In Pursuit of Happiness

Last evening my wife and I attended a dinner for scout volunteers and leaders. We have been involved for over five years now and it never ceases to amaze me how much people are willing to volunteer and commit themselves to such a cause like Boy Scouts. For us, this past year has been a whirlwind of activity that has included incalculable hours giving of ourselves for the sake of our boys and the causes that mean so much to us outside our family home. It would have been much easier to focus purely on the everyday business of paying bills, taking care of the kids and going about fulfilling our own needs. In these tough economic times it is a wonder so many people have given so generously to the tragedy in Haiti, sharing a meal with a stranger in need right here at home and serving others in their communities. One thing about tough times, it truly does bring people together; which brings me to a fundamental principle that sets our nation apart; the pursuit of happiness.



If you were to define the concept of happiness you might find something in the dictionary that describes a condition in the mind that generates a feeling of ease or lack of mental stress. Now, mind you, I did not look it up but I can relate to it as most people can. For many it is an elusory concept that only the privileged can attain. Fortunately, we know from the celebrity hungry society in which we live, even the “well off” find happiness to be just out of reach. I do not need to site the scandals of idolized professional sports figures or high profile politicians to make my point. The fact is we can all be happy if we truly want to. It is through the yes of others and the need for action to serve that we can do this. I know what they say, “too much of a good thing is not good for you.” That may be true for modern medicine or government entitlements, but volunteering is something that there is never enough of and always a need for wherever you may look.



Today, I look into my own heart and pray for those whom I love and for those I do not even know. I realize the lesson about “what good does it to only care for those who are closest, for would they not also care for you?” The challenge and the true purpose are to give beyond you for the greater good. For me, the greater good is not always the focus of my thoughts, but I try. My hope is that more people can realize the intended purpose of the line inscribed into our national fiber of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” It is more than a state of mind, it is active and alive in our hands as well.

A Conglamoration of Thoughts

  This past week brings to mind many personal thoughts about issues, concerns and tragedy that I could be easily overwhelmed. What I think it means is that I’m in tune with what is going on around me. The challenge is in the choice as to which course of action to take on any one or multiple combination of things or the choice to simply do nothing. From the den meeting on Monday night, the committee meetings on Tuesday, the open hearing on Wednesday night or the roundtable meeting on Thursday, I have been bombarded with information, personal commitment, challenge and choice. The obvious thought is “Man I don’t need all of this extra stuff rattling around in my head, it’s tough enough dealing with a teenager and issues right here at home. Bills need paid, the house needs repair and the kids need money in their lunch accounts at school. What else do I need to concern myself with?"


Lord knows the people of Haiti need our help and the assistance of relief organizations to rescue and treat the injured, house the homeless, bury the dead and attend to the numerous issues of getting resources to a country so beset by poverty. Youth need to be given the opportunity to participate and contribute to society and our nation needs concerned citizens who care enough to speak their own minds. We all need to be engaged in the practice of prayer so that our hearts and souls can ease the tensions building in our minds and bodies.


This is the source of my lectio divina or “sacred reading” for today. From the gospels I can see the paralytic being lowered into the building where Jesus stood teaching the word of God. From that I can imagine rescue workers removing debris from a pile of rubble in hopes of saving a trapped survivor; the Boy Scout removing brush from a cluttered trail or the Cub Scout becoming aware of the needs of others. I am heartened by the voice of strangers who are impassioned by the idea of liberty and justice for all. These are the things that make life worth living!


How many times have we heard ourselves or perhaps another parent say to our kids that “Life isn’t fair.” I wonder what things would be like if it was and no one ever got lost or if people simply got along. The fact is we humans need a challenge and a goal to give life a meaning and purpose; otherwise what would we do but sit around waiting for god knows what. We need to be actively engaged in our world and in our spiritual selves if any of this is to make sense and the final outcome worth the efforts of our labor. So, go forth and be a light unto the world! And for my Dad, don’t worry so much, pray more.

Heat of the Moment

I look back today on a time in my life that held little direction, though I thought I was going forward. It was the year 1982 and I found myself in a foreign land. I had carefully boxed up my old life and put it on a shelf for safe keeping knowing that two years was really not all that long a time to be far from home.

And what brought this memory up you ask? Well, I was surfing the net this morning when I came across some old eighties songs on YouTube. I was curious if there were videos to go along with such hits as "Heat of the Moment" by Asia. Sure enough, I found a treasure trove of songs I had partied to and never took much thought as to what they meant to me. As I tried to put things into perspective, I could not help but offer a little prayer to help get my creative juices flowing. The following is the result as I contemplated the changes just over the horizon in my life today. Hope you like it. Witt.


Silent is the morning
Snow falls gently outside
While a fire gathers in my heart
Heat of the moment
When I want more of you
Than what my mind’s eye can conjure
Grace is seeing your face
Hearing your voice
Telling me what I believe
What is truth?
When I lived so many lies
Trying to be something I was not
And all I had was a prayer
To hold on to.

Faith is more than a feeling
Heat of the moment
Passing me by
Like a storm
Clouds will disappear
There you appear
More than a figment
Of my imagination
A hand to hold on to.

Daybreak calling
Dreams of falling
End with a sigh of relief
You are near
Making it clear
You are not far away
But I want more
Beset with a chore
To gather something tangible
Not a reflection
A story or lecture
To keep me holding on.


Faith is more than a feeling
Heat of the moment
Passing me by
Like a storm
Clouds disappear
There you appear
More than a figment
Of my imagination
A hand to hold on to.

Faith,
More than a feeling
Eye of the storm
Tears falling down
Washing all my fears away
And I see clearly
Grace of the moment
Not heat of my inner battles
Knocking on the door
For you were here all along
And all I needed was to believe.