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Doing work for somebody else should be tiring. It should drain all the energy and happiness out of us. Today we found out that it is exactly the opposite.
We spent the day painting at a school run by AMG (Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel). We found classrooms with walls that had not been painted in over 30 years. Of course if we had asked the students, we never would have thought that the walls needed help. The attitudes of the children inside those walls were attitudes of contentment. They were just as happy as the younger versions of ourselves, who were showered with Chromebooks, temperature-controlled rooms and endless crayons.We did practical and important work today by painting the classrooms.
Far more important was the realization that happiness is not as dependent on stuff as we first thought. Today was the cherry on top of the two week long realization that HAPPINESS DOES NOT COME FROM STUFF! It is terrifying to find out that no amount of money, power or fame will determine happiness or unhappiness. It is equally terrifying to find out that no amount of poverty, weakness or obscurity will determine happiness or unhappiness. We live our lives wrestling with the question of what determines our deepest happiness. I think Jesus was acutely aware of this wrestling when he said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.“
(John 13:14-17)
After spending the day doing work for other people, I do not feel drained or tired. I feel energized and motivated. I feel happy.
