Happy

I know that this wouldn't fly with someone that isn't enlightened to the idea of a greater purpose. But I'm starting to understand why some people say that "happiness is the enemy".

When everything is O.K., there is absolutely no need to do anything differently. Few people leave an "O.K." job. Few people leave and O.K. church. When they are "happy".

I guess that the point that I want to make is that the source for happiness is different from the source for joy. That really is the difference.

A dictator can be happy when he's won his wealth on power over his enemies. An adulterer can be happy. A nice, clean cut, professional, entrepreneur who has done no real "wrong" in his life can feel happy that he's made it, that he's arrived.

For the Christian, happiness can be what keeps us glued to our pews. Happiness keeps us caring for ourselves, and no one else. It helps us to read, and learn, but rarely to go and do.

 Religion was said to be the opiate of the people. And "religious experience" very well may be. But for the believer, happiness is what drives our complacency. So long as we aren't doing everything wrong, so long as we haven't hit rock bottom. So long as not all of our kids are messed up. So long as I feel happy at least once today.

I like Pharrell William's song a lot. It is so catchy, so fun to sing. And it sounds so nice. But we should run toward joy, not momentary, fleeting, intangible and incomplete happiness.

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