The Pursuit of Happiness: Aiming at the Right Target

In our quest for happiness, we often find ourselves taking aim at various targets in life. We set goals, chase dreams, and strive for success. But what happens when we hit the bullseye and still feel unfulfilled? This paradox is beautifully illustrated by the story of Matthew Emmons, an Olympic shooter who, in 2004, made a crucial mistake in the final round of his competition.

Emmons was a favorite to win gold in the 3-position 50-meter rifle event. He needed only a mediocre score on his final shot to secure victory. As he took aim and fired, he hit his mark perfectly. However, to everyone's shock, he had accidentally aimed at the wrong target. Despite his precision, Emmons not only lost the gold but dropped to 8th place.

This incident serves as a powerful metaphor for our lives. How often do we find ourselves hitting the bullseye on the wrong target? We achieve our goals, acquire possessions, build relationships, or attain success, only to wonder why happiness still eludes us. The reason? We've been aiming at the wrong thing all along.

The counterintuitive truth is that happiness is not found by focusing solely on ourselves. In fact, the more we fixate on our own happiness, the more it seems to slip through our fingers. The secret to true fulfillment lies in a paradox: to find happiness, we must look beyond ourselves.

Jesus, in His famous Sermon on the Mount, laid out a blueprint for a life of peace and fulfillment. He spoke of treating others as we wish to be treated, avoiding judgment, and being salt and light in the world. But it's one thing to hear these teachings and another to put them into practice.

The Gospel of Matthew recounts a powerful moment that occurred just after this sermon. As Jesus descended the mountain, He encountered a man with leprosy. In that era, leprosy was more than a physical ailment; it was a sentence of isolation and social death. The leper, breaking all social norms and risking his life, approached Jesus and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

Jesus' response was revolutionary. Instead of recoiling or condemning, He reached out and touched the man, saying, "I am willing. Be clean!" In that moment, Jesus didn't just heal a disease; He restored human dignity and connection.

This encounter serves as a vivid illustration of Jesus' teachings put into action. It challenges us to move beyond mere words and comfortable ideals to tangible acts of compassion, even when it's uncomfortable or goes against societal norms.

The apostle John records Jesus saying, "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" But this joy doesn't come from pursuing an easy life focused on personal comfort. Instead, Jesus immediately follows this with a challenging command: "Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

This radical call to selflessness flies in the face of our natural inclinations. Yet, remarkably, modern research corroborates this ancient wisdom. Studies have shown that the most fulfilling jobs are those that involve caring for others, teaching, protecting, or engaging in creative pursuits. Volunteering has been linked to decreased depression, reduced heart disease, and lower stress levels. Even when done reluctantly, acts of service produce positive effects on our well-being.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, describes an internal struggle between our self-centered nature and the fruit of God's Spirit. When we live focused solely on ourselves, the result is often discord, hatred, and various forms of immorality. But when we align our lives with God's way, we experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

An apt metaphor for this principle can be found in the contrasting bodies of water in Israel: the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Both are fed by the Jordan River, yet their outcomes couldn't be more different. The Sea of Galilee, which has an outlet, teems with life and has sustained fishing for millennia. The Dead Sea, which has no outlet, is so salty that nothing can survive in it. The lesson is clear: a life that only takes in without giving out becomes stagnant and lifeless.

Jesus exemplified this principle throughout His ministry. In one poignant moment, after ministering to a Samaritan woman – someone society had cast aside – He told His disciples, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." Jesus found nourishment and fulfillment not in focusing on His own needs, but in serving others and fulfilling His purpose.

The path to true happiness, then, involves a fundamental shift in our aim. Instead of targeting personal gain or comfort, we must learn to focus on making a difference in the lives of others. This doesn't mean neglecting self-care or personal growth, but rather understanding that our greatest satisfaction comes when we pour ourselves out for others.

As we embrace this "more than me" mindset, we often discover an unexpected truth: in creating a difference for others, we experience profound change within ourselves. The very act of giving, serving, and loving transforms us from the inside out.

In our pursuit of happiness, let's ensure we're aiming at the right target. May we have the courage to reach out and touch the "lepers" in our world – those who are isolated, marginalized, or in need. As we do, we may find that the joy and fulfillment we've been seeking has been within reach all along – not by grasping for ourselves, but by opening our hands to others.