A Happy Life
Most of us have heard of this, “the most important thing in life is to be happy.” What is a happy life?
The billions poor in the world are happy to have food and clothing. The oppressed are happy if granted basic human rights to live. Having attained basic life needs, the checklist in a modern society is long one – good income, material possessions, physical beauty, pleasures, education, achievements, fame, prestige, family, friendships, marriage, kids and legacy.
Every individual generally has a picture of what a happy life is. The closer that picture is to reality, the happier the person is.
Society plays a great part in shaping this picture. Eastern culture is more definitive of the milestones one should achieve by a certain age and emphasises society’s perception of an individual. Western culture is less prescriptive, celebrates individual uniqueness and encourages personal development.
Cultural influence, convoluted with individual personality and beliefs, will form an individual’s picture of what a happy life looks like.
Whilst varying expectations suggest that happiness is subjective to an individual, every subjective happiness is linked to objective elements, i.e. it is a combination of material, intellectual, relational/moral and spiritual elements. The significance or insignificance of each of these elements, depends one’s value system and understanding of reality.
Happiness derived from changing elements, especially the material, are unstable as they do not last in reality. Money and possessions never seem to be enough to bring happiness. Men’s praises are fleeting. Fame does not last. Physical beauty wrinkles and strength fades. Trusted friends dissapoint. Loved ones die. People forget and life goes on as though one never exists.
An individual’s picture of a happy life is also not a static one. As one grows in understanding, the picture changes. Greater understanding accompanies greater sorrow due to heightened sense of the dark reality of life. One can try to numb one’s senses to remain happy and ignorant, or willingly accept reality and change one’s expectation of a happy life.
Some philosophies and faith systems encourage the pursuit of happiness away from the material and towards the spiritual for this very reason. They see the frailty of life and the vanity of human strifes after material things, thus they hope to find happiness that lasts in the spiritual.
The Bible teaches that true happiness comes in entering Christ’s rest, where all strifes end as sinners finally finds peace with God. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
On Christmas day, the Lord of Sabbath has come to give us rest. May you find true happiness through the true meaning of Christmas.
Blessed Sabbath and Merry Christmas.
The billions poor in the world are happy to have food and clothing. The oppressed are happy if granted basic human rights to live. Having attained basic life needs, the checklist in a modern society is long one – good income, material possessions, physical beauty, pleasures, education, achievements, fame, prestige, family, friendships, marriage, kids and legacy.
Every individual generally has a picture of what a happy life is. The closer that picture is to reality, the happier the person is.
Society plays a great part in shaping this picture. Eastern culture is more definitive of the milestones one should achieve by a certain age and emphasises society’s perception of an individual. Western culture is less prescriptive, celebrates individual uniqueness and encourages personal development.
Cultural influence, convoluted with individual personality and beliefs, will form an individual’s picture of what a happy life looks like.
Whilst varying expectations suggest that happiness is subjective to an individual, every subjective happiness is linked to objective elements, i.e. it is a combination of material, intellectual, relational/moral and spiritual elements. The significance or insignificance of each of these elements, depends one’s value system and understanding of reality.
Happiness derived from changing elements, especially the material, are unstable as they do not last in reality. Money and possessions never seem to be enough to bring happiness. Men’s praises are fleeting. Fame does not last. Physical beauty wrinkles and strength fades. Trusted friends dissapoint. Loved ones die. People forget and life goes on as though one never exists.
An individual’s picture of a happy life is also not a static one. As one grows in understanding, the picture changes. Greater understanding accompanies greater sorrow due to heightened sense of the dark reality of life. One can try to numb one’s senses to remain happy and ignorant, or willingly accept reality and change one’s expectation of a happy life.
Some philosophies and faith systems encourage the pursuit of happiness away from the material and towards the spiritual for this very reason. They see the frailty of life and the vanity of human strifes after material things, thus they hope to find happiness that lasts in the spiritual.
The Bible teaches that true happiness comes in entering Christ’s rest, where all strifes end as sinners finally finds peace with God. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
On Christmas day, the Lord of Sabbath has come to give us rest. May you find true happiness through the true meaning of Christmas.
Blessed Sabbath and Merry Christmas.
posted by Mejlina Tjoa @ 1:26 AM
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