There was a time when "happiness" was not a priority. People were almost embarrassed to admit they wanted to be happy. Not something sought. Not expected. Wished for. Hoped for. But not a goal. And yet now, we seek it and doubt we found it, can't find it, won't find it, and we become obsessed - and would we recognize it if it fell on top of us? Depends on what makes you happy as to whether you figure that out. If it's a new pair of shoes and you have 547 pairs, no. If you have none - another story. Scale. And then, when we lose what we think is giving us happiness, we blow up our lives! Get divorced. Stop talking to "those" people. Quit a job. Run hither and yon in search of all the "things" we're convinced we need, must have, must know - to be "happy." If you stop and stand still and calm down and stop thinking and stop wanting - there it is. Inside. Curled up, ignored, forgotten, dismissed, that small, still, quiet little thing. And Sean not only found it, he has it. They both do. "It grew 3 sizes" and exploded all over them, and I bet that part of the Iberian coastline just glowed with happiness!
Nina, often Sean's posts are published during the Hour Of The Dogs' Breakfast, which is a pretty loud and fast-moving time. It's also the hour for Barb to get ready for work.
Thank you Sean for such a perfect and beautiful word picture. No one does it better than you. May these abundant blessings be poured over you and every person you touch.
This comes at a special moment of need in my life. Recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, I seek for ways to "let go and let God" do what needs to be done. I take my meds, sit for hours at a time for infusions, pray a lot, and mainly try to turn it over to my Higher Power for the results.
The delicate and feeble organ between my ears often tries to take control again... as if I had ANY control at all over anything... but then I remember to"turn it over".... a few times each day. My delicate and feeble organ is like a dog with a stick; the Master will throw the stick, my organ retrieves it, I refuse to let it go...until I do. And then the game starts over again, chasing the stick, holding onto it, and finally letting it go again, rinse, recycle, repeat.
But after all, I'm merely human, so that's just how life is for me. Today I will remember Sean's entry today, that this moment is precious, I am grateful for it, and let go and let God.
Bill ~ I will be lifting you in prayer and adding you to our Wednesday morning ladies Bible Study prayer requests. Highland Park Church, Nashville. The beauty of these sisters, we never need to know you, we just pray for you ~ Bill in Tennessee.
Praying right now for you Bill and trusting the Lord to provide peace and assurance during the times you don't want to let go of the stick, in Jesus' strong name.
Bill...stay strong and filled with hope! Will be praying for your healing on a daily basis. Remember....'Doctors treat but our God heals!" And He's right there with you on your journey. God bless you, Bill...............
Thank you for that word picture in your second paragraph Bill. I can so clearly see doing that with my golden retriever years ago and picture myself doing it with God, even now. Praying for you sir. 🤲
A beautiful description of life in all its mystery and beauty! Wake up it screams… listen, look all around you, feel the earth, breathe the air, smell the flowers, hear the birds, feel the warmth of the sun and live life to its fullest ❣️
Jan, my pastor started a series in Genesis and this was exactly what he emphasized so beautifully yesterday! Sean has that miraculous way of giving us another beautiful blessing on Monday!
I would be curious if you could say,Sean, that your precious wife, who loves you so much because it’s easy to see, and your gifts that you share so easily to anyone willing to listen or read, has healed your damaged heart. If you feel you can share.
Be sure and take these remembrances home with you Sean ... happiness is within us … no matter where we are or what we are doing … on the Camino.. the front porch or the laundry room ! 🤍
Lost in the clouds with baleen whales, lime green lizards and seagulls’ hymns is a most beautiful reflection to me! Would be in awe if I were to see whales in their natural environment. I think about this often. Then hymns as the chosen songs for seagulls struck a chord in my heart! I will always enjoy singing a hymn in happy fellowship with others! (Which was just yesterday morning in a small country church surrounded by pastureland) I believe you saved the best for last…..
Sounds to me Sean what you found, for a moment in time, is/was peace. With peace comes happiness. Peace within for all you’ve accomplished and that is huge. You touch the world Sean, you do this every day with your writings. Peace comes from within and that should bring a feeling of peace that surrounds your outer being. This should bring happiness, a fleeting thing before the world steps in again but for a moment it’s there.
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone, alone with the heavens, nature, and God.”
Sean, I picked up on your reference to The Cloud of Unknowing, that great book written by some unknown mystic in the 13th(?) century. Your descriptions, once again(!) have helped me gain a better understanding of it all. JKA Smith has just released a book titled Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark.
And I think you have done it, Sean. You have found that home of true peace and light in this sometimes dark world.
And all God’s people - and all of us are- said “amen” and “thank you, Sean.”
There was a time when "happiness" was not a priority. People were almost embarrassed to admit they wanted to be happy. Not something sought. Not expected. Wished for. Hoped for. But not a goal. And yet now, we seek it and doubt we found it, can't find it, won't find it, and we become obsessed - and would we recognize it if it fell on top of us? Depends on what makes you happy as to whether you figure that out. If it's a new pair of shoes and you have 547 pairs, no. If you have none - another story. Scale. And then, when we lose what we think is giving us happiness, we blow up our lives! Get divorced. Stop talking to "those" people. Quit a job. Run hither and yon in search of all the "things" we're convinced we need, must have, must know - to be "happy." If you stop and stand still and calm down and stop thinking and stop wanting - there it is. Inside. Curled up, ignored, forgotten, dismissed, that small, still, quiet little thing. And Sean not only found it, he has it. They both do. "It grew 3 sizes" and exploded all over them, and I bet that part of the Iberian coastline just glowed with happiness!
Sean’s post and your comment are exactly what I needed to hear today so thank you. ❤️
Happiness is not a thing
that we can or can't afford,
nor the carousel's brass ring;
happiness lives in the Lord
and is something that is free,
a sweet breath that He longs to give,
but if you're a bit like me
you're too busy trying to live
to maximize ability,
and minimize sloth's dark expense,
and that's the greatest pity,
for to receive the recompense
that God keeps for us, for our best,
we must calm in His kind arms rest.
Amen Andrew, God always waits on us to answer the "knock on our hearts"
Exactly, Sue.
Amen, Andrew. A sweet breath that He longs to give. Just lovely.
Thanks, Nelle!
Right on, Andrew, and beautiful. Write on. 💕
Thank you so much, Anne-Lise.
Lovely and restful like Sean's post, and so happy to see you're there, Andrew, the other day I didn't see you here and worried. Bless you!
Nina, often Sean's posts are published during the Hour Of The Dogs' Breakfast, which is a pretty loud and fast-moving time. It's also the hour for Barb to get ready for work.
Andrew, as always, you hit the nail on the head. I'm sorry I haven't commented
in awhile. I can't comment on my phone any more; I don't want to, but
I think I need to buy a new one. By the way, I was so sorry to hear about
Honey.
Stacey, thank you so much for commenting today! And thanks for mentioning Honey.
As usual, Andrew, you said it so beautifully. Yes, we must find our happiness and calm in God's arms.
Thank you so much!
Thank you Sean for such a perfect and beautiful word picture. No one does it better than you. May these abundant blessings be poured over you and every person you touch.
His word pictures were off the chart wonderful!!!
This comes at a special moment of need in my life. Recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, I seek for ways to "let go and let God" do what needs to be done. I take my meds, sit for hours at a time for infusions, pray a lot, and mainly try to turn it over to my Higher Power for the results.
The delicate and feeble organ between my ears often tries to take control again... as if I had ANY control at all over anything... but then I remember to"turn it over".... a few times each day. My delicate and feeble organ is like a dog with a stick; the Master will throw the stick, my organ retrieves it, I refuse to let it go...until I do. And then the game starts over again, chasing the stick, holding onto it, and finally letting it go again, rinse, recycle, repeat.
But after all, I'm merely human, so that's just how life is for me. Today I will remember Sean's entry today, that this moment is precious, I am grateful for it, and let go and let God.
Bill, I wish you peace and strength on your journey with that terrible disease.
I'll be praying for you.
Bill ~ I will be lifting you in prayer and adding you to our Wednesday morning ladies Bible Study prayer requests. Highland Park Church, Nashville. The beauty of these sisters, we never need to know you, we just pray for you ~ Bill in Tennessee.
Praying right now for you Bill and trusting the Lord to provide peace and assurance during the times you don't want to let go of the stick, in Jesus' strong name.
I'll be praying for you, Bill.
Bill...stay strong and filled with hope! Will be praying for your healing on a daily basis. Remember....'Doctors treat but our God heals!" And He's right there with you on your journey. God bless you, Bill...............
Prayers for your healing and the fortitude thru this challenge - and may it be 'just' a challenge and not a threat.
Bill, I pray for precious glimpses of what is after the letting go. May our God bless you, indeed.
Thank you for that word picture in your second paragraph Bill. I can so clearly see doing that with my golden retriever years ago and picture myself doing it with God, even now. Praying for you sir. 🤲
One of your best.
A beautiful description of life in all its mystery and beauty! Wake up it screams… listen, look all around you, feel the earth, breathe the air, smell the flowers, hear the birds, feel the warmth of the sun and live life to its fullest ❣️
Jan, my pastor started a series in Genesis and this was exactly what he emphasized so beautifully yesterday! Sean has that miraculous way of giving us another beautiful blessing on Monday!
Beautifully said. Your overjoyed heart expressed it very well.
I would be curious if you could say,Sean, that your precious wife, who loves you so much because it’s easy to see, and your gifts that you share so easily to anyone willing to listen or read, has healed your damaged heart. If you feel you can share.
Be sure and take these remembrances home with you Sean ... happiness is within us … no matter where we are or what we are doing … on the Camino.. the front porch or the laundry room ! 🤍
Lost in the clouds with baleen whales, lime green lizards and seagulls’ hymns is a most beautiful reflection to me! Would be in awe if I were to see whales in their natural environment. I think about this often. Then hymns as the chosen songs for seagulls struck a chord in my heart! I will always enjoy singing a hymn in happy fellowship with others! (Which was just yesterday morning in a small country church surrounded by pastureland) I believe you saved the best for last…..
Sounds to me Sean what you found, for a moment in time, is/was peace. With peace comes happiness. Peace within for all you’ve accomplished and that is huge. You touch the world Sean, you do this every day with your writings. Peace comes from within and that should bring a feeling of peace that surrounds your outer being. This should bring happiness, a fleeting thing before the world steps in again but for a moment it’s there.
I pray you carry this knowledge and feeling back home. It is a precious gift. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Have a safe trip home. Reading “I Would Walk Five Hundred Miles” now. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone, alone with the heavens, nature, and God.”
Anne Frank
Your words mean that we need no words. You've said it for us.
Sean, I picked up on your reference to The Cloud of Unknowing, that great book written by some unknown mystic in the 13th(?) century. Your descriptions, once again(!) have helped me gain a better understanding of it all. JKA Smith has just released a book titled Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark.
And I think you have done it, Sean. You have found that home of true peace and light in this sometimes dark world.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us.