Happy?

"Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord." Psalm 144:15

Happy

I want to be happy, he said.
Why aren't you happy now?

I'm empty.

I'm without.

I am happy-less, he said with a smile.

What would make you happy?

Purpose.

You have no purpose?

No.

Then I must ask what is it you are not willing to do?

I'd do anything to be happy.

Obviously not or you would be.

Silence.

You first need to define what will make you happy.

Silence.

I don't know. I just want to be happy. I see someone who is happy and I want it. I want to be happy, too.

If happiness was across the street would you go there?

In a minute.

If happiness were across town, would you go there.

Certainly.

What if happiness were in the middle of the ocean and there were no boats.

Would you swim to it?

Long Silence.

Could I fly and jump out? he asked laughing.

What is it you are not willing to do?

Well...

You are not willing to work for it.

You want to drop out of the sky and land on it.

Silence.

Do you like the ocean?

Yes, yes I do, he replied.

So, you would at least go to the ocean of happiness.

That would be the best part, he said.

Do you swim in the ocean?

Yes, but not often.

What is the best part and the worst part about it?

I love to float, he said quickly.

The worst?

Getting through the waves past the breaking point.

Finding happiness is the same thing.

In pursuit of it, we are often knocked down, tossed about.

Depending on the day, we could easily find ourselves being pushing away, back to shore.

We take a few steps and it feels cold.

Just as we get used to the feeling we discover the best way to get over it is to plunge in, get wet all at once instead of tiptoeing and avoiding the discomfort.

I always do that, he said.

I jump right in.

Some days the waves are small.

Some days the waves are huge.

Small waves make the journey fun and easy.

Big waves can pick you up and slam you down in an instant.

Life is like that.

Happiness is calling.

It's out there somewhere waiting for you.

You can't see it just standing on the shore, but you know it's there.

So you dive in.

It always seems that the greater the reward the harder the struggle.

Some never make it.

They give up and end up back on the shore.

Others get caught in the cross current and are carried away to places they never wanted to see.

Those who keep on swimming may even get to the Breaking point as you called it and stop.

I've certainly done that.

Here's the problem.

You jump in.

You swim to the breaking point but you have no idea what you are looking for.

I asked you what would make you happy and you had no idea.

How would you know when you saw it?

I'd feel happy.

No, happiness is not just a feeling.

Happiness is a plan, a fulfillment, a completion, an arrival, a goal reached in Christ.

Happiness is a moving on or a standing still.

Happiness is a standing for something or standing against.

Happiness is loving someone or yes, letting go of someone.

I have seen happy people who had it all and some who were happy and had nothing at all.

The common thread was always knowing what made them happy.

But I've been swimming all my life.

I'm not a quitter.

All that gets you is to the other shore.

You have been swimming so long you passed happiness.

Busy doesn't mean you're getting somewhere.

I could walk around in circles to keep busy.

All I'd get is dizzy.

Silence.

True happiness is not some distant place or thing.

True happiness is within reach, within moments, within a day, within a life,within...you.

If you want happiness choose to be happy. If you want true happiness, Let Jesus be that happiness in you and for you.

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: who made the heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is:" Psalm 146:5-6a