SEEKING HAPPINESS

Happiness is like an elusive butterfly,
The more we chase it, the more it alludes us.
But if we turn our attention to other things,
It comes and sits softly on our shoulders.
(Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Although I never sought the opportunity and it was definitely not what I would count as one of the joyful activities of my life, during my life I have been given stewardships which included significant amounts of counseling. These experiences included people in a wide variety of the stages and circumstances of the mortal passage.

There is no doubt that the dominant reason for them having sought me out, was the elusiveness of the state of happiness they were seeking in life. They may have used such words as disobedient children, finances, feeling unfulfilled, not being understood, lack of love in their lives, but the bottom line was that they didn't feel happy.

After allowing for the cathartic exercise of letting them unburden themselves, I would ask them to give me examples of what they saw in others they deemed to have found happiness. Most of the time the attributes they felt happy people possessed were described with such words as calm, peaceful, contented, loving and friendly.

More often than not Nathaniel Hawthorne’s butterfly illustration would come to mind and be a very natural lead-in to a discussion of some of the activities which happy people have in common which could create an atmosphere where happiness should quietly come and sit softly upon their shoulders.

They create spaces and time in their lives where pondering and meditation can flow without interruption

They dedicate themselves to searching out and reading positive, enlightening words which are found in scriptural writings, poetry and prose

They seek and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit

They heed the laws of the Lord’s plan of happiness and by so doing increase the opportunity to hear the sweet voice of the Shepherd

They supplement their morning and evening prayers with moments of sincerely petitioning the Immortal help of Heavenly Instructors for direction in solving life’s problems

They have begun the process of retuning the gift of their free will back to Him who gave it to them

Much of their day is spent in thankfulness for the multitudinous blessings which have been bestowed upon them

They are frequently reminded of those who are not so blessed and inspired about charitable acts which might help alleviate suffering

They number all as family and as eternal brothers and sisters

Because of the alluring false teachings of Lucifer many of those with whom I met with had ingested the cool aid he advertises as happiness. You must find it on a thrill ride, in a dark tavern, away from people, in the house on the hill, by numbing your senses, by setting your heart on the things of the world. It takes but moments on any form of media to become inundated with his propaganda.

Whether anyone else was ever moved by these sessions or not, I know the accumulated effect on my life was the realization that butterflies don't rest where there is commotion, clamoring or confusion. Rather they rely on a very different set of priorities than those of which Satan would try to convince us.

Happiness comes to those who are humbly self-assured

Happiness comes to those who have no need to be enlarged in the eyes of the world

Happiness comes to those who have begun to understand the nature of their Eternal Parentage

Happiness comes to those who have found the peace and contentment through confirmation of the correctness of the path the Lord had prepared for them

Happiness comes to those who through patience have acquired tolerance for the halting steps their brothers and sisters are taking

Happiness comes to those who accept that we are all in different steps of progression and it is OK

Happiness comes to those who understand that whatever we achieve in life we will yet lack in our quest to become as God is

As I think back upon those many unsought opportunities to visit with brothers and sisters, I am struck with the realization about who those sessions were really for.

Happiness is like an elusive butterfly,
The more we chase it, the more it alludes us.
But if we turn our attention to other things,
It comes and sits softly on our shoulders.
(Nathaniel Hawthorne)

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY