Virginia the Blogger has a relatively Good Reason for being M.I.A. the last 2 days of her Lenten Challenge: KIDNEY STONES. After partying a Wee Bit Too Much as Rolling Stones (blaring pain, not guitars) the misbehaving stones finally rolled their way out yesterday evening after their 24+ hour romp. Instead of writing a lovely post as plotted about my parents’ 57th wedding anniversary (’twas yesterday), here’s another pic+ quote..
“How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others, which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight.”
Dorothy Day
The young son pictured is helping his mother gather sticks for their cooking fire in Kagera, Tanzania. He’s so full of joy & happy to serve. Gotta ask, am i this happy to serve others? to do it with a smile (that lasts awhile?) Do i sow seeds of joy or seeds of rushed brusqueness as i go about my daily duties?
Can i view the mundane with DELIGHT? Have i ever considered Delight a Duty??
Dorothy Day (one of my heroes) thankfully spells it out for us: we are to CULTIVATE a spirit of joy. Cultivating something requires effort & energy & careful tending. As we cultivate joy (carefully, tenderly) we must also root out weeds of frustration & anger & fear that choke our growth as doers of delight for the Heavenly Kingdom.
Let our minds munch on that this night…
grace, peace & Cultivation Strategies
Virginia : )
Roses in the Rubble 
Sis, that’s a good word as I begin another work day. So sorry to hear the “rolling stones” are back…Ouch! Luv, cin
Thanx Cin … so like the concept of a ‘duty of delight’ — to take delight in what we do? (to ‘find’ the delight in it?! even if kinda mundane? : )
out of the frying pan & into the fire of stomach flu — BLAH … almost thru 🙂
grace, peace & challenging duties – Gin
Glad the stones are gone and that you’re back. Keep drinking that water!
oooh, gotta drink LOTS OF WATER… yikes — but you know too much about that! (misery does love company, though.. : )
blessings to you (& to your kidneys, too! ) – Virginia