Choose Joy

Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence, included as a part of our new democracy the right to pursue “happiness.“  

With all the grousing that we see on the nightly news, read in our papers, hear on radio, listen to in the aisles of the supermarket, and in conversations between friends you may begin to believe that happiness is a rare phenomenon.  Listen to what we talk about.  The weather is terrible, so-and-so has cancer, the next-door neighbor is a braggart, personal betrayals, unsatisfactory jobs, dishonest politicians, and someone’s dog always goes on our lawn.  Is finding happiness really that difficult that its opposite seems to fill our days?

People define personal happiness in a variety of ways but it seems elusive. 

Rebbe Nachman, a particular hero of mine, wrote, “The human’s image-making faculty is the source of all temptation.  If it becomes dominant, it results in depression…one forgets one’s purpose in life.  We have to fight back and aim to be continually happy so as to break the power of our imagination.” 

Nachman was indicating the idols we craft and the danger they create.  When we equate “things” with happiness we are making idols that will doom us to sadness.  No thing has the power to make us happy.  That which makes us happy is purpose.  And, of course, there is no greater purpose than the goal of proximity to God.

Why would closeness to God create joy?  There are several possibilities:

1.     A relationship with God is not self-defining or physically enriching.  It is a search, a question, and deep concerned thought.  It is direction, purpose.

2.     It is quiet.  Connection with God is meaningful moments of solitude and reflection bringing us focus and calm.

3.     Prayer is a paradox.  At once it elevates while another time it carries us to new sobering realizations about the self.  We do not necessarily get what we want but we get what we need.

4.     Closeness to God is not automatic.  It comes because we desire it.  The want to be close to our Maker pushes away the idols, which we have given too much attention to and have made us mostly unhappy.

Happiness is a choice, reveals Rebbe Nachman.  It is both a choice and takes ongoing effort.  It is also something our Founding Fathers believed was connected to God.  After all, that sentence in the Declaration of Independence includes “the Creator” as a part of that right and path to happiness.  It almost goes without saying that the Torah leads us to that same conclusion time and again.   Isn’t every tale we read in Genesis - from Adam to Joseph – about the human path to happiness including God?

Eleventh century scholar, Judah HaLevi wote, “Your contrition on a fast day is not more acceptable to Him than your joy on the Sabbath and holy days, it if is the outcome of a devout heart.”  Yom Kippur is surely a great day of reckoning and awe.  Yet, what God knows, and what He wants us to learn, is that the joy of life is supposed to outweigh the “oy” of life.  In the faith of our ancestors we actively seek the light of joy.  Drink a toast to God on Friday nights.  Light candles and bless Him and the ones you love.  Say a prayer for someone.  Sing the Sh’ma as you put your head on your pillow.