October 12, 2006

Happiness: The False God

Karen Garloch, writing in Tuesday’s “Health and Family” section of The Charlotte Observer, shared some interesting news from the world of psychology.  For several years, psychologists have noted that as the standard of living has dramatically increased in the United States, there has not been an accompanying increase in happiness.  Why not?  Charlotte psychologist Pierce Howard offers an explanation in the latest edition of his book, The Owner’s Manual for the Brain.

Howard contends that happiness is not a goal but rather a personality trait.  Some people are naturally inclined to feel positive emotions most of the time while others are not.  Instead of seeking “happiness,” we should instead try to “flourish.”  Even those who are not naturally cheerful can flourish.  The key to flourishing centers around what he calls “flow.”  Flow has little to do with an increasing standard of living.  Flow is best described as that moment when you are so engrossed in what you are doing that you forget where you are and what time it is.  “If you’re truly absorbed, you’re feeling so fully engaged, you forget to eat,” Howard said.  “And when we’re in flow, we don’t miss being happy.”  Instead, we find satisfaction.

As good as Pierce Howard’s satisfaction sounds (and feels when we have experienced it), Jesus wants even more for us.  Jesus never promised happiness for a reason.  He knew it was a false god placed in our path by the evil one whose desire is for us to run after fulfillment from any source besides God.  Jesus challenged us to begin with a deeply personal sacrifice.  He said to his followers, “If you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)  Jesus recognized that only the Father, who created us and knew us in our mother’s womb, could lead us to the purposes and plans that would ultimately engage us, taking us beyond satisfaction to something even better and more lasting—true joy.

J. Derek Harbin, priest

Around Beloved…Returning from Chapel Hill sporting a cochlear implant, Jake Scheppegrell is making a fast recovery at home from Tuesday’s surgery…Joy Dygowski is home from the hospital and doing well after fracturing her skull while playing…Scott, Dan Hood‘s brother, is back from Iraq but now is at home on blood thinners to dissolve blood clots that have developed in his legs…Community House Middle School’s principal, Gif Lockley, is homebound and recuperating from surgery after falling from a tree and impaling his leg…the Beloved Beehive (Sunday Christian Formation) for adults and children continues this Sunday but will take a break next Sunday (for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ four day teacher conference weekend); if you are thinking about weekend travel, this would be a great one to choose…Beloved’s Worker Bees  (youth 9-12) and Metamorphosis (youth 12-15) will travel 10 kilometers together as Fusion in this year’s CROP Walk for hunger relief this Sunday.  All participants at Beloved are invited to join in the walk or sponsor a walker.  If you are walking with the Beloved group this Sunday, please contact Miss Clifford so that she can plan for you.  The group will depart at 12:30pm from Community House Middle School…FaithQuest is on fall break beginning Sunday, October 15^th.  Sessions will resume the week of October 22^nd…Operation Christmas Child is offering seasonal employment opportunities for those interested in temporary full-time work from mid-November through December.  Skills needed are data entry keyers, cash processors, mail processors, team leaders, forklift operators, dockworkers, shoebox processors and shoebox line workers.  Interested?  Call 888.202.0307 or email occjobschar@samaritan.org to schedule an employment interview.

All Saints Sunday…(November 5) will be here in a little less than a month’s time.  During this service we remember those who have died and gone to God’s heavenly feast since last year’s All Saints celebration.  At Church of the Beloved, we parade into worship with banners bearing our loved ones’ names, reminding us that they are “Christ’s Own Forever.”  The church provides the banner, while family members prepare the letters of their beloved one’s name to go on the banner.  If you have had a relative die this year, please contact the Development Office by October 25 so that you can learn how to prepare your banner for this special day.  Instructions will be sent following the October 25^th deadline.

Serving at God’s Altar this Sunday…Angel Army Team 1 (Captain: Wes Nichols; Administrator: Martha Stone; Pastor: Catherine Atwood; Convener: Toni Reif); Acolytes: Cecilia Atwood, Paige Wilson, Mackenzie Wynn, Morgan Wynn; Altar Bread Baker: Kris Leinenkugel; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Franklin Reid & Al Krantz; Offertory Basket Passers: Jennifer Elyea, Clare Harbin, Gerry Hartman, Jack Hartman; PowerPoint: Miles Harbin; Presenters: Charles, Martha & Sarah Stone; Reader: Tony Hodgson.

In our Prayers…Jake Scheppegrell…Joy Dygowski…Scott, Dan Hood‘s brother…Community House Middle School principal Gif Lockely…those who have died or have been traumatized by the escalating violence in the Middle East and around the world...those serving in Iraq, especially Bob, Clifford King Harbin‘s nephew and Ron, Marilyn Doyon‘s brother-in-law...Palmer, Betsy Fox’s teenage cousin who has leukemia…Jacqui, niece of Deb and Dan Blackwood who is fighting breast cancer...Harriett, Kathy Raynor‘s mother who has cancer...Jessie Powell, Janie Lownes and the Morley family...Emily, Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter...Ed and Jean, Dick Reif's parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma...Bucky, Sherrill Lowder's neighbor, who has lung cancer...Bryan McCarthy, Penny Crawford and Chris Morley as they seek permanent employment...the staff and students of Community House Middle School…Dorothy, Mary Reid and Janie Wooten‘s sister, who died unexpectedly last weekend.

Rest eternal grant to Dorothy, O Lord;

And let light perpetual shine upon her.

May her soul, and the souls of all the departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.