Are you happy?
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When you are able to touch the Kingdom of God, to get in touch with the wonders of life that are available in the here and the now, you easily release everything else. You do not want to run anymore. Thich Nhat Hanh, Creating True Peace
7 comments:
This is a question that I have mulled over for some time now... and always the answer is no. I have most every reason to be, yet honestly, I am not. I am not sure why you asked this question, but it is nice to know someone else is at least asking it too. -Maria
I don't really know what that means. I want to be at peace and to be content in life but happiness seems to be so subjective that it is hard to nail down what it means. Am I happy when I'm at peace and content? Or maybe I'm at peace and content despite being unhappy. I can't even decide if this is a good question! :-)
A friend sent me an email a few weeks ago and all that he wrote was the question I in turn asked anyone who dared answer it. My friend said, "I got to thinking about asking someone that question--'Are you happy?'--and just how complex a question it is, deceptively simple with numerous pitfalls and angles. So many angles that if you just ask it, people get suspicious, they reconsider, evade, or (even if answering honestly) give an answer so far beyond the basic 'yes' or 'no' as to reveal the innate complexities of their inner life."
I don't know how many evaders there have been but the two who answered the question added complexity and at least a hint of suspicion.
So as not to be an evader, here was my response to my friends inquiry, "I asked Jenn what she thought and her answer was, 'now more than ever.' I would say that hers is an accurate estimation of my happiness. I am never sure what happiness is as a consistent state of being so I don't think I can answer that specific question with any semblance of confidence. I am confident that I am at peace with myself and with those around me, so I believe that is a good thing. any reason for the question?"
I am not only suspicious of the question, I am suspicious of happiness in general and I wonder where it fits into the life of a Christ follower.
Thanks to the two of you who answered the question.
Is there a difference between joy and happiness? I've always been told that there is. Is that splitting hairs? For a long time I have made the distinction by understanding happiness as a function of my outward circumstances and joy to be a function of my inner circumstances. This would make it possible to be unhappy and still experience joy or vice versa.
I think their is a need for people of faith to understand that difference. Happiness seems to broad a term to use to communicate the way we understand our life in Christ. maybe in a different culture with a different understanding of happiness it would be appropriate. The ability to overcome suffering and pain bring joy, peace and contentedness but rarely happiness in my experience.
I think of Jenn's family and how they dealt with Lisa's death. they will never be happy about about that experience but I know that through it they experienced joys and a peace that is provided by Christ's victory over sin, suffering, pain and death.
no.
Thanks fore the honest answer.
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