"For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am"

You might possibly recognize today's headline as the words of the Apostle Paul (specifically from Philippians 4:11). I wanted to point that out immediately because, while Paul learned to be that way in life, I most certainly have not.

Some background: Most Sunday mornings, Terry and I sit in with the Young Adult Sunday School class at our church. We are decidedly no longer "young adults," but I made sure the members of the class are OK with our participation (either they are or they're too polite to say otherwise).

The class has been going through a book of short, Bible-based essays written by a friend of ours named Kyle Tucker. Kyle lives in Virginia. He is a big bear of a man with an even bigger personality. He is smart and funny, and I always enjoy his insights into all things spiritual.

Recently we read one of Kyle's missives around success: how we measure it, how we should measure it, and what "contentment" really means.

Two things struck me:

(1) We're almost inevitably happier people when we learn to appreciate what we have and where life has taken us. But "contentment" is not the same thing as apathy. You should always strive to improve in the ways that really matter, but the stuff you own is probably more than you really need. More stuff is not going to make you happier.

(2) We often admire those who have learned to be content, but we ignore how they got there in the first place. In Kyle's words, when it comes to spiritual "success" in life, "we too often admire the accomplishment rather than the qualities that brought about the success." Too true. I want to learn to be truly content and not constantly dissatisfied and ungrateful for what I have, but I don't necessarily want to put in the work that will get me there.

To that last point, the people with the best, most fulfilling outlook on life usually get there through determination, focus, perseverance and desire. They work to be happy, and while they're not apathetic, for them it's not always about what's next. They're perfectly happy where they are. They learn over time to be that way.

This flies in the face of what society tells us, which is that you can never have too much money, too many possessions, too much fame, etc.

The wise man/woman, on the other hand, counts his/her blessings every day and lives in a state of consistent, grateful contentment.

That's where I want to be when I grow up.