NORMAN — This is a world of materialistic, egoistic and power-driven societies. Those are the factors that many believe are proof of abundance and prosperity. Throughout my life, I have observed countless people struggling to achieve a state of abundance and prosperity based on those standards.
That struggle is sometimes referred to as the “rat race.” So what does it matter if you win the race and you still end up being a rat? While competing in the race, people often end up turning to substance abuse or any number of other self-destructive behaviors to relieve the frustrations of trying to attain more in life in order to be happy.
The Dalai Lama said, “I believe that the very purpose in life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment.” So what makes you happy? Is it making more money, so you can buy a bigger house? A nicer car? Or take more vacations? Do those things truly make a person happy? Or does the answer lie someplace else?
Albert Schweitzer said, “The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”
I am learning about true happiness. After facing a variety of difficulties including losing my mother, my job, my pet and my home of 20 years — in addition to facing a serious mental disability — I know what it means to experience the loss of people and things that are dear to me. But through it all, I found the love of friends who were there for me — people in my community who performed great acts of service to help pick up the broken pieces of my life.
Ironically, I may never have experienced the depth of real friendship if those losses hadn’t occurred. Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life shall find it.” That certainly happened for me. Instead of suffering a breakdown I experienced a breakthrough. I discovered that things don’t happen to us — they happen for us. I know now that I am indeed rich. I am encircled with treasures that money can’t buy. I have learned the simple truth that abundance and prosperity are a state of mind — an attitude of gratitude, faith and service. Thus the words of the Great Teacher, “The kingdom of God is within.” Heaven is an inside job. May you experience it with me.
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The Morning Star Vision statement is:
“Our Sunday gathering is designed to provide a weekly encouragement to individually manifest our highest good and purpose in our lives. Inner direction is the key. We reinforce positive directions for our lives and the infinite potential within us.
“We seek connections to create an open atmosphere of acceptance of all backgrounds, races and lifestyles. We come together in a spirit of inclusiveness, embracing all spiritual paths, honoring One God in an atmosphere of unconditional love.”
