December Delights

and an Invitation to a Collective Delight Practice

You can enjoy this writing by listening to the audio version or reading it below.

One night as I prayed for relief from my spiraling mind, Philippians 4:8 came to mind: “... friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse…” (The Message) I found it easiest to bring to mind something small that I had experienced as delightful.

Over the years, I’ve heard others share about their delight practices. In 2023, I tried to end my day by writing out a list of delights, but now I start my day by listing delights from the day before - it works better for me. I like delights because they can be small and silly or they can carry more weight. There isn’t a rule box for what I’m allowed to experience as delightful in a moment. But there is a reality that the more I write them down, the more aware I am of the many moments of delight I am fortunate to experience each day. It sure helps balance out the troubling stories permeating this world.

I know that it might seem naive to spend time each day highlighting delight. After all, there are so many big problems to fix. Sure in the world but even in my own home, and in my own heart. The thing I’m realizing is that when I overfocus on the problems - both fixable and unfixable - my ability to love well is compromised. When I add intentional time to my day to notice the goodness around me, my capacity for loving in the hard parts increases. And most surprisingly, this delight list has helped me in determining which problems are actually mine to address!

Here on Anam Cara, I’d like to share this practice with you all. Every so often, I’ll share a delight or two from my day, week or month. And in the comments I hope you’ll share with me something that’s delighted you!

Collectively, we can pause for a moment in our lives and think on things that are beautiful, true, compelling, funny, authentic, just, pleasing, commendable, pure. Things excellent and things worthy of praise. And hopefully this collective moment of elevating light will increase our capacity to love in this day.

December delights. Last December, I drove my daughter to her school in the dark of the morning. This little biking dino caught my eye. The town where my daughter attended school is known for two big things: Dino bone discoveries and mountain biking. Even without the Christmas decorations, this sculpture brings me delight. BUT when I drove past one morning, and saw that he had caught that raucous gingerbread man, I found myself laughing in delight! I’m not sure when the town then allowed T-Rex to capture the Grinch, but I find it equally as delightful (I’m not sure the car behind me found me delightful as I had slowed to almost a stop in the roundabout to capture that picture - oops! I pulled over to take the photo of the velocicapter)

Tell me in the comments - what’s something that you’ve found delightful so far this December?