Happiness - A Journey

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+118:24&version=NASB

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:34&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204:13-15&version=NIV

Some years ago I came across the following quote.  I believe that it is original with Robert R. Updegraff (1889-1977).  Apparently Updegraff (how’s that for a name?) was a business counselor and adviser to many of our country’s top management teams.  I don’t know much else of what Updegraff said or wrote, but his quote is priceless.  “Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it's too late. The time for happiness is today not tomorrow.”  Isn’t that a great quote?  What a timely reminder.

Many people in our fast-paced society are focused on the future.  Now having an eye on the future is certainly something that everyone should do.  The reason is that the future will soon be here.  And by planning for it today, we can not only be ready for it, but also shape it.  So the time to get our education out of the way is now.  The time to start saving for our first house is now.  The time to start saving for our children’s college education is now.  The time to start putting aside money for our retirement is now.  The problem, however, is when we live in the future.  Exclusively.  Because when we live in the future, we fail to appreciate today.  Allow me to illustrate.

Take a young married couple who are eagerly wanting to have their first child.  Then he or she comes along and they can’t want until they have a few more children.  Then they can’t wait until their children can crawl.  Sit up.  Stand.  Walk.  Talk.  Are out of diapers.  Start attending school.  Are in high school.  Graduate.  Leave the house.  Go on to college.  Before they realize it, their children are gone.  Out of the house.  Then they wish that they could go back and enjoy some of those times again.  But they can’t.  Those days are gone forever.  Never to be re-lived.

As Updegraff mentions, the same thing can happen with happiness.  So many people look to the future as that time when they will be happy.  When everything in their life is exactly the way that they want it.  I have a news flash for you.  We never will get to the point where everything is exactly the way that we want it to be.  Never.  When life is lived like this happiness becomes elusive.  Always around the next corner.  Just out of our reach.  The result is that we are never happy.  We fully expect to be.  But we never arrive there.

The great secret to life is enjoying today.  With all of its stresses.  And demands.  And imperfections.  To enjoy our health.  Our loved ones.  Our job or career.  Our stage in life.  The gifts that God has given us.  The ways that He is using us.  The things that He is teaching us.  These are just some of the things that we should be happy for.  Happy for today.

So as yet another Thanksgiving approaches let’s train ourselves to be happy today.  To be fully engaged today.  To live for today.  To not wish our present away by spending too much time wishing for the future.  The fact is that tomorrow may never come.  And even if it does it might not look like we thought it would.  Remember, happiness is a journey.  Not a destination.  It is something to be celebrated and experienced every day.  Starting today!

Lord, as I plan for the future help me not to neglect today.  Help me to appreciate it.  The good and the bad.  The highs and the lows.  The realized and unrealized expectations.  Help me to be happy with what You have given me.  And who You have brought into my life.  And the experiences You are taking me through.  Today, I choose to be happy in You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.