On most street corners on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, I find such a diverse mixture of folks.  There are the extremely affluent who seem to be always looking up as though searching the sky for a new adventure or advantage.  These folks are casually mingling with the “wacked-out” street people who mumble while constantly looking at the ground.

This visual upward-downward difference hits me almost everywhere I’ve ventured; but the stark comparision is even more apparent here on the islands that most people call “Paradise.”  My son explains the downward folk.  He says many people come for vacation.  They have such a great time. They decide to stay.  Then, the reality of no job and no chance for a job hits them hard just before they crash land in a drug-induced semi-coma.

The contrast of the upward people, however, is the most interesting to me.  Because these people may be equally as lost but in a different reality-jungle.  Successful folks are never quite successful enough.  And if you reach the pennicle achieving your ultimate life’s goals, then you are like Alexander the Great.  Broken because there are no more world to conquer.

It seems apparent that all of us are searching for something.  Whether it is our next meal or next extravagant jaunt, peace, joy and a quiet spirit appear to be a rare commodity all over the world.  There is, of course, only one thing which gives us real joy, peace and calmness and that is a relationship with the Lord Jesus.  Our relationship is a free gift and each step that leads to true friendship is also a gift.  Yet, in our humanity, we do have to work hard at finding the steps that lead to the gift.

The gift/work paradiam is as great a paradox as God’s blessing for all–whether we are affluent or destitute.  Perhaps because of their childlike approach to most things in life, I have found that the mentally challenged community  is best able to bridge that gap than others.

Who are you?  Part of the world that is looking upward but never satisfied with what you have?  Or do you find yourself constantly looking downward, as though searching for the next stumbling rock?  Or have you been able to find real peace and joy?