Happiness is Contentment

New International Version (©1984) Ecc 1:8


"All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing."

Solomon, tells us that the process of life is constantly about seeing or hearing new things...That really explains our age with the advent of new technologies that crowd us with more information than ever before. At first we think its a great thing, all kinds of  choices, then we realize that we are submerged with so much that we are entering info overload and it burns our circuits.

Solomon knew that the inner part of a man would never be satisfied on its own. I call the "grass is greener" philosophy. People obtain something or find a new love, or this or that, then monthsor years  later its not enough. They repeat the cycle over and over again, until they become jaded. They "eyes is never satisfied with seeing.."

Never truer words were ever spoken, than "godliness with contentment is great gain"  Geez, just being content with what you have almost sounds weird. However when you take the blinders off and realize that life is not a series of conquests, but learning to appreciate what you have, you begin to mature.

When you learn that its not what you dont have, its learning to appreciate what you have you start to grow up. Is it wrong it want more?  No, but wanting more, shouldnt be an obscession with us. God has promised to be our sufficiency... "For he has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake therefore be content with such things that you have. "  Hebrews 13:5   If we are after the pursuit of material things, than how are we shining as the lights in the world?

Instead of racking up debt on your next purchase, think about the eternal nature of things, and how that money could be invested in something long term. Money invested in something long term, has far greater dividends,than anything else. Be content and happy!

A Fresh Perspective

There are sometimes in life, that you awaken and your whole life perspective undergoes a metamporphosis. This is an awakening so strong that it send shock waves through your whole system. It is like the healthy teenager goes from football stud on the gridiron to a  paralplegic in the wheel chair. Or a mother that swings from a happy mother to a broken person that has lost her kids, or a spouse that get greeted in the wee hours of the morning by a grim faced detective, with the message, " Im sorry to have to tell you"

When you  lose your health, even for a few days, you long for the times when you didnt have an affliction. Such was the case when I came down with strep, I had heard of it, but had escaped it up until that point. Then boom, you lose your voice, you chest is racked with coughing spells, and wads of phlegm. You feel like you have bowled over with a Mack truck. You think you can sleep it off, but off you go to the doctor for a dose of antibiotics.

The process of healing isnt immediate, and neither is anything else worthwhile in our lives. The sun comes out after a long rainy season, to make us appreciate its healing rays..  Intimates dont recover their trust until after a time,  and our bodies dont recover a toxic germ attack until adequate action is taken.

When the cycle is completed, thats when healing comes. So it is with life, we never really appreciate something until is  removed and then we realize. When we strive to let go and let life teach us, it will bring rich perspective that we never knew. IF you ever notice some of the best plays, books,and productions occurrs after a time of great adversity...let life hand you a new pair of glasses to adjust your vision.

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.”


Arthur Golden quotes