The Joy of Life

September 27, 2009

Dear Friends,

As long as you have the divine right to choose freely, life can—and undoubtedly will—have its challenges.

Your conscious and unconscious freewill choices, combined with the conscious and unconscious freewill choices of others, can quickly carry you out of the flow and into some fairly undesirable situations. You may suddenly encounter rocks and rapids, instead of more calm and tranquil waters.

In those circumstances you may experience fear, sadness, disappointment, or anger. But believe it or not, underneath it all, there will also be . . . joy. Not joy in the typical sense of feeling elated in the moment, but the joy of your spirit—a kind of joy that embraces all of life and living . . . not just the peaceful parts.

Consider this: When you go to an amusement park, don’t you choose to go on the scary rides as well as the pleasant ones? Why is that? Isn’t it because you feel fundamentally safe? And isn’t it the combination of contrasting experiences that brings you joy?

So it is with your divine spirit. To your spirit, life is one, big amusement park. And as an eternal being, your spirit always feels safe enough to enjoy (have joy in) the experience of life as a whole.

In times of stress or distress, remember to take a moment to affirm who you truly are at the core of your being. In prayer and meditation, consciously connect with your divine essence—your eternal spirit—and get in touch with the joy that resides there.

It’s the joy of just being alive and in the world. And it’s a joy that is there no matter what part of the stream you happen to be in . . . or what kind of ride you happen to be on.

Steven

© 2009 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com