Thoughts on Dick Clarke and New Years Eve

Happy New Years!!!
Last night, my wife and I had some friends gather at our house for some food, celebration and some good ole' fashion hang-out time. It was sweet. A couple of our party attendees couldn't resist turning on Dick Clarke's Rockin' New Years Eve on ABC. Dick Clarke has been hosting this event from New York City's Time Square for numerous years, and I must say I admire his longevity. Following a stroke in 2004, Dick Clarke has been largely confined to a wheelchair and his speech is somehwat slurred. To this end, I admire his fortitude and noticeable passion for life and for the entertainment industry. His energy and enthusiasm at the age of nearly 80 is to be applauded.

While I admire his role in this world-wide televised event, I couldn't help but think of a few remarks made by Clarke that I just couldn't let go. At one point in the telecast following the dropping of the ball at Times Square, Clarke was remarking on all of the partying and revelling going on in the streets, and he said: "This is what it's all about. Everyone is so happy. This is the best New Years party in the whole world. This is what it's all about." Is it really? Is it really what life is all about? Is life merely reduced to having a good time and simply being happy? In other words, does life exist for us? No doubt, people in Times Square last night were happy and excited, but is this truly the essence of life? If it is, I think humanity is pretty shallow.

In light of Dick Clarke's comments regarding the human spirit and the need to be happy, I contest that God's way has much more to do with "being content" than "being happy". The challenge is that when life doesn't produce happiness, that we still have a choice as human beings to live lives of contentment. In the midst of disaster, war, divorce, financial instability and political meltdowns, we have the choice to be content. To be content is difficult when one lives for themselves and their goal is to seek pleasure and prosperity (happiness). Rather, contentment can become a reality when we live for Jesus and when His life becomes our first love. When we wrap ourselves up in the love of God and the mission of God, we can have purpose, and then contentment will be ours for the keep...no matter how messy life can get.

So, when the ball starts to drop in another 364 days, don't let the aim of your life and your remarks be about happiness (me-centered living), rather let your life's aim be an inner-contentment that can only come from God Himself. In the meantime, think often about God, live unselfishly and crave for contentment no matter how bad things get. It's the only way to live. It's the best way to live.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

---The Apostle Paul