To Delight

ONE 

By preaching to us His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals to us something about existence: it is delightful. Further, He delights in us, that’s why He bothered to be like us, teach us, and save us! The world is suffering a scarcity of attention and delight. But how do we delight? What does that mean? 

This December I went to a Christmas light festival held in a botanical garden. I had driven by before, seen the lights, heard the music, but observing is much different than participating. My wife and I were enchanted. The trees around the trails and ponds were decorated with countless lights and candles. Musicians sat throughout filling the air with song.   

To delight is not merely to look at something. It is to be caught up in something and experience it. Not as an observer, but an active participant.  

To delight in someone is to approach them as they are. To experience and participate in their identity as a child of God. 

TWO

What do we delight in? A good way to tell is to ask; “what is it that engages us that we lose track of time?” We can call this “getting lost” in something. We get lost in good music, good movies, and good conversations. We are fully focused on the thing at hand. We give our attention to it and desire nothing else. 

Now to delight in someone is not to put on rose-colored glasses whenever they are around, to create illusions and ignore flaws. Delight experiences what is there. The wonder and glory of God’s creation. 

What do we delight in? What do we get lost in? What would it look like if we had more of that in our lives? What would it look like if I took delight in my family and friends the same way? 

THREE

To practice delight, try taking a break from screens. Why? A screen is just a bunch of tiny lights that change color. The issue is we think that seeing these screens is the same as seeing and being with the thing on the screen.  

As I said, to delight is to be caught up in something and experience it. Not as an observer, but an active participant. Screens force us towards being passive observers.  

Screens allow for only one or two of our five senses. And even those are limited. A video of a vacation is not the same as the vacation, and a video chat is not the same as a chat. How many delightful family conversations have been blocked by too much attention to screens? Not that I’m saying its easy.  

I so easily fall into the habit of turning on a screen when I’m bored. I desire rest or entertainment and engagement and so I go to a screen. But screens are not the only source of rest or engagement. They force us towards being passive observers. Screens only engage a part of me. I want to be fully alive. 

My God, your glory is me fully alive. Heal the parts of me that are dead. Call me back to life. 

FOUR

Perhaps you are addicted to your screens. Or perhaps it is some other lesser good that you have become addicted to. Again, screens, rest, entertainment, pleasure etc. are good things. But they can become distractions from greater things.  

A good way to practice the capacity to delight in others is to practice delight in other greater things. Choosing to give time to greater things, and if needed, take time from lesser goods, like screens. Perhaps you have wanted to learn a new instrument. Or take up gardening, or woodworking or pottery, or cooking new recipes. Perhaps you could learn how to dance, learn a new language. Not something you feel you ought to want, but something you actually want. God is always calling us to choose greater goods. 

In this decade, ask Jesus what desire for a greater good he has placed in your heart. What opportunity for delight does he desire for you? 

FIVE

To delight is not merely to look. It is to be caught up, and experience as an active participant.  

I had the opportunity to see St. John Paul II when he was Pope. I shared the same common experience of those who met him: When you were with him, you were the only one in the room. 

St. John Paul did much to cultivate delight in others. He fostered delight in everything. In his youth, he read the greatest books he could, he dove into the theater and fine arts. He had a great love for the outdoors, and often delighted in nature. All this translated to delight in others and God in prayer. 

The world is like a mountain. The base is made of smaller goods, and greater goods lead up to the greatest. We must learn to climb this mountain, letting go of the lesser to receive the greater. Following this trail of delight to the summit. Today, reflect on what big or small ways you can practice delight.