On Happiness
Sr. Julie of a A Nun’s Life posted on this subject, and it inspired me to write up upon this…elusive question.
What is Happiness? What makes me happy?
How can we be happy in this broken world? How are we the Children of God can be content when living in this strangulating world filled with suffering, pain and death. Can we truly happy? Are we suppose to be happy? I suppose, perpetual happiness is not something that is promised for Christians, at least during our life in this world. Now, here’s where things get very complicated. If God is truly good and loving, why do we suffer or be unhappy? Or can we actually suffer and be happy at the same time? Does this make Christians a bunch of masochist? Can death be a joyous happening truly, like those of Martyr’s or Christ’s? One that is assured, for Christians, is that there is an afterlife, and true happiness will be there for those who are faithful, hopeful and loving.
Are people who believed that happiness is only in the afterlife foolish or delusional? Nobody has ever scientifically proven the existence of an afterlife, or God in this matter. Are we so crazy and stupid that we believe? I believe and I am pretty sure I am not stupid. And many will say otherwise. While other may not share the experience, I’ve seen or heard God, definitely not explicitly, but I can see God everywhere. In the air I breath, in the deep blue sky, in the suffering, in the amorous couples, in the doves…everywhere. The is this not happiness enough, to be assured of joy for eternity? With tiny sneak peeks sample taste here and now.
Hope, turns suffering into joy. Hope helps us endure the pain. And what if I’m wrong? Well, prove me otherwise. Tell me if there is a single person in this world that is truly happy, but without hope in God? Can anybody avoid sickness? Can anybody avoid pain? Can anybody avoid death? Can death be joy when you know there is nothing after it? What is the significance of life if there just nothing after it? You can definitely live the life of utilitarians, maximizing your pleasure quota in every single instance of your life. But what for?
Happiness is Love. Although that might mean pain, suffering and death.
