“The next day, after work, we just went to the beach, far away from anything, everything, just Christopher and me. Far away from buses and noise and the constant disappointment in my ten gallon head, myself. Because when I was young and I'd get an A on a history test, whatever, I'd get this good feeling about all the things that I could be. And then I never became any of them.”
--The Pursuit of Happyness
--The Pursuit of Happyness
Hi Keith,
ReplyDeleteIf the first paragraph is the entire post, you're testing me right? To see if I'll once again ask THE QUESTION.
OK, I'll bite. What if all the stupid looking happy people are right?
When I asked you that the first time, back in 1987, I was sure that the answer had to be "no," but now I'm not so sure. There's plenty of biblical admonition in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiasties, and even the Pauline Epistles to basically be content with what you have. To take satisfaction in the work of your hands that God sets before you. To find pleasure in your wife and give joy to your children.
You remember all the big plans I used to have for my life? Plans that I was sure were God's. Plans that kept having the door shut on them. I find myself not at all frustrated or angry that those plans never came to pass.
These days I'm happier than I've ever been. Sure there are struggles. Some days the kids behave better than other days, some days worse. Some days Belinda and I argue, some days not. But at the end of every day, I love them and they love me, and we all love Jesus.
My career isn't what I had planned all those years ago, not even close, not even the same field, but I like what I do, I enjoy my work, and how many people can say that honestly?
So then, what if all the stupid looking happy people are right? Maybe they are, and just maybe I've become one of them.
Grace and Peace, Dave