Life’s obstacle course to happiness winds toward God

If we use ourselves or our lives for a purpose for which they aren’t intended, at the very least we’ll be unhappy, even if secretly so.

One habit helps us to be happy now and forever: our daily, habitual outlook. It determines how we act, think, reason, and plan. A wise priest recently gave a stunning talk about the three kinds of people in this life – as each person lives according to one of these habitual aims. The first type seeks to feel good. Second type, to look good. Third type, to be good. The first two types experience great suffering, even if they hide it. Unless they adopt the third habit-type – prioritizing their daily thoughts and actions in congruence with God and His purpose – they’ll struggle and thrash. Without God’s home plate as their final aim, they’ll foul out.

Feel-gooders aim for a good time, and swim in life’s pleasures. They send imperfect restaurant dinners back to the chef, whine about the slightest hotel quirk, and despise holdups in summer resort traffic. They leak intolerance through livid outbursts and brooding.

Look-gooders want success and admiration, and are engrossed in appearance. They may even “suffer” for bodily flawlessness or prowess. They’ll crow about great golf shots, conspicuous purchases, whole-house redos, or even successful kids or relatives. But when they’re outshined, they’ll seethe.

The be-gooders seek God’s will first, then gauge how to proceed. They delight in truth and will suffer for it, and relish their alone-time with God. They recover fairly well from hurts and distresses, and don’t lose sleep over what others think. And, they labor daily to keep their habitual disposition positive and open to God’s maneuvers.

Most people can relate immediately to the first two types. That third one takes some serious weathering over time.

Sometimes the last thing many of us want to endure are people’s pictorial brag-shots on social media … lavish new place, professional makeover, beach bod shots. We could be having a perfectly good day, and then the temptation to check our ‘page’ kicks in, and there it is: “we’re having the time of our lives here,” or “aww thanks, I don’t really look that good,” or “we’re just soooo blessed.” Mm hmm.

But then God flashes a little reminder about blessings of our own. Just as I begin to shut down the iPad, the ‘chirpling’ grandkids light it up for FaceTime and ask, “When will we see you, Grandmom? We just got the books you sent! Look, we painted you these pictures today!” They wave their crinkled watercolors of planes and monkeys, and hold up the “Peter the Cat” book. I remind them we’re flying down next week. And we’re awash in gratitude and giddy plans. “Okay, goodnight Grandmom. Grandpop looks like he’s already sleeping. Love you!”

I thank the Lord before dozing off for the night, for all He’s given us, and for many years of foolish, unanswered prayers. He knows what’s best for our happiness, and He plans and provides it.

CHRISTINE VALENTINE-OWSIK is Legatus magazine’s editor.