Pleasurable

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Parent’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” – Luke 12:32 (NRSV, adapted) 

Early last January I met a friend for a New Year’s hike. Over miles of trails covered in mud and slush, we dug through the muck of the previous year: adulting stressors, transitions unexpectedly thrust upon us, and the sneaking suspicion that even as the calendar changed, the new year would be more of the same. 

As we climbed up and down hills, our confessions moved from lament to thanksgiving, finding seeds of delight in the present moment that had the potential to sprout in coming months. We challenged each other to leave behind our scarcity mindsets. As we returned to our cars we pumped our fists in the air, earnestly cheering, “Abundance!”  

When I talk about what God wants for my life, I often unconsciously slip into theologies of obligation and obedience, turning the everyday into a chore to be endured, wondering why it feels difficult to access delight.  

Jesus loved to talk about a God that wants more for us. Not just toiling and tolerating, but a God who finds pleasure in giving us the kingdom, the realm where righteousness and peace and goodness overflow. 

If God is oriented toward pleasure in the work of tending to her creation, it is a reminder that I am allowed – and encouraged – to also orient myself toward pleasure. Pleasure is excessive. It’s abundantly clear about what it wants, and it’s fueled by delight in its quest to receive it. 

Almost six months later, staking our claim to abundance has created a small but noticeable shift this year. There is still muck to endure, but there is also pleasure, and in that pleasure, a renewed closeness to God. 

Prayer
May my life be abundantly pleasing in your sight, O God.

About the Author
Ellis Miller serves as the Designated Pastor of Granby Congregational Church, UCC and is the author of Only Work Sundays: A Laidback Guide to Doing Less while Helping Your Church Thrive.