happiness.

-Whether it is or is not possible to be happy I cannot say. I see varying levels of happiness as corresponding levels of blissful ignorance of one’s misery.-

I took a basic ethics course my freshman year of college for which I was assigned an article on the issue of subjective happiness, stemming from the issue of whether an absolute right and wrong existed. This statement was made, and it stuck with me. In a strict sense, it is true - my dog loves having her ears scratched and seems to consider it the utmost source of happiness, but I could make the argument that the happiness I experience in the beauty of a spectacular sunset or in wonderful close friendships is so much more desireable, and she is simply unaware that she is missing out. Are we experiencing similar levels of happiness only because she is not aware that such things can be enjoyed? Are we experiencing similar levels of happiness at all? Is there any way to know or any reason to ask that question?

Ultimately, I don’t know and I don’t think it’s vital that I try to understand it. But I will say this - I have been blessed with a life full of joy, even in some of the worst circumstances. If I even try to use someone else’s life as a standard for happiness, I will either end up too satisfied or too discontent. So many times I get “the grass is always greener” syndrome, where I assume that if I had THAT __________ , life would be better. Other times, I have the reverse problem when I assume that since I don’t have to deal with __________ or didn’t get mixed up in __________ , I must be so much happier than the person to whom those blanks apply.

Truth is, it doesn’t matter. I could spend the rest of my life analyzing whether or not I am happy living it. Ultimately, I would NOT be happy because I really don’t enjoy philosophical thought beyond a reasonable point. And the point of life (though I can’t give you a short and sweet philosophical definition for that either) is not my happiness - that’s just a byproduct.

I’m going to spend the rest of my life enjoying what I can and intentionally avoiding situations in which I might find myself becoming discontent based on my perception of someone else’s life. Call me escapist, I don’t care - I have much more important things to live for.

joy

This week, I and about 500 college students experienced what I can only describe as the most overwhelming joy I have ever known.

The best I can describe it … an all-consuming energy that makes you feel that when you jump you’re defying gravity. When you laugh it sends shock waves through your soul and you can’t stop. When you sing at the top of your lungs you are joining what has been echoing through the earth from the beginning of creation. And when you look around you at a perfect celebration of grace and rescuing love, you can’t help but smile knowing who all of that is for.

If everyone experienced the presence of God that way - when you can almost tangibly feel God showering the children he gave everything for with an overwhelming love, when you can look into someone’s face and that alone gives you an inescapable impression that this religion thing has more to do with joy and hope and romance than with rules and guilt -

the world would begin to understand Jesus.

someday

Never look back, and look forward only when necessary. Instead, look around.

I think it’s safe to say that just about everyone has had to get over things in their past. We know that those things can shape you, but they should never control you. Don’t walk forward while looking back. We KNOW that. What you hear less often is a warning about walking forward while straining to see what’s far in front of you - so impatient to chase the horizon that you miss the view on the way.

What you’re going to accomplish one day doesn’t make up for how half-heartedly you perform today. If you chase your dreams too hard, you’ll miss the awesome adventure in the journey between here and there. If success is all you’re looking for, you’ll arrive at it (if you make it) and look back on empty, wasted time. You’ll always find an excuse to be distracted, to be busy, to overlook beauty in what is common or unnecessary. Life will not force you to appreciate it. Your dreams aren’t always worth the sacrifices you make for them.

Don’t count on your “someday” to fulfill years of missing the view.