We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming…

So it has been brought to my attention by some of you reader-types that this little blog could benefit from a little more joy and lot less cynicism. Today, I will attempt to bring you some happiness.

Here goes…

Happiness (n.) good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.

Just where does one find this happiness? Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Schweitzer once said:

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

What? Serving brings happiness? Can that be true? Doesn’t that fly in the face of everything we’ve ever been taught as Americans? Often we are told that when we get enough “stuff” or are in charge of enough people that we will obtain this ever-elusive happiness. The fundamental problem with attempting to acquire things is that there is always more out there for us to seek to obtain. Animated billionaire and slightly less credible source once had this exchange with Homer Simpson:

Homer: “Ya know, Mr. Burns, you’re the richest guy I know. Way richer than Lenny.”
Monty: “Yes, but I’d trade it all for a little more.”

Sure, that may come from a cartoon, but there’s a solid lesson to be learned. (See, Pastor Scott, you can make an example from anything!) Someone who has gained so much financially and is seated in a position of power is unsatisfied with what he possesses.

But serving? Come on, you must be kidding! When you break it down, finding the original source of happiness becomes necessary for figuring out how to obtain it. The answer is simple:

It is a gift from God.

John Piper discusses in his book, "Desiring God," the idea of Christian Hedonism. Hedonism is defined as the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good. So what is Christian Hedonism? If happiness is a gift from God, then it would makes sense that pursuing God would lend itself to being our main source of happiness.

So how do we pursue God? To stay on point with what our buddy Al (that’s Mr. Schweitzer) had to say, one of the ways we can pursue God is to serve others. It says in the book of Philippians:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

Seems like Albert knew what he was talking about…

So give it a shot. Serve someone. Serve someone who doesn’t even deserve it. Happiness will follow.

Much luv,
Rob
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Song of the Day: “Hook” by Blues Traveler