Enjoying the World
Reflections 1
As I am reading through Thomas Traherne’s Centuries, I am encouraged to write meditations on my own. Here is Monday’s reflection is how to see the world aright:
As the arms of the sea drag us down to despair, how might we enjoy the world aright? As the tongues of the world slither into our ears, how can we enjoy the word aright? As the lids of the skies darken and pour like rain, why can’t we enjoy the world aright? There is hope—a bountiful, blessed hope.
As Christina Rosetti says, ‘What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow / What are brief? Today and tomorrow / What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth / What are deep? The ocean and truth.” Truly, to enjoy the world aright is to understand the truth and the depth of the world the Lord has made. Not only when we are plagued by fear, doubt, worry should we try to seek the world aright, but at all times, for to see the world aright is to be joyful and thankful for the bountiful blessing God has given to us, both in his Creation and through the sacrifice of his Son. It is not to only love the beauty of the thing, but to enjoy the very beauty of joy itself!
When both your soul and body see and understand the magnitude of God and your microscopic place, then you can but begin to comprehend the gift you have been given. Then, you must turn and give the same to others—the golden rule. Can you esteem every soul, lost or found, as a treasure as God does? Embody worship and your identity as a child and servant of God to enjoy the world aright, for it is the lost and the haughty that fall to despair.