September 27, 2004
We have looked at two of life’s disguises: LOVE and WEALTH. The third in this series is HAPPINESS.
I have never met a person who said, “I do NOT want to be happy.” At the same time, few people can honestly say “I AM happy”. Happiness may be the most illusive of life’s desired qualities.
The US Constitution guarantees us the right to “pursue happiness”. Problem is: Happiness is not a pursuit! Nor is happiness a destination, it is the journey. It is not a place, but a direction of life.
George Bernard Shaw said, “The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have enough leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not.” So, if you have to ask, ”(Have I reached happiness?” the answer is most certainly, NO!
Nathaniel Hawthorne said it well, “Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” The very act of pursuing happiness almost guarantees one will never achieve it. Like the proverbial mule duped into pulling a wagon by chasing after the carrot that constantly moves overhead, happiness appears to be just around the corner. Many people come to the end of life, realizing they have chased the carrot of happiness, never having quite reaching; like a mirage in the desert.
So what are some happiness disguises? Happiness is not laughter (comedians may be the most unhappy people on earth), wealth, or another person in your life.
Jesus Christ gave us the roadmap to happiness in the Beatitudes.
· Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
· Happy are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted
· Happy are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
· Happy are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness
· Happy are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy
· Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God
· Happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God
· Happy are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake
Aristotle said in order to possess happiness; one must possess “moral virtue”. He defined moral virtue as four qualities, a sense of (1) justice, (2) prudence, (3) temperance and (4) courage. Justice is doing what is necessary to all others to reach happiness. Temperance is doing the right thing. Prudence is doing the right thing for the right reason. Courage is doing the right thing at the right time. According to Aristotle, one must possess all four of these qualities before happiness is possible; the byproduct of a morally virtuous life.
It all comes down to what Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
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