HAPPINESS IN THE HOME

Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life. It is the aim and end of human existence.” As a human being, I, too, desire happiness. It had been more than two years now since I decided to leave SASMA to venture into the world outside, with the hope of finding real happiness. I worked in a private company to earn money, thinking that it could satisfy my desires. It is a common misconception for most people today that the more money you have, the happier you will be. Of course, material wealth can be a source of happiness, but it should not be the sole gauge of man’s happiness. After working for almost a year, I realized that happiness is not all about money.

With that realization, I applied for pastoral regency in Tagbilaran and was assigned in Holy Trinity Parish, Loay, Bohol. There was a sudden change in my lifestyle from being money-oriented to being people-oriented. Life in the parish was never easy, but I felt inner peace and joy in serving the people. Now, I decided to come back to SASMA.

At first, I felt doubts, fears, and hesitation since I am the only T2. However, as time passed by, I began to feel comfortable in SASMA. Though the academic requirements caused a lot of pressure, I also feel relieved that my search for happiness is over. I consider SASMA as my home. As most people say, home is where your heart is. I was looking for happiness outside, when in fact I can only find happiness in the place that I consider home. I was like a man searching for water in the vast desert, only to find out that the spring of water I was looking for is just nearby. What I found outside was just fleeting happiness. But I know I can find the ultimate happiness in God, who is also my home!