Focusing on the negative is a dead end. True happiness can only come when we concentrate on beauty, goodness and the power of love.

Wisdom from Michael Casey, a monk of Tarrawarra Abbey in Australia, author of Living in the Truth: Saint Benedict’s Teaching On Humility. 

Instead of focusing on what goes wrong and wasting time in assigning blame, we become more open to delight in all that is beautiful, willing to be swept toward God on a torrent of gratitude. Spiritual progress is mainly demonstrated by a capacity to find joy in the Lord. 

Joy, which is the satisfaction of our deepest desires, our hopes and dreams and most profound yearnings, cannot be found in negativity. It only comes with a love that is so intense, so complete, that it sweeps us away on “a torrent of gratitude.”

In this life, such joy is never experienced once and for all. It comes gradually (which is what spiritual progress means) and it must be rediscovered time and time again as we “advance with hearts enlarged” on the way to our heavenly home.

Becoming “more open to delight” is the task of all spiritual seekers. We Christians find delight in Jesus, the joy of our desiring. In him there is beauty and goodness and truth—provided our eyes are open and our hearts are emptied of selfishness and sin.

Christmas is the season of delight. If we look for him, we will find Jesus in the simplest, most unexpected places. Let’s make room for him in our hearts. He will come to us if we let him.