by Rev Robert A Wendel
As an endorsed ABC chaplain and pastoral counselor, those wanting my help often tell me “I just want to be happy.” Happiness is a fast moving target, usually beginning with “When or if only….I could find romance, the right job, a better car, a bigger house or have more cash in the bank.” And there will always be those lingering wishes around body shape, health or family concerns.
Sometimes we think that having just one wish granted will make us happy, So, the Scarecrow wanted a brain, the Tin Man wished for a heart, the Cowardly Lion longed for an extra dose of courage Charlie Brown just wanted to kick the football. In real life, what we want may not be right for us.
The more feel-good stuff we do, or have, the more we need to achieve. Many times we make choices that we think will insure our happiness in the future like making decisions for our retirement. When we feel good, we’re more likely to do good. That’s why a honeymoon is so memorable or the Yuletide Season can seem to put a bounce in our step and a smile on our face.
True happiness is a spiritual quality. It is a part of our God-given character. God intends for you and me to share our individual gift of happiness. No one showed a better example of sharing happiness than when Jesus knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples at a final religious supper.
The Master told those followers, “I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. Happy are you when you serve one another” (John 13:15-17). When we make others happy, we find happiness for ourselves.
This season’s series of Lenten Community Luncheons sponsored by the Beckley Clergy collected $1,091.00 which was donated to Hospice House. Our clergy encourage each Beckley congregation to again volunteer and financially support our Beckley Day of Hope on August 13th. During January through March of this year, Helping Hands served 2,032 families and 4,087 individuals.
Frank Miller will lead our morning devotional at our final ABC Men’s breakfast until September at 8:00 AM on Saturday, May 14th. Gentlemen, let’s show the WV Men’s Director that we enjoy being together.