Happiness Is...
There is a great picture floating around on social media. It’s a photo of two kids on a medal platform. The kid in first place has a sour look on his face. The kid in third place is rejoicing! The caption typically reads something like this, “Happiness is all about your perspective.”
I dig that sentiment.
When I served as a pastor at Grace Chapel in Farmington Hills, MI I lead mission trips to Eastern Kentucky. This is one of the poorest regions in the United States. I was always struck by the joy that most of the people that lived had. They didn’t have many material things, the things that most of us think are what make us happy, but they had a joy that emanated from them.
This morning I was meditating on Psalm 128, a song of ascents, it reminded me that there is perspective that I need to have.
Everyone who honors the Lord, who walks in God’s ways, is truly happy! You will definitely enjoy what you’ve worked hard for— you’ll be happy; and things will go well for you. In your house, your wife will be like a vine full of fruit. All around your table, your children will be like olive trees, freshly planted. That’s how it goes for anyone who honors the Lord: they will be blessed! May the Lord bless you from Zion. May you experience Jerusalem’s goodness your whole life long. And may you see your grandchildren. Peace be on Israel!
So many of us pray for “blessing.” Yet, I’m beginning to realize that blessing is not something that we can attain. Blessing is something we know. It’s something we experience.
Blessing is a way we orient ourselves to the world.
God’s ways are wrapped up in loving our neighbor as ourselves. If we live that way, if we orient ourselves to the world in that way, then we will be truly happy.
How is your perspective? How are you oriented toward the world?
If you’re not experience blessing it is probably because of where you’re not looking. My prayer for you is that you would seek to #LoveWell and therefore, know the happy and good life that is all around you.