#6 Joyful Dedication 2019

Joy in the World

July 20 – August 28

The Month of Joyful Dedication

The Way It Is

By William Stafford

There’s a thread you follow. It goes among


things that change. But it doesn’t change.


People wonder about what you are pursuing.


You have to explain about the thread.


But it is hard for others to see.


While you hold it you can’t get lost.


Tragedies happen; people get hurt


or die; and you suffer and get old.


Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.


You don’t ever let go of the thread.

A reminder:

The Path for Joy offers this life thread:

• • • Discover your sources of joy; imagine them forming an ever-flowing fountain of delight suffusing each of your days.
    • Stretch into new beliefs that joy provides. One belief to experiment with: joy adds more creativity to my life.
    • Challenge your senses to seek and find joy everywhere.
    • Get drunk on joy and tell about it to anyone who will listen. Especially those who give you joy.
    • Devise an invisible companion who is made of joy, of laughter, ease, pleasure, delight, a companion who follows the Path with you every step of the way.
    • Keep holding on to the thread that is joy.
    • Use every occasion as an opportunity to remember joy and celebrate its aliveness in you.
    • Utilize joy to help you transform difficult situations and even people.
    • Share joy with others, serve your world with joy.

Joy in the World, all the World.

Joy in me.