Watson enjoys every aspect of his walks. The trees must be sniffed, the grass investigated, the scents and sounds of each area are something to be savoured. (And, there is NO moving him if he doesn’t want to move forward – his side-eye is epic!)
Come, on the other hand, can. not. wait! for the next bin/post/shadow/etc. She pulls at her lead, barely noting where she is, she’s so keen to get to the next ‘destination’. My right arm knows not only her chase drive (ah, the greyhound in her) but also the curiosity pull.
We can face life with the same varied foci… for some, each moment is a time to be appreciated, investigated, enjoyed. It’s literally living, happily, in the moment – whatever that may look like.
For others, the concept of destination happiness takes over – this preoccupation with the idea that happiness is somewhere else, just around the corner – if only we could get there faster.
The challenge with destination happiness is that it reduces joy in the ‘now’, always looking for contentment elsewhere… and ultimately never finding it. A sense of permanent dissatisfaction and disappointment ensues.
And while we can’t go through every aspect of life at the pace Watson walks, God invites us to live in the present; to notice the abundant blessings that flow upon us at any time, to appreciate the beauty (conventional and otherwise!) that surrounds us, to engage with the people that God has put in our path (and in whose path God has put us!). There is joy to be found – a deep and holy joy that transcends anything of this world – whenever we’re able to dwell in the moment.
Ps 16.11 You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your hand are pleasures for evermore.
