December 7, 2022 at 12:49 p.m.
Happiness Can be Difficult to Find
It is one of the reasons why I have been facilitating a book study at the Hope Library Annex for several years. I likely hesitated more frequently with my thoughts at our last session. Why? Our book is “Solve for Happy” by Mo Gawdat, and happiness just did not seem to be the best subject, all things considered. However, we all somehow were able to wade through the session and calm the uneasiness.
Mo developed a well thought out equation for happiness. He had it all but happiness seemed to elude him, while not even recognizing the blessings of a wonderful family. Mo found himself in a very dark place and realized a need for change. His focus was finding happiness, and he read many books and attended many lectures on the topic. After ten years, he developed a happiness equation, and it worked.
But he never thought he would be so pressed on the subject when his young college son, Ali, died on the operating table for a routine appendectomy after a series of poor judgments and mistakes. There was profound grief and pain, but Mo somehow still applied his model, as well as the rest of the family, and was able to find peace, even happiness. They knew Ali would very much want that for them.
Mo stated this about his son: “He was a role model for peacefulness, happiness, and kindness. And he had a sense of presence that spread those characteristics abundantly along his path.”
Ali's life motto was: “The gravity of the battle means nothing to those at peace.”
Not long after the death of Ali, Mo started to write about happiness. And I, like millions, am glad he did. I would encourage you to read his book and tune to his website.
In “Life Is in the Transitions” by Bruce Feiler, a book referred to during our study, Bruce stresses the importance of thinking of life as nonlinear as opposed to linear. It helps us to get through the ups and downs, twists and turns better. Our book study group has a mixture of individuals, some with mostly linear lives and others with nonlinear lives. My life has been quite linear, but I know how quickly it can change. I also know there will be support from those in my group and many others when it does. Support is one of the greatest advantages of living in our small town, this place, which was so wisely named Hope, a place where there is hope, a word Pastor Chasteen stressed at the end of the service.
Our group spent much time on “Goliath Must Fall-Winning the Battle Against Your Giants” by Louie Giglio, a book of immeasurable content. Toward the end, Louie stresses the process of defeating our giants can be quick but often takes years. The driving point is that we find a way to defeat them.
I have personally been listing other equations for happiness and feel Mo would appreciate all equations as long as we find happiness.
In the meantime, I will be attending the Blue Christmas service at Hope United Methodist Church on Wednesday, December 21 at 6 p.m. to help me through my first Christmas without my mother-in-law, Fran Larch. There will be many in our community who will be having their first Christmas without a loved one. I would encourage you to attend so that we might find inner peace together.
