Searching For Happiness
All around me I see… people, frantically chasing the elusive dream of “happiness”.
Their pasted-on smiles and hard, empty eyes reflect their determination to find it.
“I deserve to be happy!” they say as they rush to beat others to the prize.
And try foods, music, houses and spouses, hoping happiness is near.
Since happiness is hard to find, they press on faster still….
Maybe jobs, children, clothes, power or new spouses will satisfy..
But dashed hopes and grim resolve continue….along with building anger…
Leading to addictions, divorce and killing of babies that interfere.
Self-control isn’t for them… “We have rights!” they cry.
And the way is littered with broken marriages and children left to hurt….or die.
“These things didn’t work, but we can just throw them away and try again.”
They chant as the relentless search intensifies and faces harden more.
Disappointment and pain pursue, so a temporary distraction is needed.
Addictions like games, gambling, drugs and sex help to numb the pain.
Plastic smiles appear, soon gone as friendly addictions turn to cruelest masters.
“Nothing wrong with me!” they say as they stumble on again to find “happiness”.
Passing from childhood to adulthood and on, they seek a fountain of youth…
“More time!” they cry. “More time to find happiness, I need.”
Bucket lists are formed and worked through, but happiness remains elusive.
There is no peace to the wicked…. Comes to mind.
Fear and hopelessness grab me as I cry “That CAN’T be all there is to life!”
“Doesn’t ANYONE find happiness?” I anxiously fret.
Looking closer still, I see a few smiles here and there.
“Finally!” I say with confidence, “Now the answer comes.”
The first small smile drew me and I expected to find nice clothes and jewels.
Yes, ‘tis a smile, I’m sure, though small it may be.
I have to know more and I am determined to see.
Shock hits me as I view the wheelchair and missing legs.
“WHAT?” I scream in horror, convinced the smile was fake.
Another one I see and look, again finding pain and loss.
Again and again, the smiles I see are companion to some grief.
I stumble through the masses looking….needing to know.
One thing I notice in the midst of the “happiness-searchers”…
Those with the smiles don’t participate, but quiet they sit.
My mind cannot comprehend, this makes NO sense.
Does loss and pain cause happiness? No, it cannot be.
Weary and looking still, I notice one more thing…
All who seem happy have no ME lists and instead, their eyes look up.
What’s up there? I wonder and look up to see.
But there is nothing there that I can see.
Wait a minute!... Who are they talking to?... There’s no one there.
Maybe they are crazy and the smiles a sign of simpleness.
No, I decide, as I see tenderness, caring and love pour from one to another.
They have learned the answer and I really must know.
My study goes on with those who don’t frantically search…
The lost jobs and houses, illness and loss seem to drive them to talk more to…. no one.
I don’t get it…. maybe I never will… oh, wait….what is that book?
A Bible? It can’t be… it’s outdated and wrong…. As everyone knows.
Contrasting the “happiness-searchers” with those quietly living their lives….
I feel quite certain something is just not evident to my eyes.
I listen closely to hear the talking. It sounds like “Thank you, God.”
WHAT? They THANK God? For what? I listen again…
They thank God for His love and blessings and peace.
WHAT blessings? I wonder as I stare at the scene.
Blessings like family, fellowship, houses and more, I hear…
As the thought comes… But they have so little compared to the rest.
Then, as I listen more, I realize the answer.
The search for happiness doesn’t lead to the prize.
Praising God and serving Him, odd though it may seem,
Lead to contentment and joy…which is more than happiness.
The scales fall from my eyes and clearly I can see.
The problem with searching for happiness is that it’s all about me.
The God I serve cannot be me… I must serve Jesus Christ.
I do not understand His ways, but trust Him I will do.
My focus changed, my life on track… I need to learn much more.
Purposefully, I read the Bible as it changes my needy life.
Joy comes in the smallest things while eyes are turned to Christ.
This world is not the end, I see… more to come in heaven.
Sadly, I look at all those “happiness searchers”, their scales now evident to me.
Show them, Dear God… and I realize He has… as the rejection of Jesus continues through the land.
Telling others of Him, I see some scales fall away and I rejoice…
To be a part of learning to obey and helping others along.
So, if you search for happiness, it will never be found.
But search faithfully for Jesus in God’s Word,
And blessings you will find. Troubles yes, but so much more.
Remember if you want joy, don’t look for it… look at serving Christ.
Thank you for visiting my blog today.
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