When you have once seen the glow of happiness on the face of a beloved person, you know that a man can have no vocation but to awaken that light on all the faces surrounding him. — Albert Camus

Happy has become sort of a vapid term.

We all want it.

We just have such a hard time finding it.

The Declaration of Independence said that all men are endowed by the Creator with unalienable rights, among them – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. So right from the starting line of life, if given the freedom to do it, we are to be in hot pursuit of happiness.

I have watched people frantically compiling material goods and merchandise like a crazed game show contestant, grabbing with gusto before the clock runs out.

I have watched people strive and strain to be the top dog in their business or industry or at sport, willingly putting their feet on the shoulders or faces of those they must climb over to reach the summit.

I have seen women (and men) determined to be the prettiest of them all as they shrivel into a caricature of a human being, obsessed with their appearance.

Happy? Anyone happy? Not so much.

Then I have seen people whose life does not rotate around their ego, who get delight and joy by enriching others. Their days are spent as if there are wonders around every bend and (what do you know!) they find beauty everywhere.

Happy?

Are they happy?

Contagiously so!

Matthew 5:1-10, Good News Translation (GNT):

“The Sermon on the Mount
1 Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them:
True Happiness
3 "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;

the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

4 "Happy are those who mourn;

God will comfort them!

5 "Happy are those who are humble;

they will receive what God has promised!

6 "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;

God will satisfy them fully!

7 "Happy are those who are merciful to others;

God will be merciful to them!

8 "Happy are the pure in heart;

they will see God!

9 "Happy are those who work for peace;

God will call them his children!

10 "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
 the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them.