After completing high school, Molly, a Christian, managed to break into the work force. The first day of work showed her she was hardly ready to deal with the things the “real world” was going to direct her way. The lurid language of her fellow employees, the ungentle jokes of her boss as well as the cruel comments made by almost everyone shocked her. 

In His beatitudes, His statements of blessing, Jesus represents a radical reversal of almost everything we have ever been taught about the meaning of happiness!  We have always been taught to define happiness in terms of wealth. Jesus teaches, “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” We have been taught that sinful behavior is fun. Jesus teaches, “Happy are those who mourn.” We have been taught that we get what we want if we are noisy and demanding. Jesus teaches, “Happy are the meek.” We have been taught that God, church, and the Bible are boring. Jesus teaches, “Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

In 1789 when the Bastille, the castle-like prison in Paris, was about to be destroyed, a long-term inmate was brought out. He had lived in his gloomy cell for many, many years. Sadly, instead of welcoming his liberty, the man begged to be taken back to his cell. Unaccustomed to the sunlight, he had only one desire – to die in the murky dungeon that had held him captive for so long. 

The national jobs numbers came out last week. Experts were expecting 200,000 jobs to be added, but were severely disappointed to learn that only 74,000 jobs were added to the American workforce last month. How many people do you know who have lost their jobs? Are you fearful for yours? Have you had your hours reduced? A pay freeze? Benefits cut? Is there pressure for early retirement or have you experienced corporate layoffs?