As Americans we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness… I wonder what our founding fathers meant by that? What are we really after as we pursue happiness? Is it about having fun? making money? storing up possessions? providing for family? being the best? achieving success?
Seek first the kingdom of heaven…
Can I seek, or pursue, the kingdom of heaven, while at the same time pursuing personal happiness? I feel stuck here, like I need more time to wrestle with that question, but my mind continues with other questions…
How would Jesus define happiness? Something tells me it might be very different from our American version.
Blessed (or happy) are those who mourn…
Okay, that definitely does not fit the idea of happiness that I have grown up with. How can this be? How can mourning equal happiness?
If I am to mourn I have to first care for something or someone deeply. I have to be passionate. I have to be vulnerable. I have to risk loss.
Does my pursuit of happiness center on safety, security, and avoidance of suffering? Can I continue to cling to comfort while pursuing intimacy with God? What do I really want more than anything else? What am I really pursuing?
A weekend at Warner Camp always seems to encourage deep questions.
Posted on
Friday, February 19, 2010
by Chris Spitters