Here in Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Ike, we found ourselves last week enjoying our first taste of fall weather. It was the perfect opportunity for Jenna's first trip to the zoo.
The Fort Worth zoo is a spectacular place. Lush and open, surrounded by babies and animals, Jenna was in paradise. We let her lead us where she wanted to go. To the monkeys. Then the elephants. There are the baby giraffes! And look, ducks and flamingos!
Every time she would get to the next viewing area, she would take it in for a moment, then turn to us and say, "More, please!"
A few minutes taking in the penguins... "More, please!" Then we checked out the snake house. "More, please!" All afternoon. Until closing time. Her energy was boundless.
I can relate. It seems like the more I step into the possibilities and opportunities that surround me, the more excited I get for what's coming next. Our nature is to expand... to learn... and to grow. Sometimes we get lost thinking that we would be happy if only we had that next "thing." When in actuality, the next thing is really only going to have us start salivating for the next "thing." And the next "thing." And the next...
That's why it's so important to feel joy now. Our desires will lead us on our journey. They are delightful. The lions and tigers and bears of our lives are really magnificent to behold.
In the end, we didn't take Jenna to the zoo so she could "achieve" a lion viewing. We went to the zoo for the fun of being together. The rest was just icing on the cake.
What if we pursued our hearts' desires not for the end result, but just for the joy of being together as one big human family?
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