Certain criteria or conditions must be satisfied in order to succeed in any activity, whether it be in school, business, or marriage. Is there an exception to this rule for happiness, the most precious of all gifts? Is it something that just happens to us? What are the rules, if any, that must be followed?
The First Rule
Consider yourself a hostess who also enjoys being invited as a guest. She enjoys receiving guests who respect her and recognize her abilities to make them feel good about themselves as a host. She enjoys being invited as a guest, but she is picky. She would never enter a home without first getting a warm welcome. What kind of hostess does she seem to be? What makes her so picky? Is she self-conscious about her appearance around strangers? No, much the opposite is true. She adores everyone equally. Her only reason for being picky is that she wants to invite only those who appreciate her beauty and worth.
The Second Rule
After recognizing the types of people that happiness values and enjoys embracing, the next step is to look for her, as she is not visible to the human eye. The majority of individuals look for happiness in the wrong places. Consider what it might be like to look for gold in a copper mine. There was once a man who misplaced a valuable diamond. He was urgently looking for it on the street. When someone asked, “Where did you lose the jewel?” He answered, “In my house.” Why are you looking for it on the street, then? The man said, “My house is dark and crowded, I will never find it in there!?!”
Many individuals, like the man who lost his gem, look for happiness in vain. They look for it in all the wrong places, except where it is. Many of them believe it is in the extent of their savings, but it is actually in their soul.
Happiness is similar to a candle. To come to life, it must be lit. This candle is lit by the torch of knowledge. This Invitation’s sole objective is to illuminate your spirit with the light of knowledge.