What is Happiness?

First, we need to see the meaning of the root word, happy.

 

Happy - adjective

1. feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

2. having a sense of confidence in or satisfaction with (a person, arrangement, or situation).

3. fortunate and convenient.

4. inclined to use a specified thing excessively or at random.

 

The origin of happy comes from Middle English happy (“fortunate, happy”), perhaps an alteration of Middle English happyn, happen (“fortunate, happy”), possibly related to or from Old Norse heppinn (“fortunate, happy”); and potentially assimilated to be equivalent to hap (“chance, luck, fortune”) +‎ -y.

 

This would imply that to be happy requires certain things to happen, usually good things, or at least in our favor. The other implication is happiness is based on luck. If things happen the way you want or expect, then you can experience happiness. If this is true, how can you explain happy people who have experienced tragedy or loss? This is certainly not based on happenings. Is their feeling or state of being something other than happiness? Or is there more to happiness than just a set of circumstances?

 

Let’s look at a couple of other words which may be mistaken for happiness. Consider joy:

 

Joy - noun

1. a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

2. a thing that causes joy.

 

The origin of joy comes from Middle English: from Old French joie, based on Latin gaudium, from gaudere ‘rejoice’. This seems to imply something that comes from within. Look at rejoice:

 

Rejoice - verb

1. feel or show great joy or delight.

 

It seems to me these words have a common meaning. The difference is in what an observer might attribute as to the origin of the feelings. “Of course, they are happy. Everything always goes their way.” “They were born with money.” “They never seem to have problems.”

 

What about these alternatives? “In spite of the problems, they seem to always have a smile on their face.” “He seems to always have a song in his heart.” “Nothing ever gets them down.”

 

Can both of these be happiness? It seems happiness is usually the word chosen for someone who seems overtly joyous. Its definition includes the word “showing”, whereas joy is described only as a “feeling”. Perhaps the only difference is in the temperament of the person being observed. One is expressive and the other is not, but both have the same sense of wellbeing.

 

In the Sermon on the Mount, one of the most famous talks given by Jesus while He walked on earth, opens with what is now called The Beatitudes. Each one describes various aspects of human existence, stating “Blessed are the …” The word used for “blessed” is also translated as “happy” in other places. Look at the meaning of this Greek word:

 

makários ("blessed") describes a believer in enviable ("fortunate") position from receiving God's provisions (favor) – which (literally) extend ("make long, large") His grace (benefits). This happens with receiving (obeying) the Lord's inbirthings of faith. Hence, faith (pístis) and (makários) are closely associated (Ro 4:5-7,14:22,23; Rev 14:12,13). (taken from BibleHub.com)

 

If you acknowledge God’s influence on human existence, then it is easy to see the origin of both happiness and joy as being from the same source. I like the word “inbirthings” used here. It says to me that every person has the ability to experience happiness/joy because it is placed in them from the beginning. If this is true, then why do we not experience this state more consistently? It is possible this is where the “happenings” come into play.

 

Even though we are born with this innate happiness/joy, life events can cause us to suppress this natural tendency by overwhelming us with weighty concern or burdens, like grief over the loss of life/relationships, trauma from accidents/abuse, or simply poor life choices. It can become difficult to ever find a place of happiness/joy again. However, because it is “inbirthed” it is still possible.

 

That’s the focus of my current writing project. I’m looking forward to finding the last chapter of this book. It has yet to be written …

Taking Things for Granted

 

It’s so easy to take things for granted. When you are young you feel life will never cease. You live dangerously, take risks, make assumptions, and live as though you are eternal.

 

As children, we are prone to dream, to imagine, to try new things, or new ways of doing things. As we age, we tend to fall into routine. We develop habits that we create, but once created, they tend to rule us. Normally it takes trauma to dislodge us from our cruise-control lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be this way.

 

It does not require trauma to change behavior, but it does take effort. It’s like a rocket attempting to leave the earth’s gravitational pull. It is possible, but it requires a controlled violence to break free. But once free of gravity’s hold, we press through to a much different experience beyond the sphere of influence which has controlled us. Outside of this orb, we encounter a near frictionless environment where we can roam literally to the edge of the known universe, if only we had time. 

 

Driven now by the inertia created by escaping the grasp of gravity, we travel to new destinations. It’s time to get child-like again. It’s time to dream, to imagine, to try new things, or new ways of doing things. You can start by acknowledging areas where we are strong and leverage those strengths as never before. Exploit them to your advantage. It is also time to realize there are weaknesses. Seek help to deal with those in order to move beyond the constraints they place on your life. Do not allow yourself to be exacerbated by things you do not do well. It’s ok. You can’t be good at everything. Focus on the things where you excel. Let the others go or let someone else do them for you.

 

Now back to taking things for granted. This can go two ways. Some assume things will never work out for them. They take for granted that they will always be “less than”. The other side of assumption is that things will always be great. Life has ups and downs. Sometimes you cannot plan for all the contingencies. Things happen. Sometimes suddenly. Sometimes seemingly insurmountable. Regardless of the event(s), you have at least two choices. You can quit or you can go on. Just like the song, “I Hope You Dance”, I implore you to never sit out, but dance!

 

Regardless of what has occurred, if you are still breathing then you have a chance to live a life of meaning and purpose. Look for allies. Find people who will encourage you, speak life to you, and help you by giving you reasons to live. You may not know of any of them right now. That’s ok. Keep looking. God would never leave you without hope. He has resources that you are not aware of yet. Ask, seek, and knock. God promised to open the door for you. You were created for purpose. Keep pressing into that purpose and you will have a fulfilled life.

Sanctuary

Sanctuary 

In the busyness of life, moments come and go without even a thought.

Running over the list in your mind like moms of seven counting noses

To make sure none have been left behind.

Sleep is illusive, always the hope of rest with a settled heart

Where all is right in your world as far as you can tell

But always wondering if something has been forgotten.

But then other moments come, those which were unexpected.

An unintentional word spoken which strikes a chord on a broken string

Yielding an unsettling tone.

The pain is real, but there’s no time to give place for it now

Because the relentless list keeps charging toward you

Forcing a showdown of will.

This is life for many, if not all, who try to live in normal.

The balance constantly being considered to see if it’s level

Hoping no one will discover the deficit.

But then … there are also moments which catch us unaware

With total goodness and peace that cannot even be said using words.

When you are there, you know.

You remove the clock from the wall in hopes that it will forget

To mark time while in this wondrous place of solitude

Where the only sound is your heartbeat

It’s hard, if not impossible, to manufacture these moments

Because if you could, you may never want to leave this place

Which seems like it is the very presence of God.

The clock has not actually stopped, only the awareness of it

So you pick yourself up, dust off the list, and forge on through life

Always waiting for the next surprise.

If only you could find that place once more.

Contemplation

Being honest with others is hard. Being honest with yourself is sometimes next to impossible. Until you find a way to look at who you are and what you are doing, life can seem ok. I remember an episode of the t.v. show, House, where there had been a tragic accident with many injuries and even deaths. As the EMTs did triage on the wounded, a young lady cried out, pleading for help for her mother who was injured. When the doctor arrived, he noticed the woman had a metal bar stuck through her leg and she didn’t even notice it.

The young lady had a rare disorder which prevented her from feeling pain. Without self-examination, she would have bled to death had the medical personnel not intervened. This is what Jesus was trying to explain when he told the story of the speck (small particle) and log (large object) being in the eye. 

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV)

We can live our life with a log in our eye and never realize the harm we cause by being critical of others when we have such a major issue that remains unattended. We are directed to first deal with the issue we face before trying to point out the problems we see in others.

I can easily understand how someone could become a monk, separated from all other humanity, to spend their days contemplating who they are and what needs to change. However, that is not normal human behavior. We need others in our life who can speak truth that we can hear. Then, with love and a tender hand, nurse us back to a place of health and well-being so we can live a life full of joy and happiness, free from the guilt of past failures and hurt from past incidents.

It all starts with being aware there is a problem. The only solution to solve this is to find a place of contemplation; safe, supportive, caring, loving, encouraging, no judging; a place of peace. Oh, to find such a place is truly a gift from God.

Silence

 

Silence. It is not really possible if you are alive.

 

Regardless of how little noise is being made outside of your body, even in a “soundproof” room, you will begin to notice the noise within; your breath, your heartbeat, your blood coursing through your veins, the air contacting your ear drums.

 

Life is noisy. The challenge is to balance the noise with quiet, fellowship with solitude, stress with peace, activity with rest. When one of these gets out of balance, our body, or mind, will remind us of the need. When ignored, things can break. When things break it causes a much larger ripple in the pond of your life. Others are affected.

 

The flip side of this is the noise that your life creates. “Make some noise” is a common phrase in our vocabulary. Normally, this is used as an encouragement to live life to the fullest. “Live out loud” is another form of the same thing. This, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. You need to live your life on your terms, in your skin, doing things your way. When you live life in a way that is contrary to your inner self, it also creates conflict. Others become accustomed to the way you live, and grow comfortable with you, getting close to you. 

 

Then, when the scales finally tip, when you can no longer allow the confines, whether self-imposed or constraints placed on you by others, to hold you back from your deepest longings, something breaks. It’s not mental disease or illness. It is simply your inner self breaking out of a shell, like a bird pecking its way out of the container in which it was born, or the full-term baby, tightly squeezed by the uterus, begins the arduous journey through the birth canal to experience a life free of the constraints it had outgrown.

 

When this occurs, those closest to you get affected the most by the ripples which once again reverberate in your life’s pond. Some may even be capsized, but all are affected. Should this keep you from trying to “live out loud” or “make some noise”? I don’t think so. But, be aware that your choices have an effect.

 

Whether in silence or din, whether docile or vigorous, be intentional. Act with purpose. Seek out your dreams. Maximize your potential. Find a way to do life in a way that makes you complete. Find the reason God created you.

It Is Finished

It Is Finished 

These words spoken by Jesus on the cross have inspired many songs, sermons, and stories about His crucifixion. I have spent many hours looking at these three little words to try and understand what Jesus meant when He spoke them just minutes before He died.

 

Some obvious conclusions:

 

1, His life was over. 

I do not believe this to be the meaning. He knew He would rise from the dead. He had already spoken that to the disciples.

 

2. The price for sin has been paid.

This cannot be the meaning of the phrase. Jesus had not yet gone to heaven to place His blood on the real Mercy Seat in Heaven. That is when sin was remitted.

 

3. Salvation was provided for all.

One of the most important events to provide salvation was the resurrection. Until Jesus was resurrected, ascended to Heaven, and seated at the right hand of God, our salvation was not yet complete.

 

4. All prophecy had been fulfilled regarding the life of Jesus.

Again, all prophecy had not yet been fulfilled. Jesus rose on the third day.

 

5. Jesus had fulfilled the Law by living a sinless life.

This is true. However, I feel there is more to it than just fulfilling the Law.

 

6. Jesus had fulfilled all righteousness.

 

Romans 8:1-4 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

 

This is also the reason Jesus was baptized by John.

 

Matthew 3:13-15 (ESV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 

 

Everything Jesus did in his life on earth was done to fulfill righteousness. If He was not righteous, He could not have served as the eternal sacrifice to provide for forgiveness of sin.

 

The meaning of the phrase is subjective since we were never told explicitly what Jesus meant. However, there are some clues that help us understand potentially what was meant.  The Greek word used for “finished” in the phrase uttered by Jesus on the cross only appears two times in scripture. The other time is in the previous verse in John.

 

John 19:28-30 (ESV) After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

 

John tells us that Jesus knew all was finished (same word used here as in verse 30). He then asked for something to drink in order to fulfill a prophetic word. If “It Is Finished” was in regard to fulfillment of prophecy He would not have spoken the first “finished” before the prophetic word was fulfilled.

 

Everything we have recorded of Jesus’ life tells us He was on mission. From the early years, the trip to Jerusalem, He told Mary and Joseph that “He must be about His Father’s business.” His baptism by John was “to fulfill righteousness.” This was the first primary objective of His life, and the only one for which Jesus was directly responsible.

 

Once His death was accomplished, the next step would be that of Father God, to raise Him from the dead. More things would be accomplished after the resurrection, but “It Is Finished” ended thirty-three years of a man, Jesus, living a life totally surrendered to God, empowered by the Holy Spirit. He fulfilled His mission of preserving His flesh, and blood from ever experiencing sin, and thus became the spotless Lamb offered for the forgiveness of the sin of mankind.