Happy People?

For some reason I have recently been pondering "happy people". I'm not sure what ignited that spark, but I made some interesting discoveries. Through my non-scientific journey into this topic, I've come to the conclusion that no one is an expert in this area. Some of the stuff, and I do mean "stuff", I found on the Internet was laughable.

For me, one suggestion conjured up the idolatrous story of the Hebrew people fashioning a golden calf shortly after all the miracles God performed during the events of the famous exodus from Egypt. This specious guideline for happiness, via a famous television personality, did not specifically tell readers to cast a golden calf, but it did recommend finding our golden selves. I got lost in the jungle of mumbo jumbo describing my "golden" self. However, it was obvious that this type of happiness relied solely on ones own talents and gifts. Reliance on ourselves may make us happy, but, as we will explore, is "happy" what it's all about?

I also found a "happy" song written by a rapper. One must assume that some people derive happiness from what he heralds since he is promoting it on the national stage.

• Groovin' all night long
• Dressing up
• Being in the mood
• Knowing where to party

I wonder why if all that "groovin'" makes us happy, why so many celebrities have problems with drugs, alcohol, strange behavior, and broken families? Maybe that same type of  suspicious "happiness" is why so many regular folks wrestle with similar issues.

My journey also took me to websites that touted sure-fire "happy" lists. Lumping several of their ideas together, they actually made more sense to me than the "golden-calf" and "groovin'" types of happiness, although some were still a little silly. They applied the following strategies:

• Right priorities
• Healthy living (eating well and exercise)
• Taking responsibility
• Friends (spending time with them and choosing friends who are positive and encouraging influences)
• Seeking happiness (buy it, live in a happy country, make happy endings, allow yourself to be happy)

Although this list seems more reasonable than the pursuits in the rapper's happy song, something is still missing. "Right priorities" sounds like a great place to begin our quest for happiness, but we must ask, "What priorities are the right ones?" Robbing a bank is a priority for a criminal who needs money, but it is not the right thing to do. Plus, it brings only a temporary happiness, because eventually the money will run out. Plus, I doubt a stint in prison provides any kind of happiness.

"Healthy living". Now, there's a good goal. Yes, but what if it comes at the expense of relationships. Golf is a healthy endeavor. Yet, I've seen golfers who never spend time with their families. Working out is great, but some people train to the extreme thinking they are taking care of their body, but neglecting other important facets of life.

"Taking responsibility" is also a great thing to strive for. But, on an individual basis, many see the foundation of responsibility a little differently; where there is no set standard responsibility depends on which side of the situation we sit.

"Friends". Friends sometimes stick closer to us than family. Surely, there is no down-side to friends when seeking happiness. I hate to burst your bubble, but there is. By what standard do friends measure you and themselves? I have seen and had friends that are both encouraging and fairly positive, but struggle to see the truth in different aspects of our relationship. Friends may make us happy, but is there more to happiness than what some friends have to offer?

"Seeking happiness". This one gave me a hearty laugh. That is not a bad pursuit, but come on! Buy it? Live in a happy country (does that mean a wealthy country)? Yeah right...maybe if one is a billionaire! As a young man, my nephew traveled the world and spent time in Madagascar. He said it was the poorest place he had ever seen, but that they were the happiest people he encountered in his travels. (So much for the premise of getting happy by wealthy means.)

There is so much more to life than being "happy"; there is a true joy that moves beyond the happiness this world offers. I'm not a word expert, but I see "happy" as something we experience on a surface level; something temporal. But, joy . . . there is something we can hold on to! Joy is a deep, spiritual type of contentment that comes from a source bigger than us.

Although joy can result from using our talents, it goes beyond reliance on our golden selves. Joy comes from deep within our hearts because we recognize the fact we cannot rely on ourselves; we need someone bigger than ourselves. Space prevents me from getting into ALL the reasons we need more than just ourselves, but the crux of it is, we need God; the only way for us to be fulfilled is a relationship with the Father, through Jesus. There is true joy; we rely on Him to make us complete, and along with that comes joy.

The rap song about being happy promotes groovin' and getting dressed up for all the wrong reasons. King David from the Old Testament "grooved" before the Lord because of all that God had done for him. People throughout the Bible are encouraged to "dress up" in righteousness because Jesus offers it to them. And worshiping before the Lord is where the real "mood' and "party" are. That ushers in true joy!

Even the semi-logical list of happiness makes more sense when you plug in Christ. Jesus helps set a logical standard of priorities: God, family, and country for starters. Healthy living is synonymous with taking care of our bodies, the temple of God. The Bible promotes responsibility, but also offers forgiveness when we mess up. If we follow God's guidelines for life, we will surround ourselves with godly people, and love those who are not. And, instead of seeking happiness, we will find joy. Joy when we are having a bad day. Joy in the midst of trial or tragedy and unadulterated joy when our cups run over with the Lord's blessings.

Joy is deeper and longer lasting than happiness. Practical Christianity grabs the gusto of pure joy that we can find only in our Savior Jesus Christ. Happy People? No, lets be Joyful People!!

(c)2009 Shona Neff