Sacred Cynicism

Are you happy? This is a surprisingly important question, and one that carries some historical importance. Even the founders of this country thought so. They parted ways with the French, whose revolutionary slogan was “life, liberty and equality.” Instead, they wrote, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” So, let me ask the question again, are you happy? I am not talking about the fleeting happiness caused by a Cubs win, or finding a $20 bill, but a deep contentment that transcends hardship and sadness. Most of us would rather he happy than be forlorn, and most of us actively try to do things that increase our level of happiness. Yet, how well do we accomplish our goal?

There may be much at stake with our level of happiness. In one study, just released this week, the results tell us that the health benefits of happiness are greater than the adverse results of obesity. As a culture we spend so much time and energy on avoiding the dangers of obesity, maybe we should at least examine the causes of happiness. Happiness is a subject that the Bible references many times. “Happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scoffers; but his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). “Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah” (Psalm 144:15). Happy is the person whose “hope is in Jehovah his God” (Psalm 146:5). The New Testament also joins this chorus. Phil 4:12 states, “I have learned to be joyful in any and every situation.” In 3:1 and 4:4 Paul reminds believers to “Rejoice in the Lord” So, how are you doing in the joy department?

In 1978 a landmark study was performed on the subject of happiness and contentment. It is called the Brickman Study, and it was done by Northwestern University. In this study the research team examined 3 different groups of people. The first group was the control group, and it consisted of a cross-section of average people. The second group entirely consisted of people who had recently won a great deal of money in the lottery. The purpose was to measure the level of happiness each group reported before anyone had ever won the lottery, and their level of happiness after the event, along with their future expectation of happiness. Surprisingly for many people, there was absolutely no difference in the level of happiness between these two groups, nor was there a greater expectation of happiness for the group flush with money.

Yet I have not yet told the whole story. There was a third group designated in this study. This group was comprised of those who had recently been maimed severely or paralyzed in unexpected accidents. This group was asked to report on their level of happiness before the accidents, and their current expectation of happiness after accidents that had left them paralyzed. In what might be perceived as another shock, this group did not report a lower expectation of joy after the accident, nor did they have a lower level of happiness than the lottery winners. What seems absolutely apparent to readers of this study, and observers of life in general, is that happiness is not externally created. Whatever instigates happiness derives from internal factors, not external circumstance.

I think we all must admit that we have a culture that seems to think differently than the results of this study. We think happiness comes with the purchase of a new car, new shoes, or will magically appear on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. What many of us have found, is that the happiness or dejection that is present, will not be changed by a simple purchase. A deep sense of sadness will only be temporarily muted by present, happy circumstances. At the same time, a heart that is already filled with joy will only see that joy enhanced by special memories, and difficult circumstances will not overcome that joy.

What is evident is that if joy is internal, what is it that creates and nurtures joy in life? Are there things we can do to enhance and create joy? There must be. If it is impossible to experience joy more fully, then why do the words of Jesus and the New Testament ask us to be joyful? It is because we can be joyful. Next week we will discuss how.