Joy – The Story of Divine Light
Joy: intense, exuberant, gladness of heart. Whether you recall ever the feeling of joy, most of us would love to have more. So where does it originate and how can we get more?
I know a few things about joy. Joy is exquisite, fleet of foot, entirely frivolous, and totally useless in a most wonderful way. As I repeat often for those of us who live running around a rat-maze of thoughts, joy will not be found in explanations, analysis, and rationalizations. Access to joy begins with dropping down from the gray matter of the brain into my shoulders, arms, heart, hips, legs, feet and toes.
Several years ago I woke one night and the interior of my body was alive. Every molecule vibrated and pulsated with light. It was an amazing experience, ecstatic and after a time almost painful, as though this heightened awareness was too much. It went on for several days. When I was physically aware, it continued. When I became externally focused I would lose the experience. When I dropped into my body the lights twinkled on. A few minutes and I’d lose it again. I believe we are lit up like this all the time. And, to know the true bliss of being alive we must begin in our own physical presence.
Joy is everywhere present all the time. It comes to us from every direction. It is available in the beauty we see with our eyes, the sound that reaches our ears, the sensations of taste, touch, and smell. Joy shimmers in every particle of my body, feelings, and thoughts. It moves through me, is reflected and refracted. I have no responsibility; there is nothing for me to do. 
If we skim the day unconscious, joy goes on, and we miss the party. But then, as I said, joy is foolish. All it can do is bring more of itself.
Recently, my husband and I went to a friend’s house with small gifts. The kids screamed with excitement at the Ben 10 Video Game and disappeared. Later, they hooked up an electricity kit with a little help from my husband. Otherwise, we sat and talked mostly about nothing. I discovered I misunderstood the meaning of lemon zest and I had made the cake seriously wrong. I took some heat for that and we laughed. The day was hazy and hot, no one with too much energy. We left about the time their mother discovered how much candy they had eaten. Driving home, I felt – nothing exciting, contentment, and peace. Today, I thought, a few hearts freely loved one another for no reason at all. This is life. This, too, is joy.
