Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday December 2, 2010

Statistics tell us that this season is one of the unhappiest times of the year. This unhappiness is attributed to many causes such as light deprivation, overly high expectations as to what the stocking holds to bring Christmas joy, to unrealistic expectations from others toward you. I personally don't remember any point in my life when I was giddily happy in December.

On the matter of enjoying happiness I have a statement from the pen of Hugh Prather, prolific author having sold millions of copies of his books, his first back in 1970 sold 5 million. This figure is about 4 million nine hundred thousand ninety nine hundred more than me. But I go for quality.

Here is Hugh's note:

"Simply keep a place within you where it is welcomed, and happiness will come and abide with you forever."

This statement is wonderfully poetic and is polishing Lincoln's well worn, "People are about as happy as they make up their mind to be."

Over the span of my life I have noted that too many people block out any sort of happiness or enthusiasm and opt for a dead pan existence and call it life. No matter what comes or goes, that's just the way life is and we might as well sour a little more and become a little more bitter and if we catch ourself harboring a dream of greater things, immediately snuff it out and get back to the grind. I wish I were exaggerating, but the truth is I am understating the malaise that affects so many sad sacks.

Mr. Prather is right on this one; happiness will and does abide where it is welcomed. To welcome happiness it is necessary to open up and to open up often means we will get hurt by someone. On the other hand if we refuse to open up to happiness and decide to stay in our sour smelly shell, we are going to get hurt anyway and guarantee that we miss any chance at happiness.

I am a lifelong sucker for a well turned phrase and as I glanced through an article the other day one such line from past reading jumped off the page, so I share it with you as it expresses the hope and dreams of a happier time and place. Richard Burton played the part of King Arthur and stated this gem:

"Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot."

As to happiness one greater than Arthur says in Revelation 3:20:

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Anywhere with Jesus is better than Camelot. So, what about the door?

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit.

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