Yesterday, I received a package of goodies from my dear friend, Lynne. Among them was a bag of tea leaves from Gong Fu Tea in the wonderful East Village of Des Moines, Iowa. I could go on about the East Village with its cool and funky vibe, and I could go on about Des Moines, in general, but I won’t. Suffice to say, if you’ve never been there, and you think that Iowa is all corn and flat ground and boring, THINK AGAIN.

As I unpacked my package and pulled out the silver pouch of tea, I smiled at the name of it scrawled across the top:

Ancient Happiness

Ancient Happiness. It instantly makes me feel nostalgic. It sends me directly to wonderful times in my past, and exquisite memories that flood my soul with warmth and light. There have been times, though, when things weren’t going so great, that my mind could get camped there.

If only I could go back there, when things were good and happy, my life would be fine.

If we could just move back to that city, where we were settled and we had our friends and family, I would be happy again.

If only my kids were little again, I wouldn’t be worried about them all the time.

Sound familiar at all? It’s easy to find happiness when you’re looking back at ancient times, and yet, we’re smack dab in the middle of modern times. Now. This instant. What are we supposed to do about that?

Well, I think it’s best if you pull out a piece of paper and start accounting for the good right now. Right in front of you.

Right now, I am warm, and have a full belly and a roof over my head.

Right now, the light is playing off of my child’s hair as she plays by the window. She’s healthy and content.

Right now, the sun has come up, giving me new opportunities to be happy in this moment.

While ancient happiness provides a wonderful accounting all its own, the life in it has already been lived. Modern happiness is where the real life is. Don’t miss it by always looking back.

Off to have a cup of tea and start that list.

Join me?

“Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 MSG

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:20 ESV

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” James 1:7 ESV