Now, it is said that The Philippines is the land of a thousand isles, but I’d prefer it be called the land of a thousand smiles. This place, whether it be the village dwellers, the street vendors, or the school children, is filled with faces consumed by smiles.
Out of all the places I have visited, of all the people I’ve had the pleasure of greeting, the Filipino people are by far the most joyful. They live in such a simple and pure way, free of distraction and worries that plague the American society. Notice the usage of the word joy. I want to make a clear distinction now; there is a difference between happiness and joy.
Happiness is a word overused. It is a state of mind that we strive after—something we chase relentlessly, forever. An emotion. This chase consumes us until we reach one of two points. We, one, either spend our whole life chasing happiness, only to find that after each coveted threshold of happiness we achieve, we find another waiting closely thereafter. This continual chasing of happiness either destroys us, or wears us down to the point of surrender. This may look like a man who wants an esteemed job, and once he gets the job, he thinks he will be grateful, but instantly wants to climb the corporate ladder. Then he begins to want more money to buy faster cars and bigger houses. The cycle continues, in a vicious and destructive route. The second option is far more optimistic. We chase after happiness, until we realize it is empty, and choose to live with joy.
Joy is not just a state of mind, or a coveted emotion. Joy is not of this earth, as happiness is. Joy is of the Lord, something that we cannot produce or earn ourselves, but something that is given to us as a free gift. Joy is eternal, and transforms the entire human life. Joy is manifested is every action. The man who chases after cars and money and esteem is chasing the feeling of happiness. The man who lives in joy lets joy decide and govern his every action. He walks the streets, with a smile on his face and a swagger in his step that declares joy. Whether he is a CEO, or a harvester in the fields, he does his job with joy in his heart. To quote Louis Armstrong’s song, What a Wonderful World, is to encapsulate this life of joy:
“I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do?
They’re really saying: ‘I love you.’”
The people really do say “I love you” in everything they do. When we ride the bus into town, the people on the streets— the street vendors, the mechanics, the children playing in the gutters— always smile and wave as we ride by. The men open their whiskered mouths, and smile with their crooked and gaped teeth. They have no reason to be joyful when they see us living in their communities. We are the wealthy whites who make a ruckus. They work hard hours to survive, and live rough lives; while we travel on expensive planes and live in fancy foldable tents. We are completely different, yet they still live with joy.
We, as Americans seek happiness. Maybe that is why we are so sad.
They as Filipino’s live in joy. Maybe that is why they are so joyful.
We are all called to live in joy. To be a person who lets joy rule with fullness and ferocity. This does not mean we should avoid or abandon happiness. Happiness is not an evil thing, but when obsessed over, destruction and trials are sure to follow.
So seek joy, and above all else seek the Lord, for He is the giver of joy.
