Just these two words He spoke
changed my life,
“Enjoy Me.”
What a burden I thought I was to carry –
a crucifix, as did He.
Love once said to me, “I know a song,
would you like to hear it?”
And laughter came from every brick in the street
and from every pore
in the sky.
After a night of prayer, He
changed my life when
He sang,
“Enjoy Me.”
by Daniel Ladinsky, inspired by Teresa of Avila
Here’s another deeply joyful poem from the book Love Poems from God by Daniel Ladinsky, where the poet lets himself be inspired by twelve ‘sacred voices’ – Teresa of Avila amongst them. The poems don’t seem to be direct translations, and there’s a fair amount of criticism on how the author is using the names of these mystics. And alongside that…
I wonder how the words are landing in you? What would it be like if we could give ourselves more permission for joy, for opening to the laughter and beauty in the world around us – and set down the burdens that may not be (or may not anymore be) ours to carry?
I continue to marvel at how often in meditation, as well as in daily life, I notice I’m carrying more tension and bracing in my body than is needed. In the compassion modules we explore the possibility of ‘softening, soothing and allowing’. This softening can feel like releasing a burden, and with it comes a new openness to the aliveness of the moment within me, as well as the magic of the world around me. What if life itself said: “Enjoy Me!”? How would you enter the next moments of this day? Let’s try it out!
