"Risking delight, recognizing it, receiving it, and sharing it - that will be the focus for me in 2018." Those were my words in my January post as I shared my OLW for the year, delight.
And in that same post, I shared these words from Jack Gilbert's poem:
"We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world."
- Jack Gilbert, "A Brief for the Defense"
Those words, "...the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world," have become even more meaningful as I've faced some sad times since Thanksgiving. I traveled to Oklahoma to be with my brother as he waited for a biopsy. We filled that time together with delight - laughter, Hallmark movies, a few tears along the way, and of course, stories. We received good news from the surgeon on Thursday. He doesn't believe that we are dealing with pancreatic cancer as we had been led to believe by his earlier medical screenings. And now we're waiting on the results of his biopsy.
Other delights of my time in Oklahoma (my third trip there this year) included attending my niece's final rehearsal for the Christmas community concert, reading to her fourth graders, shopping with Kat and Kara, seeing Kat's beautiful revolving Santa Christmas tree, helping my brother set up a blog, and sharing many hugs!
Stopping to notice daily delights has enriched the days of this year. And just this morning I spotted this gorgeous tree, still clinging to fall color as it stands surrounded by bare trees.
Those words, "...the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world," have become even more meaningful as I've faced some sad times since Thanksgiving. I traveled to Oklahoma to be with my brother as he waited for a biopsy. We filled that time together with delight - laughter, Hallmark movies, a few tears along the way, and of course, stories. We received good news from the surgeon on Thursday. He doesn't believe that we are dealing with pancreatic cancer as we had been led to believe by his earlier medical screenings. And now we're waiting on the results of his biopsy.
Other delights of my time in Oklahoma (my third trip there this year) included attending my niece's final rehearsal for the Christmas community concert, reading to her fourth graders, shopping with Kat and Kara, seeing Kat's beautiful revolving Santa Christmas tree, helping my brother set up a blog, and sharing many hugs!
Stopping to notice daily delights has enriched the days of this year. And just this morning I spotted this gorgeous tree, still clinging to fall color as it stands surrounded by bare trees.
It has been a joy filled year as I've slowed down to pay attention and notice the many ways that delight can fill our days. This post has reminded me that one of my goals for the year was to be a dispenser of delight. I'll be working on that during this season!
How good that moments of delight were part of your time with your brother even during difficult days. Glad there was better news than expected and I hope the biopsy leads to a diagnosis and treatment.
ReplyDeleteI loved the description of the tee, clinging to fall color as it stands surrounded by bare trees.
Wishing you and your family a delightful December, especially as you celebrate Christmas.
Oh, good grief, tree!
ReplyDeleteDear Ramona - you are most certainly a dispenser of delight! THANK YOU! And hugs to you and your family as you move through whatever diagnosis for your brother... yes to delight in the face of that ruthless furnace. xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful OLW. So glad to hear the news is better. Take care.
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear you've had such a delightful year!
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