Nougat 25

What brings you pleasure? Do you have to expend lots of time and energy? Does anyone else benefit from this? The focus on pleasure invites us to see God in a different light. Today’s Holy Nougat kick-starts our reflection

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:11‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

I remember being struck by God’s pleasure in yesterday’s nougat. Yes, we experience joy in God’s presence and bask in the pleasure; but let’s not miss out on the fact that they are in God’s presence. So we enjoy these treats God’s prepared just for us by repeatedly being in God’s presence. Not only do we locate ourselves to receive joy and pleasure; but at some point we come to the realization that pleasing us pleases God!

Yes indeedy

When we reflect on Genesis 1, we note the pure joy each aspect of Creation brought God in putting the parts together. (And if you are wondering, check the number of ‘God saw it was good, and blessed it’ are there). After creating the various parts of the cosmos, God created us, in God’s own likeness, to enjoy and safeguard that which was created. It was The Banishment after The Fall that created some distance. But since God’s everywhere we have the opportunity to bask in the glory of God and experience the pleasures crafted for us. That includes nature all around us, natural resources, technology and of course all humanity – even more specifically crafted to offer relationships and community.

Thus the writer of Philippians tells us in chapter 2, that it is God who gives us the desire and opportunity to do what pleases God. Yes, pleasure is a promise and fact of being in God’s presence. But that’s not the pleasure that is inconsiderate of others or selfish. Rather, God’s pleasure is to bring us joy and we are crafted to be the same. In so doing, we seek to share the joy we’ve experienced with others. It doesn’t have to cost us much energy; but imagine the difference in our world if we each committed to helping another find joy in God’s presence.

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May all we seek be found in Christ