Very Merry: New York is Dead Last.

So, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention came out with a list that ranked the happiest states. 1.3 million Americans across the nation were asked how satisfied they were with their lives. Here's their rankings:

HAPPIEST RANKINGS

The state-by-state list (including Washington, D.C.), from happiest to least cheery:

1. Louisiana
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Arizona
6. South Carolina
7. Mississippi
8. Montana
9. Alabama
10. Maine
11. Wyoming
12. Alaska
13. North Carolina
14. South Dakota
15. Texas
16. Idaho
17. Vermont
18. Arkansas
19. Georgia
20. Utah
21. Oklahoma
22. Delaware
23. Colorado
24. New Mexico
25. North Dakota
26. Minnesota
27. Virginia
28. New Hampshire
29. Wisconsin
30. Oregon
31. Iowa
32. Kansas
33. Nebraska
34. West Virginia
35. Kentucky
36. Washington
37. District of Columbia
38. Missouri
39. Nevada
40. Maryland
41. Pennsylvania
42. Rhode Island
43. Ohio
44. Massachusetts
45. Illinois
46. California
47. New Jersey
48. Indiana
49. Michigan
50. Connecticut
51. New York

So, dead last is New York. Turns out, I live in the least happiest state in the United States (including District of Columbia). Interestingly enough, as soon as these lists come out, people tend to flock towards the top ten "happiest" states. Without the realization that happiness and joy have very little to do with locale (I have met many miserable people in Hawaii), people are always in the pursuit of happiness. This "pursuit" (as Jefferson called it) is a good thing. I believe the Creator put that within our hearts. Why? So that we can go from place to place and still be miserable? Of course not! He did it so that hopefully, one day, we could be reconciled to God through the redemptive blood and work of Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us. Jesus Christ who paid for our sins and rose from the dead. Conquering perpetual misery and sadness.

I will echo the words of Saint Augustine:
"If I were to ask you why you have believed in Christ, why you have become Christians, every man will answer truly, "For the sake of happiness.""

Christianity is...FINDING Jesus...FINDING Joy.

Psalm 16:11-
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

May we believe this truth and be personally fulfilled. Joy is irrespective of locale.