Delight

What activities bring you delight?

Our Experience

Recently, in an orientation Zoom meeting for small group leaders in the course, Emotionally Healthy Relationships, we were asked to list some activities that bring us “delight.”

Delight is both a strong word and a soft word that I do not often use in normal conversation. The experience of delight, however, is certainly, well, delightful. But I suspect that my interpretation of the Christian life neglects delight unless it has something to do with God. How absurd to imagine that I would be more spiritual if I reject the enjoyment of God’s many gifts and pleasures. I doubt that Jesus would have been invited to as many parties if he had had that attitude. Libby did not have a hard time answering the question.

“Going back to pottery brings me delight,” she immediately answered.

The person who teaches her pottery had to take a break for a couple of years and Libby has missed it. Most every night we eat dinner out of beautiful bowls she has made.

The fact that she gets to do it with some close friends makes it perfect for her.

“For this post, perhaps you should say something about me that brings you delight,” I kind of said.

“Oh, you’re just comfortable!” She replied with a laugh.

Like an old shoe, I reckon.

“But I am delighted when I hear you talking to one of the boys on the phone and you are sharing stories and ideas.”

“I think to myself, ‘Those are good men.’”

(By temperament Libby delights in seeing other people delighted. She is still learning that she matters, too.)

I delight in riding bikes with my 6-year-old grandson, Grey, which I am sure I mention every chance I get. Lately we have been taking some of his friends along, which makes every ride hilarious, except for the crashes. The other day we went and got William to join us. We stopped beside the lake and under a giant walnut tree found a bunch of nuts.

Of course, they began throwing them into the lake, our way of spreading walnut trees downstream. I suggested that they use their helmets to gather the nuts which they did. William wanted to dump his helmet-worth of nuts into the lake at a small hill along the edge. I was back at the tree collecting when I suddenly heard a splash. Willilam’s helmet had fallen into the lake so without hesitation

Willliam jumped in to get it. He came out soaked, but laughing.

It was delightful.

Delight helps us resist the constant pressure to be doing something responsible.

And delight is usually the first step towards gratitude.

What brings you delight?