LOOK AT THEM!

Just look at them! They’re both magnificent beasts of completely different burdens designed by one Creator, so vastly different, yet, very much the same. They live. They breathe. They bleed. They die. Just like humans, though, neither of them has ever actually seen themselves but through the lens of a camera, a mirror, or another’s perception (which is a different story for a different day). Meanwhile, like many of the animals in the kingdom, these glorious felines are sentient:

Sentience is the ability to feel a range of emotions and feelings, such as pleasure, pain, joy, and fear. Some animals even experience complex emotions, such as grief and empathy. Animals are sentient beings, and this means that their feelings matter. ~ They want to do things they enjoy; they want to exert control over their own lives, have choices, play, feel satiated and comfortable, solve problems, get excited, and seek the comfort of companions.

{“Animal Sentience“}

Like us, they possess the innate ability to not only experience both positive and negative emotions, but seek out the good ones and avoid the bad. Long story short? Despite their vastly different exteriors, the two sweet ‘lil kitties in this picture can, indeed, CHOOSE joy!

So, here’s to the utmost gift and treasure of my sentient ability to choose to seek out the positive and continue running towards The Light despite what the rest of the animals in this hell bent kingdom of ours are doing or how many of them try to rip my warm-blooded heart out. Win, lose, or draw … I WOKE UP TODAY … and no matter my beastly burdens, I’LL CHOOSE JOY every time, because …

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing joy every day.

(Henri J.M. Nouwen)

JOY

Lately, I’ve been reading, watching the nightly news. Don’t seem to find the rhythm, just wanna sing the blues. Feels like a song that never stops. Feels like it’s never gonna. Gotta get that fire back in my bones before my heart turns into stone. So, will somebody please pass the megaphone? I’ll shout it on the count of three: One, two, three! Oh, hear my prayer tonight! I’m singing to the sky! Give me strength to raise my voice … let me testify! Oh, hear my prayer tonight, ’cause this is do or die! The time has come to make a choice … and I choose joy! Let it move you! Let it move you! Let it move you! Yeah, I choose joy! Let it move you! Let it move … let it move you! Yeah, back when I was young, my eyes were full of life, but now that I am older, I live at the speed of light. Feels like the cycle never stops. Feels like it’s never gonna. (for King & Country)