WHO WANTS TO BE HAPPY?

Noah, the church's Human Resources Department Administrative Assistant came by my office asking about the movie he was writing a review of- The Pursuit of Happyness. His problem was that he was reviewing a movie he has not yet seen! Given my personality, instead of immediately helping him, I tried to convince him to watch the movie first before even proceeding. Given his bubbly and insisting personality, he bubbly insisted that I tell him the plot and speak my mind concerning the movie! I did. I also told him to check my blog if he wanted to know more about what my thoughts on pursuing happiness!

Happiness. Even the US Declaration of Independence has a clause containing it to highlight its importance alongside freedom, and even life itself. It reads, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”[1] Because they say, life is of no worth without freedom or happiness.

But, whether sacred or self-evident, do you believe you have a right to happiness? I think that’s the way the phrase has insinuated itself into our consciousness. Notice I dropped a few words. I said, “a right to happiness,” as opposed to the original, “a right to the pursuit of happiness.” They are somewhat different things, if you think about it. The former suggests a universal human entitlement. The latter a universal human goal.[2]

You might remember the well-known and well-beloved words in Matthew’s gospel known as the Beatitudes, sometimes called “the blesseds”. In order to make them more accessible, one modern translation presents them this way: Happy are those who are spiritually poor…Happy are those who mourn…Happy are those who are humble…Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires…Happy are those who are merciful…Happy are the pure in heart…Happy are those who work for peace…Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires…[3]

Of course, these are very different from what passes for happiness in today's culture— they have nothing to do with material desires, for instance. Within popular culture, doesn’t happiness equate with having stuff and things accompanying a relatively carefree life? Ever-onward upward mobility, graced with good lovin’, good food, good times and good health?

Think about every other possible thing you believe you need, must have, in order to live fully, completely, as a whole person, freely pursuing your happiness. And then, consider how this pursuit becomes an enormous burden given our tendency to make secondary ends our primary drivers.

We read Jesus say to his listeners, “Come to me, all that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[4]


But, honestly, we tend to ignore the phrase that invites us to take on his yoke. We’re not entirely certain we like the sound of that. In fact, it sounds kind of contradictory, doesn’t it? Our rest will be found in taking on a yoke? Taking on a yoke sounds the opposite of freedom. But, that’s the paradoxical faith we profess. Laying down our burden at the feet of Jesus, taking on his light yoke, we find our true rest, even, our heart’s deepest desire, call it happiness.[5]



So here, at the end, comes as an invitation to set down the burden of your pursuit. Let it go. If only for the rest of the day. Take on the light yoke Jesus offers instead. Try it on. You’ll find it fits your need like a glove and with it comes a freedom you never could possibly have imagined.[6]

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1 wikipedia, US Declaration fo Independence
2 4th of July 2005 weekend,, S.Bauman Christ Church NYC
3. Today's English Version
4 4th of July 2005 weekend,, S.Bauman Christ Church NYC
5 ibid
6 ibid