Five Minute Friday :: Thrill

• Five Minute Friday :: Thrill Linkup

The Happy Dog! So spontaneous! Dogs thrill easily—cats to a lesser extent, but they still get more excited more often than most humans.

I remember my organ instructor Max Miller of blessed memory talking about people being thrilled about something. "Thrilled" was part of his stock vocabulary.

It was long ago but it's still current. The first Pastor Edwin R in my life observed how I loved the thrill of the chase, and that I do. Every day! All the way! Sadly or providentially, that ongoing thrill has helped sustain me and kept me keepin' on.

But there must be a time of repose, of homecoming, a time to simply "be" for a while, even though the chase and the thrill will resume.

Everyone needs an interval of rest in a settled space. A time of homecoming. We (you, I, they) need it to generate fuel and energy to continue the chase and enjoy the thrill again.

Our host Kate observed she'd gotten into too much of a settled routine instead of seeking thrills. I get what she's saying. A lot of adulting is anything but a thrill. That reality aside, often we don't give ourself permission to pursue thrills.

Besides life opportunities and challenges, what else thrills me? Definitely not downhill skiing or riding a wave.

Some highs happen when I'm with other people. Testifying to God's surprises in our lives. Reliving a recent event. Sharing and maybe making a delicious recipe.

I love the big ones, too. Landing at Schiphol. A symphony concert.

Thrills happen at all levels from micro to macro, mini to maxi. I love the thrill of life taking over and propelling me to the next place as I chase it, but "notice the little things" has become common advice because noticing the little makes a big difference in our everyday walk.

How about slowing down and opening my eyes to the thrill of a sunrise or sunset? Or that end of day feeling of satisfied fulness? Simple repose and simply being. We don't get a whole body adrenaline rush, but they do give a quiet thrill of being in holy space and holy time.

Let's go back to noticing tiny objects and events so they thrill us. That's what dogs do. They thrill to a car ride, a frisbee, a ball, and a few treats. Let's do it!

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