Oly Trinity’s Collection of Essays – Chapter #1
Wealth and Happiness
Wealth is “Having” while Happiness is “Being”; that is how I can aptly describe them. Wealth is not only measured by the tangible fortune that you have amassed in life but also by the intangible characteristics that you proudly possessed. Others may be poor because they lack money but they are rich in spirit. You can have zillions of dollars but you are not truly wealthy if you do not have integrity, honesty, faithfulness, devotion, and love for mankind, also the other great qualities a good person must possess; like kindness, generosity and compassion.
How do you explain the complexity of wealth and happiness? How can you tell who is rich or poor? How can you see and feel the true meaning of wealth and happiness? Each and everyone of us have their own opinion of what wealth or happiness means. Wealth can mean lots of money, good health and great family life; whereas full of happiness means being successful in what you really want to be in life; not only in terms of your career but also on how you have lived your life to the fullest. Some people say that you can buy happiness but if you do for how long will that really last; a moment, a minute, an hour, a week, a month, or years but it can’t last forever.
What purpose you have served and how it has helped and affected others by the good exemplary works that you have done and deeds of kindness that you have vastly spread around could mean happiness. The little things that you do for others mean so much to them and remember that the more you give of yourself to others the more blessings you will receive from the good Lord. When I found out a few weeks ago that the newly elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church is a man of simple means who loves the poor, the sick and the forgotten disadvantaged people; I’ve cried tears of happiness. Finally, the real shepherd have arrived to lead his flock, and that the true spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ is here to bring us back to the real meaning of being a Christian. Not only to lead but to teach us all to love the poor in spirit for they shall inherit the earth as the gospel have revealed. Blessed are you who walk in the footsteps of the Lord and pray that he may lead us to a better understanding of love and life with charity, humility and good examples with such a great character and to love and help one another. Remember that when you give without expecting anything in return, this might come back to you a hundredfold.
Lastly, how do you find happiness? Can you really be happy knowing that there’s so much you could have done but never lifted a finger to do just that? Every little act of kindness makes others happy and every little thing you do to make other people’s lives meaningful is the best definition of happiness. To be rich in spirit is wealth and to be humble and helpful in so many little ways of kindness is truly being happy. Some wealthy people are poor in character and some poor people are rich in character, which one are you? Or better yet what do you want to be in life, rich in character but poor or poor in character but filthy rich? It’s your own choice so choose wisely for your entire life might depend on it.
