Happiness…

In my religion, we are taught that when we pass over to the next realm, we will stand before God and must answer for our sins, and if the sins are great we will not be welcomed into Heaven. We are also taught that our God is an all loving, all forgiving God. Those two teachings have always seemed to contradict one another in my head. Then, just two days ago, I was reading a novel and came across a new teaching about appearing before God. I have not researched this to see if it is, indeed, accurate.  However, the thought was so profound to me that I can’t seem to shake the theory. The main character in the book I was reading, a young Jewish physician, has relations with the woman he deeply loves although they are not married. Even though he knows that they are forbidden to do so, he also knows that the Talmud teaches him that when he stands before God he will have to explain the happiness’s during his Earthly life that he did not pursue. For to not pursue all happiness is in effect not living your life to it’s fullest. This gives me peace and hope that we can, in fact, be imperfect and still remain in God’s Kingdom. But it also sheds such light onto how we should actually approach each day of our lives. Happiness comes in different ways. It doesn’t necessarily mean we should lay around eating cupcakes and M&M’s 24/7.  Nor does it give us carte blanch to sin without consequence. But a good day’s work, a walk in the sun rather than laying on the sofa, doing your chores, spending time with your child, etc. etc. are all ways to create happiness.

So, my friends go forth and create your own happiness today, as I will be chasing my own!

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