The Joy of Mud

I was listening to a you tube video this morning about how joy sometimes shows up in the strangest places and when it is most unexpected.  I found myself this afternoon watching a little boy with a red  cast on his arm playing in mud puddles.  My first thought was that he was going to get his cast wet and he shouldn't be playing in mud puddles.  He didn't have a care in the world.  He had a little plastic container and was scooping water from one mud puddle and putting it in another mud puddle.  What a pointless activity is that?  He was in absolute joy and was using his arm without the cast.

Soon he stopped doing that and got out a metal spatula.  He began to scoop the mud and play in it.  His friend joined him and they began making mud pies.  They found a little table where they set forth a picnic.  They pretended to eat their mud pies in the most joyous fashion.  Then his mom called and said it was time to go.  Oh - so much joy in a little mud!

One of my favorite song videos of all time: 

Sigur Ross - Hoppipolla     

The translation:

smiling
spinning in circles
holding hands
the world is a blur
except when you're standing
dripping wet
completely soaked
no rubber boots
running inside of us
wants to burst out of the shell

wind in
and the smell of your hair
I hit as hard as i can
with my nose
jumping into a puddle
wearing no boots
completely soaked (dripping wet)
wearing no boots

and I get a nosebleed
but I'll always stand up again

and I get a nosebleed
but I'll always stand up again