Small Joys

In the business of life, we all too often get caught up in what’s new, what’s next, better, more… rather than in what is now. Moving at a rapid pace through life to learn to better and more improved versions of ourselves so that we can do more for those we love and care for, we neglect today. We bypass the simple joyous moments today, waiting for and looking for the big payoff.

When I was a kid, I often watched Twilight Zone. I am reminded of a particular show where a man was more enamored with the company of books than with other humans. He would squirrel away for hours with his friends, only putting up with people when it was absolutely necessary. On one of the occasions when he was hidden away, the outside world was destroyed. Perhaps by an atomic-type bomb. Who knows? Every other person is gone. But he didn’t care. He was now the only person living and was ecstatic when he stumbled across a blown out library with a huge repository of books. In his haste to get all of the books collected so that he may sit and read at his leisure, his glasses slid off the end of his nose. While frantically casting about in his frantic now-half blind state, he crushed them beneath his feet. He had been undone by his only true wish. His wish was that there would be no people about, only books. But, of course that meant that there would also be no one who can read to him when he could no longer read for himself.

On a more personal note, three people that I care very much about have lost their lives this week, and several more are struggling to hold on.

I am here this morning to remind you that the big payoff, the gigantic boon that you are waiting for is today. It is living here and now with those who mean so very much to you. There is no promised tomorrow. Assuming we might live to reach it, there is no golden pot to be found at the end of our proverbial rainbow.

Pay attention! Life is in this very moment.

It really is pretty simple… Enjoy the small joys of life.

Be. Here. Now.

Small Joys