Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence lists Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness as the unalienable Rights given to all men by God and argues that proper government exists to protect such rights.  Two hundred thirty plus years later, this doctrine continues to be the cornerstone of our government and culture.

Of the three rights, it is the "pursuit of Happiness" that intrigues me most.  Affirming the right to pursue happiness is the most original of the three.  John Locke had previously and famously noted God-given rights to life, liberty, and property.  However, Jefferson and other key editors, in the process of revising the Declaration, arrived at "pursuit of Happiness."  I'm not claiming to know precisely what Jefferson et al meant by Happiness but I conceive it to be fulfillment, satisfaction, contentment, and peace in one's life.  It seems to be taken for granted that the individual knows the way to Happiness.  It's as though Happiness is some location known to all if only there were no barriers preventing our movement toward it.

I think therein lies a critical component of our cultural malaise.  Though all retain the right to pursue happiness it may be that we have only a vague idea of what it really is or where it might be found.  More than that, it is very rare for there to be any critical analysis of various roadways to Happiness.  The cultural roadways we travel are populated with signs touting "Happiness Ahead" and very few are questioning whether the signs are reliable.  Adding a pinch of cynicism, I could push the cultural analogy further by imagining  the well-traveled roadways as toll roads and suspecting that the signs have been posted by those whom are profiting from the venture.

When he saw the crowds, he felt sorry for them. They were troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.      Matthew 9:36

As Christ-followers it is imperative that we pay careful attention to the routine roadways of our culture purporting Happiness.  By God's grace we can ask and even answer the question, "What is Happiness after all?"; and in the process, begin to see many cultural endeavors as manufactured and counterfeit.

You don't have to be a biblical scholar to know that the survey of Jesus' teachings and the model of his life is love, specifically the inseparability of love of God and love of fellow man.  I think it fair, even obvious, to interpret Jesus as offering love of one another as the roadway to Happiness.  A point that's hard to fathom in a culture that elevates the autonomy of the individual above all else.  Jesus calls us to cultivate our relationships and find true, enduring prosperity in love.

Jefferson believed it to be the overbearing State that hindered the pursuit of Happiness.  Long before, Jesus revealed the hindrance to be much more subtle and wily - sin.

My hope is that we can come together in critical evaluation of the various roadways to Happiness and learn to love each other more.