Thomas Traherne (1636-1674), understood that better than most. He was an English poet,
priest, theologian, and religious writer. His most famous work is a collection
of reflections, Centuries of Meditations (online here).
Among many other things Traherne offers advice on how to enjoy the world
aright. Below are some of his reflections from the "First Century" (the first 100 reflections). The language is archaic, but the ideas are timeless:
14
When
things are ours in their proper places, nothing is needful but prizing to enjoy
them. God therefore hath made it infinitely easy to enjoy, by making everything
ours, and usable so easily to prize them. Everything is ours that serves us in
its place. The Sun serves us as much as is possible, and more than we could
imagine. The Clouds and Stars minister unto us, the World surrounds us with
beauty, the Air refresheth us, the Sea revives the earth and us. The Earth
itself is better than gold because it produceth fruits and flowers. And
therefore in the beginning, was it made manifest to be mine, because Adam alone
was made to enjoy it. By making one, and not a multitude, God evidently shewed
one alone to be the end of the World and every one its enjoyer. For every one
may enjoy it as much as he.
27
You
never enjoy the world aright, till you see how a sand exhibiteth the wisdom and
power of God: And prize in everything the service which they do you, by
manifesting His glory and goodness to your Soul, far more than the visible
beauty on their surface, or the material services they can do your body. Wine
by its moisture quencheth my thirst, whether I consider it or no: but to see it
flowing from His love who gave it unto man, quencheth the thirst even of the
Holy Angels. To consider it, is to drink it spiritually. To rejoice in its
diffusion is to be of a public mind. And to take pleasure in all the benefits
it doth to all is Heavenly, for so they do in Heaven. To do so, is to be divine
and good, and to imitate our Infinite and Eternal Father.
28
Your
enjoyment of the world is never right, till every morning you awake in Heaven;
see yourself in your Father’s Palace; and look upon the skies, the earth, and
the air as Celestial Joys: having such a reverend esteem of all, as if you were
among the Angels. The bride of a monarch, in her husband’s chamber, hath too
such causes of delight as you.
29
You
never enjoy the world aright, till the Sea itself floweth in your veins, till
you are clothed with the heavens, and crowned with the stars: and perceive
yourself to be the sole heir of the whole world, and more than so, because men
are in it who are every one sole heirs as well as you. Till you can sing and
rejoice and delight in God, as misers do in gold, and Kings in sceptres, you
never enjoy the world.
30
Till
your spirit filleth the whole world, and the stars are your jewels; till you
are as familiar with the ways of God in all Ages as with your walk and table:
till you are intimately acquainted with that shady nothing out of which the
world was made: till you love men so as to desire their happiness, with a
thirst equal to the zeal of your own: till you delight in God for being good to
all: you never enjoy the world. Till you more feel it than your private estate,
and are more present in the hemisphere, considering the glories and the
beauties there, than in your own house: Till you remember how lately you were
made, and how wonderful it was when you came into it: and more rejoice in the
palace of your glory, than if it had been made but to-day morning.
31
Yet further, you never
enjoy the world aright; till you so love the beauty of enjoying it, that you
are covetous and earnest to persuade others to enjoy it. And so perfectly hate
the abominable corruption of men in despising it, that you had rather suffer
the flames of Hell than willingly be guilty of their error. There is so much blindness
and ingratitude and damned folly in it. The world is a mirror of infinite
beauty, yet no man sees it. It is a Temple of Majesty, yet no man regards it.
It is a region of Light and Peace, did not men disquiet it. It is the Paradise
of God. It is more to man since he is fallen than it was before. It is the
place of Angels and the Gate of Heaven. When Jacob waked out of his dream, he
said “Surely the Lord is in this
place—and I did not know it! How awesome is this place! This is none other than
the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”Becoming a People of God's Mercy and Delight, Part 1
Becoming a People of God's Mercy and Delight, Part 2
More Mercy and Delight
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