Be still. I paused my early morning walk through the dew and drank in the beauty of the meadow. Two small yellow butterflies, one with a deeper dappling of orange, danced before my eyes. They flitted up and away and then together again dancing to an intricate song I couldn’t comprehend. In my silence with my breath held, I heard the almost imperceptible flapping of their wings. A smile burst across my face. Somehow, the sound of their flight had a more profound effect on my heart than the vision of their brilliant and playful dance. How could such tiny and delicate things produce a sound? And how many other butterflies had I walked by in my lifetime and never took the time to hear them? I had walked away from my opportunity to experience profound joy.
What a delight—joy overflowing. Their dance made me pause and ponder many things.
The goodness of God to still my heart and body enough to experience the sight and sound of the dance
The intricate, precise and breathtakingly beautiful world and life God has given us
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17, ESV)
How much more can He teach us about joy? I feel there is a lifetime of wealth of wisdom that we need to receive regarding joy.
Joy with no one watching in an empty field with only God’s eyes on us. No performance for others. But the kind of joy that bubbles up, splashes over and in its brilliance can only be contained in a dance. That’s the kind of joy I want for you and me.
Teach us Lord, we’re listening.
Teach us Lord, our hearts are still, and our ears are open.
Joy even during difficult circumstances. More accurately, joy because of our pain. Help us remain vulnerable and available to walk with this resilient joy abiding with our God.
Prayer for you and me: Thank You, for Your brilliance. We thank You for giving us the good gifts that you delight in lavishing on us. Take us deeper into Your joy so that we might journey in a more vulnerable and available fashion with You. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10, ESV)
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