than response? How much easier, how much more Joyous would our lives be?
At the beginning of the summer, I was allowed back in the swimming pool as part of my healing from my left knee replacement. For the first time in forever, I was able to move easily. More importantly, I was outside, immersed in cool water under blue skies, surrounded by canopies of tall trees — in short, I was completely in my body and in my Joy.
After the first couple days of being present to that, I realized that I was spending at least a half an hour a day in Joy. It was delightful. What would it be like, I wondered, to live deliberately in Joy?
I’m a water baby, so while the pool was open, it seemed fairly straightforward to exercise my new knee and my Joy. As the season drew to a close, I needed to reconsider. I chose to move from water-walking in a pool to water-walking in a lake. That offered a different kind of heaven. And this week, I was swimming in the ocean.
The weather will change and I will find my joy somewhere else. I have a bit of time to ponder, because the weather will be warm enough for me to swim in the lake. But Joy is seductive. I’ll find my next joy. As I indulge the Joy, my face lifts easily toward Peace.
What brings you great Joy? How do you make space for it in your life? How do you allow it to fuel your life and lead you toward Peace? Have you even considered such a thing? Let me suggest that you do!
Salaam, Shalom, Peace. Blessed be.