Happiness comes in different forms

My last articles have been centered around the portion of the Declaration of Independence which reads: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ I discussed the right of life. I discussed the right of liberty. Now I want to say something about the right of happiness. Whoops! That isn’t what the Declaration of Independence says. It says ‘the pursuit happiness.’

Happiness, what is it? The word happiness isn’t in my dictionary. Happy, however, was. hap y (hapT) adj. hap-pi-er, hap-pi-est.

1. Characterized by good luck; fortunate.

2. Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy.

3. Being especially well-adapted; felicitous.

4. Cheerful; willing.

5.a. Characterized by a spontaneous or obsessive inclination to use something. Often used in combination. b. Enthusiastic about or involved with to a disproportionate degree. Often used in combination. ‘hap-pi-ly adv. ‘hap-pi-ness n.

Hence, I think we can say happiness is a state of mind.

It is most ironic I think that the writers of our Constitution did not say the right to happiness. The constitution says ‘and the pursuit of happiness.’ To pursue something I think of it in terms of following after something. It may only be one step ahead of us, but we see it and if is there.

Many people try to find happiness in many different things and end up being miserable. We live in an age when more and more people try to pursue happiness through chemical dependence. Just think how sad that it is that so many people try to find happiness through drugs. Drug abuse and drug dependency is the number one problem in America today. This is alarming to me. Individuals trying to find happiness by pursuing a life of drug taking and drug dealing. In both instances we see brains destroyed. Brains that could have developed into something useful for mankind.

Many try to find happiness through illicit sex. And when the fruit of that illicit act come about, many try to find happiness through abortion. Two wrongs don’t make a right! Never has, never will. The citizens of the United States are referred to as highly intelligent, yet millions of babies are killed each year through abortion. Many cry for the outlawing of capital punishment and beg for abortion. Many do not want to put to death an individual who goes out and commits the most dreadful crime one can imagine. Yet many people will say it is okay to kill a baby by abortion. A baby that has not committed a crime.

In the Bible, the word blessed or bless is used. In many of the passages happy can be used instead. Let us look at the few:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalms 1:1-2.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:3-11.