Mark Bishop
Singing News Article
May 2006
One of the morning talk shows, I
can't remember which one, recently had a segment entitled "What
makes you happy?" They asked this question to several
people who were walking down the street, and of course they got a
lot of different answers.
One lady said that a good book in front of a warm fire on a cold,
snowy winter day made her happy. A little boy said that ice-cream
made him happy. Two other fellows who were walking by also said
that food made them happy. An older couple agreed that their
grandchildren made them happy. All the answers the interviewer
received were diverse. Everyone had a different opinion about what
it takes to make you happy.
I was a little surprised that not one person interviewed said
anything about their faith or their spiritual beliefs making them
happy. Then I started thinking... "Hmmm... does my faith in Jesus
make me 'happy' or does it just feel like a bunch of rules I have
to follow?" I really had to take a step back to find the answer.
I suppose if the question had been posed in another way, it would
have been easier to answer with some spiritual consideration. If
the question had been, "What brings peace to your life?" or " What
gives you joy?", it would have been easy for me to answer "Jesus!"
to each of those. But when the question is "What makes you
happy?", I can only think of more selfish answers.
By selfish, I mean things that cater to my own personal ideals.
What makes me happy? Sitting on the front porch with Carolyn while
the girls laugh and play games in the front yard. Watching
Courtney, my oldest daughter, when she's playing ball. Taking the
girls fishing and watching Haley get all excited when she reels
one in. Going to a Reds game with some friends. Singing a new song
I've written to an audience for the first time and seeing folks
get blessed. All of these things make me happy.
One thing I've noticed; all of the "things" that make me happy
aren't things at all. They all involve people that I care for.
Wait... what was that? Aha! we draw closer to the answer! It isn't
the front porch that makes me happy, it's being there with Carolyn
and the girls. It isn't the softball game, it's watching Courtney
play in it. It isn't whether the fish are biting or not, it's
having fun with the girls. It's not the Reds, it's the friends.
It's not the song, it's my brothers and sisters in the fellowship
of our Lord. Think about it... it's not any thing.
I sang at a little country church on a Sunday evening about two
hours from here at home. Since it wasn't so far, Courtney went
with me. She likes helping me work the record table after the
concerts. While I talk, she sells cds and songbooks and
soundtracks and stuff. Mom and dad drove down, along with my Uncle
Doug and Aunt Norma. ( I should apologize to Aunt Norma right here
and now by the way. I told the congregation that she was here
tonight with her fourth husband, even though the truth is that
they have always been, since before I was born, sweethearts. They
have only been married to each other.) It was good to have so many
familiar faces that I know and love out in the audience. It made
me happy.
It was one of those services where folks didn't mind standing up
and testifying if they felt blessed to do so. I asked dad if he
would share a little testimony. Anyone that knows my dad ( and a
lot of you do) knows that he loves to tell how much he loves the
Lord. It made me happy to hear my dad testifying about the
goodness of the Lord.
So what makes you happy? Is it possible for your faith to make you
happy? Well of course it can. In perhaps a deeper, more meaningful
happiness than the original question intended. Can you know true
happiness if you don't also have peace? I think it would only be a
passing, shallow happiness. When the ice-cream is gone, so is the
happiness. If someone out there is depending on some "thing" to
make them happy, it's going to be a long, fruitless quest. Even if
you achieve what you set out to conquer, you'll find it to be
hollow once you actually attain it. But if you share the journey
with the ones you love, the good times and the bad, you'll know
more about the true, true meaning of happiness.
- Back
-
