Tuesday, October 24, 2006

I've Never Thought About It This Way Before....

I came across this quote today by Robert Louis Stevenson:

"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world."

This thought has made my day, perhaps my year! This is a revelation for me, as I tend to be one of those folks who begins to feel guilty when I find myself feeling too happy. Some teenagers in a youth group I led many years ago taught me an alternative "Happy Birthday" song which fits me to a "T."

It goes: "Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday!
Vultures flying in the air,
People dying everywhere.
BUT- Happy Birthday!"

Yeah, that's me. I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Yet, I know that God's abundant life is also for me. And- wow- my happiness is God's will for my life! I can still be mindful of suffering and injustice AND claim joy that is mine as a precious child of God. Hmmm.. happiness as a spiritual discipline. Go figure!

1 comment:

Cathy said...

I like the quote! I think the world would be a very different place if we embraced that more often!