Happiness does come from within, however, our culture is quite toxic to this ‘theology’. Our leaders tell us to buy, buy, buy… Television, both cultural shows and the constant ‘attack’ of the commercial….

I have two kids who are ‘happy’. But it will all go out in a flash when another kid comes by riding a ‘chopper’ or gets a new pair of cool rollerblades. We spend christmes, finding gifts, which they love when they open, but end up making forts later with the boxes.

there will always be a duality about all of us as we ARE human, I can live in the spirit and LOVE my job, but that doesn’t always stick when the stress gets dicey.

Lest we forget, some who make their living doing less than fun things. But I happen to know someone that can sing cleaning a toilet! Perspective, yes, but we have to remember life will get the best of us sometimes… happiness and joy are great things, indeed. But heh, if it smells like roses all of the time it would be hard to apprecitate what you do ‘have’ in life!

(diminishing the value of happiness)

Michelle and Leon- So cool that both of you found that verse in Ecclesiastes! Yes, I think God WANTS us to be engaged and happy in work, and in life, but like David says, that dosn’t mean it won’t take a great deal of “work” to get there. Not always a smooth path, I guess.

Nancy, I always enjoy your insigtful comments – You are a never-ending source of poetic wisdom! Yes, in the end all happiness will come from God as the source.

Now I must go and check out how Michelle and Nancy made out with that rapping thing…

But that doesn’t mean we always get our way. And sometimes we confuse lust/greed/envy with “happy”. For instance if you rob a bank you may be happy with the money for a short time – but when you’re in jail, I doubt that happiness will last!

God wants us to be happy, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

As for work specifically, I think God wants us to have jobs where we can be fully engaged and happy. But as I often write at http://www.MeaningToWork.com, true satisfaction comes from bringing meaning TO your work, not getting meaning FROM your work.

Most of us think of work as a thing that will “make” us happy. But I believe it works the other way around – if we do something with meaning, we’ll be happy.

So, for me there is just one thing left to say: Amen, Michele!

( :

http://highcallingblogs.com/blog/habitual-poetry/3828/

just sayin…

18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be HAPPY in his work—this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

i have noticed that a lot of men, especially men for some reason, really get an ego hit when they are laid off of a job or are with out a job for some reason. this seems to be true even if they were not happy with their work. it really effects them in a big way even if the family has plenty of money.

how does one measure happiness?
it just won’t stand still long enough to be measured.
when we run after happiness, it darts away like a greased pig.

it sounds as if you are in a place where you feel a good balance. only God knows how all the things about your life worked together to make it that way. but, i can guess that running after happiness did not get you there.

i actually think that personal happiness is a bit over played.

commercial ads alone takes huge advantage this theme.

there are many distractions calling for us to buy, do, and be, toward happiness, that there is no way that this could bring anything but feelings of inadequacy in terms of happiness. all we are left with is a feeling that we are missing something, and that something else, or someone else, will give us that feeling. the something or someone else, can, but, not for long. because if one is seeking only their own happiness, then they will have to continually be feeding a very hungry monster.

i think… that God would like for us to be content and happy, and, if it is at all possible, that it is possible in Him.

here is a good post that i read this morning…it relates.
http://cindyhan111.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/shut-up-and-listen/

I’m with David. Work can bring us pleasure, joy, sorrow, fulfillment, frustration and a lot of other things, but I don’t think it’s purpose is to make us happy. I have to consider this for a time, but “happiness” in this context, or perhaps in any context, sounds decidely self-centered. And fleeting.