Today I returned to an empty house and sat down in front of the computer after downing a bit of chocolate cake and a whole lot of chocolate icing. I transferred pictures from last night's dinner into the computer and proceeded to entertain myself with a couple of videos from YouTube. Though 'whose line is it anyway' provided me with a few moments of laughter, time did seem to crawl on by. Being blessed with three siblings, I've become accustomed to always having someone to talk to at home.
In any case, at about 6.45 I glanced out of my window and saw a splash of orange across the skyline. Since my camera was already beside me, I took a few snaps before coming to the realization that I did not spend over $1k on my camera to shoot from my window. I packed my camera and my bible and decided to chase after the sunset on my father's bicycle.
Staying in the east, I was never likely to get a clear shot at the sun. Setting out at close to 7pm and the fact that I live in an urban jungle, probably as dense as the Amazon Basin, made it Mission Improbable. Soon it become impossible as I got stuck at a junction. A King Kong-sized tractor being transported by a truck, possibly as long as an anaconda, was attempting to reverse uphill into one of the construction sites.
There were about 3 people directing the truck and after almost going off-road, they finally managed to get it into a position where they could reverse the truck up. However, due to the presence of water puddles, there was insufficient traction for the truck to make it up the hill. Hence, they had to drive the tractor off the truck, before reversing the truck into the construction site.
By the time this was done, the sun had set and darkness fell across the land. Haha.. just trying to be as dramatic as my brother! In any case I gave up on getting my shot and decided to make this into a thought-filled cycle ride. first task was to relate the incident which just unfolded to actual life.
Well, at times you could feel like you really can't see where you are headed and if you reverse blindly it is definitely plausible that you could end up in a ditch. At times, friends could help you get back into the right direction and save you from falling into a position where it would be near impossible to get out. However, even if you manage to get into the right direction, you still have obstacles you need to overcome before you can achieve what you are aiming for.
What the obstacle is and hence what you need to overcome it varies according to what your end goal is. So now the question becomes, what exactly is our goal in life? I'm not talking about the little objectives that you try and complete over the span of your life, but rather what is the one thing you chase after through your entire life.
I think it is pretty safe to say that the thing everyone chases after is happiness. Whether in this age or during the Jurassic age, whether in Europe or in Asia even whether we're talking about man or animals, we are all after true happiness. People who chase after power believe that power will provide them with happiness. Same for the people who chase after wealth and it is the same for religious people.
I think to myself then, what would make me truly happy? I do honestly believe I was born in the wrong generation. I do not long after the lifestyle of Bill Gates or any celebrity, including soccer players. The person whose life i dream of emulating is that of a certain Charles Ingalls. I believe that the number of people who have watched Little House on the Prairie is as few as those who do not download illegally, a group which i have recently have become a proud member of.
Charles Ingalls, his wife and 3 kids built their own house on a prairie in a town where everyone knows everyone else. He was naught but a farmer and a good man. They weren't rich and they had zero technology. What they did have was a creek near their house, neighbors who cared, a single school for the whole town and a little church, where they would faithfully attend service every Sunday, wearing their best clothes.
Of course there were trials and tribulations along the way, but life would be incredibly boring without a few days of worry here and there. In any case, this is the kind of life I am drawn to. Living in a quiet quaint place in a small town with a whole lot of countryside and wide open spaces. Which is the main reason I am so attracted to Europe. Not even the main cities like London, Madrid or even Milan, but rather locations such as Salzburg.
Upon further thought, I realized that just migrating to Salzburg would not guarantee a life of happiness and joy. No, in fact, I believe I am as happy stuck here in this urban jungle as I would ever be living in any other country or place. Of course I would be delighted to live the life i dream about, but I would not be happier. Hmmm..let's see how else i can put this across.
You see, true happiness is only brought about by partaking in perfect love. A love that no human can provide you with. This love is a concoction of grace and selflessness. This incomprehensible love is freely given and is unconditional. Whether we love God or not, He loved us first. However, unless you accept and partake of God's love, you attain no joy from it.
After you embrace God's love, the road ahead is as difficult if not more difficult than before. The difference is that now we move out with divine enabling. We know that no matter what comes our way, God's love is a constant we can always depend on. Perfect love certainly drives out all fear.
Perfect love gives us more than just enabling though. It provides us with an identity. When you are basking in someone's love, the natural reaction would be to replicate that love. We will never be able to fully replicate God's love, but the way we express our love is by doing His will and living a life pleasing to Him. This, I have discovered, is my main purpose in life. My identity is as God's son and my end goal is to make my Father proud.
The person whose life I try to emulate is not Charles Ingalls, it is the life of Jesus Christ. He came down to earth in complete humility and showed us how to live life as God's children. A man who endured more suffering than anyone before or after him, I have no doubt that Christ also enjoyed a happier life than anyone before or after Him. Why? He was in perfect relation with God the Father.
The way I see it, the only way for us to be successful in our pursuit of happiness is if we pursue a Christ-like lifestyle.
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