Why Pursue Happiness?

Happiness

Sitting at the beach alone, after blading, or a jog.
Watching the sea, feeling the breeze.
Nowhere to rush to, no deadlines to meet.
No worries, no anxiety.
Speaking with Him, telling Him everything.
One perfect moment.
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Taking leave from work, one day every month.
Sitting by the pool, enjoying the sun.
Projects done, no seniors calling.
No meetings for that day.
Just a quiet day, in the sun, with a book.
One perfect moment.
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Sitting in a cab, finally.
No need to worry, coz will definitely be on time.
Yet, not in school yet.
No one's hounding, no need to hound anyone.
My time. My own time.
One perfect moment.
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Snuggling closer. Shifting, shifting.
Till that one perfect position, where every nook is filled.
Cheek resting on his shoulders, his left arm under my head, his right hand embracing me.
Fused together. Assured. He is mine, and i am his.
Wholly, completely, as long as we both shall live.
One perfect moment
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Happiness ain't Joy.

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Joy is when i see progress, hope, purpose behind it all.
Joy is when a wayward student decides to leave a gang, to stop fighting.
Joy is when a hurting child finds a friend in Jesus.
Joy is when i know i am doing the work set out for me by God.

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The Pursuit of Happiness

I used to think that with more time for leisure i would be happy.
I used to think that with more resources i would be happy.
I used to think that with more toys i would be happy.
I used to think that with Jesus i would be happy.
I used to think that with a purposeful life i would be happy.

So i pursued.

But it doesn't work.

Meaningless, meaningless, the pursuit is meaningless.

Just as someone high on drugs hits the ground when sober,

Someone high on pleasures, leisure, ministry, toys, jesus, love

would also hit the ground

Haven't i, many times?


Even in the midst of a purposeful life,
Even in the secure knowledge of God's love, there could be absence of happiness.
Following Jesus does not guarantee happiness.
Sometimes there's no happiness in Joy.
Sometimes there is pain instead.

But that's ok.

Because life is not really about the Pursuit of Happ y iness.

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My conclusion is that Joy is more important than Happiness.

This side of heaven, I don't think we could all be happy ALL the time.

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Because we will always be able to see that the world is not perfect YET.

Because there would always be something we have, that we wish we didn't.

Because we would always want something else,

once we start having what we once wanted.

(1 day of Youth Day Holiday? If only it were 2 days!)

Godliness with Contentment would probably give us a better shot at it.

So celebrate each snapshot of happiness.

don't demand it.

just celebrate.

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Are YOU happy?

Actually, maybe it doesn't even matter.