It’s a beautiful, summer day and I am on the dock of a cottage. The water stretches out before me, waiting for me to take the plunge. There’s a moment of hesitation before I jump.
“How cold is the water?”
“Is it deep enough?”
“What will people think of my jump? Should I dive?”
Then I remember what it’s like being a kid and just leap.
Leap before the endless thoughts can stifle and prevent you from a moment of joy.
Leap before the decades of worries and concerns can overwhelm your desire to feel free for a moment.
Leap towards the water, leaving all the thoughts on the dock. You can come back for them later.
That moment, in the air, is the joy we lose as we age. It’s the melting of all the stress put upon us and the release of all the pressure we feel.
No expectation.
No consideration.
Just you going for it.
It is pure existence.
Staying in that moment is what faithful ardents spend their entire lives practicing because they’ve realized it’s not a place to escape, but a place to live.
And you can live there, no matter where you are in this universe, because it’s the dwelling place of God, something we call the present moment. The place you want to live in for eternity, if only the world would let you.
But maybe, you don’t need the world’s permission.