Do we believe that happiness leads to contentment? Do we believe that we must feel happy, full, accomplished, whole, and at rest in order to be happy. Children pout when a need or want is not met, so if all needs and wants are met are we then happy?
It is my supposition that we have a common misconception and that leads to a tunnel of misconceived beliefs.
We ponder our lives, the depths of our emotions and struggle for sanity. We desire a restful reality of hope and exuberant authenticity. We struggle with depression, lack, loss, emptiness, love lost, the emotional and physical pains associated with living here in an unfair world.
We believe that seeing is believing. Data and information equal experience and will lead us to believing. I will attempt to expose this misconception in myself and study the areas of my life where I have let this misconception take hold. My desire is not to impose something an anyone but to discover with my naturally inquisitive and curious mind, what is real. If I believe something, why do I believe that? Where did that belief come from? Who gave me this idea? My goal is not an attempt to re-create what has already been discovered, but to find and in some way touch upon those discoveries. My goal is not to reach a level of informational exposure, or some mere academic elevation of my mind.
In order to find this I am delving into my own genesis, attempting to discover who created me, and why I was created. I may not find absolutes but what I believe concerning my own creation is a foundation for a life. In pursuit of happiness I must begin with the end in mind, but start at the beginning.
2 John 1:5-9(NLT Biblegateway.com) 5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. 7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
2 Timothy 1:12b-13(NLT Biblegateway.com) 12 for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. 13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
Yasha,
ReplyDeleteI applaud your efforts at learning the "discipline of loving." It is a discipline, and you are right in saying the journey begins in the mind. May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jim H.