all that i am

“Our life 
is a short time 
in expectation
a time in which sadness and joy kiss each other 
at every moment

There is a quality of sadness that pervades all the moments of our lives

It seems that there is no such thing as a clear-cut pure joy
but that even in the most happy moments of our existence 
we sense a tinge of sadness

In every satisfaction, there is an awareness of limitations
In every success, there is the fear of jealousy
Behind every smile, there is a tear
In every embrace, there is loneliness
In every friendship, distance
And in all forms of light, there is the knowledge of surrounding darkness . . . 

But this intimate experience 
in which every bit of life is touched by a bit of death 
can point us beyond the limits of our existence

It can do so by making us look forward in expectation 
to the day when our hearts will be filled with perfect joy
a joy that no one shall take away from us.” 
                                   ― Henri J.M. Nouwen
                                                    Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life


In Your presence is fullness of joy
          Psalm 16:11