A Deeper Kind of Happiness

Description

We live in a culture obsessed with individual happiness. Thankfully, over the years, our view of happiness can shift. Early in life, we build lists of what will make us happy. Over time, a deeper question rises: how can I be happy for others? In the story of Rebecca at the well, her pitcher becomes a picture of our journey. We move from facts, into truth, and finally into love. Love sits at the center, and it reshapes how we see everything. When that shift takes hold, we begin to truly “want to see them shine,” whether in our children, our friends, or even strangers. Swedenborg teaches that real joy grows from loving others more than ourselves, and that heaven is a life of mutual love (Heaven and Hell 399, 406). So we practice in small ways. We send a quick note. We say, “I’m proud of you.” We offer encouragement. In these simple acts, we cooperate with the Lord’s work within us. Happiness deepens. It multiplies. And we begin to feel it most when we give it away.