Meditation: Joy

My heart lifts as the golden finches rise
beside my bike and pace me for seconds at a time.
My heart soars when a baby without words
sees me and beams in recognition.

I am more than me when God
paints the sky in gold and purple. My breath
stops. My heart flies beyond the package that I
normally know as me.

A stranger smiles, a dancer hits the mark and beat,
a moment of perfect prowess, sun sparkling on
tumbling brown water framed by new green leaves
and black trunks and glowing moss rocks.

Heaven is all around us, glimpsed in the moments
of perfection - infinite moments savoured
and stored. Reminders that we live in a world half
seen, a creation barely noticed, but always there

to reassure and sustain us when we dare to
share your joy.


Suggestions for meditations
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you.
Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.
These are things that bring me joy - what brings joy to you?
If you would prefer a Bible reading I suggest Luke 12, 22-32.
You can begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.
Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with the word Joy. Every time you drift off the word, gently remind yourself and come back to it ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).
You may need a countdown clock. 
At the end thank God, and return to your day.