Share the Joy Thursday: Prayers and Beauty

There's a prayer called the Metta Prayer

that's part of the meditation practice

of a spiritual community headquartered in Boise

that some dear people I know are involved in.

There's so much heart in this prayer

and it's so acutely relevant in these troubled times

that it fills me with JOY to share it:

May all beings have fresh, clean water to drink.

May all beings have food to eat.

May all beings have a home.

May all beings have someone to share love with.

May all beings know their true purpose.

May all beings be well and happy.

May all beings be free from suffering.

Today I shall do what I can to make this so.

It brings me JOY

to think of the energetic shifts that would occur

if each of us said this prayer every day,

as often as we think of it

and for each of us to put our words into action.

It brings me JOY

to share my light and see the light in you.

It brings me JOY

to create photographs and works of art 

that might touch someone's heart.

It fills me with JOY to see beautiful things,

whether they're the creations of people

possessed of ancient wisdom or current inspiration

or God's own handiwork.

It gives me JOY to stand at the edge of the sea

and drink in the juicy air,

to hear the roar of the waves and the songs of seabirds.

It gives me JOY to know that our dear friend NOELLE
is finding concrete ways for us to make a difference
in the lives of people in Japan.
Click HERE to join in her efforts.

BLESSINGS AND LOVE to you --

especially all those whose hearts are heavy

and spirits sagging.

What gives you JOY?

To play along and share the joy:

1. do a post that tells and shows us what gives you joy.

2. capture the URL of the specific post 

and paste it into the Mr. Linky box 

along with your name.

3. visit other players -- as many as possible -- 

and let their joy infect you.  

Leave them a comment about their post.

Let's start an epidemic of joy!