Enjoy Yourself

Pause and Enjoy

Yes. Enjoy yourself. After a year’s worth of reflections focused on surviving through so much darkness, it is time for me to write about enjoying the light. I must first acknowledge those of you who are deep in the journey of loss and grief. I honor your suffering and know there is no “moving on.” I know that as we step into a new phase of the pandemic, there is still uncertainty. I also recognize that there is an important need to appreciate and enjoy a moment. Hugging, laughing, acting silly, and simply being present to a light moment are healthy - and I would even add critical - experiences that contribute to our Divine wholeness. Are you pausing to enjoy yourself?

What is your first reaction when you read this invitation to enjoyment? Do you notice a resistance coming from within? (Why is a blog about faith talking about going out and having fun? How can I go out and celebrate when so many people have died? Is there time for enjoyment with so much injustice in the world?). These are common reactions for those of us who have compassion for the suffering and who care about contributing to a better world. Yet appreciating life is part of a healthy faith.

Experiencing God’s Joy

Experiencing God in the lighter moments - enjoying lunch with a friend, watching a movie with a loved one - is recognizing God’s love and joy. Being aware and present to a light moment is honoring the reality of the dualities of life while recognizing how God is in all of it. A light moment helps us to step back and take ourselves less seriously. The work we do and the issues we care about may be serious, and finding time to laugh and play moves us to a place of humility. When grounded in humility, we are reminded that we are not in charge. We can loosen our grip on our attachments with the belief that God is holding everything important for us with a firm and steady hand.

Celebration is the acceptance of life in a constantly increasing awareness of its preciousness. And life is precious not only because it can be seen, touched, and tasted, but also because it will be gone one day. Henri Nouwen

If a light moment puts you in touch with a sense of love, joy, and kindness, remember that these are fruits of the Spirit. They serve as reminders of how God is in the middle of your fun.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Gal. 5:22-23

When we catch the breath and energy of each moment, we feel content and joy graces our lives. Sr. Anne Bryan Smollin, C.S.J.

Appreciating a light moment can also be part of your gratitude practice.

O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:1-3

Joy and Gratitude

Naming God as the source of a grace-filled moment and responding in gratitude is helpful if you feel guilty connecting with joy. In her book, Daring Greatly, researcher and author Brené Brown talks about “foreboding joy.”

I’d argue that joy is probably the most difficult emotion to really feel. In a culture of deep scarcity—of never feeling safe, certain, and sure enough—joy can feel like a setup. We’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Joy is the most vulnerable emotion we experience. And if you cannot tolerate joy, what you do is you start dress rehearsing tragedy.

During her research, Brown says she met people who had a deep capacity for joy. The difference, she says, is that when something blissful happened for them, they felt grateful.

Summer is beginning. I have spoken with so many of you who are venturing out, traveling, and seeing friends and family for the first time in over a year. Enjoy yourself. Laugh. Play. Smile. Be present to the joy. Acknowledge all of it as a precious gift from God.

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Please share your thoughts. We would love to hear from you. How are you embracing joy?