Today’s Lent-practice word is JOY. Finally, an easier word! Snippets of joy from my day included:

• The extra-creamy smoothness of my morning smoothie
• Planting cyclamen on a February day
• The comfort of warm water flowing over my shoulders as I showered
• The anticipation of sharing a coffee conversation with a friend whom I hadn’t seen in weeks
• The over-the-top, from-the-toes joy of the coffee shop cashier as he delightedly took our drink orders; so glad that this shift was in a new Tully’s location away from the one he normally works, serving “grumpy” (his words, not mine!) Boeing workers
• The warmth of the light-lines being off-and-on painted across the right side of my face as the late-afternoon sun danced between passing trees as I drove (nearly the speed limit!) down Interstate 405
• The clink-clink of my cat’s collar tag as it clanked against his food bowl, as he happily ate after a few weeks of unexplained lack of appetite
• Amongst the bills and unwanted catalogs, receiving an actual card from someone I love in my mail today
• Daylight at 5:20 pm!

And being reminded of this lovely quote from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God”

And you, friend? What brought joy to your soul today?