A Year of Change and No Change

New Zealand earthquakes. Japan Tsunami. Japanese nuclear power stations. The Arab spring. Tunisia. Egypt. Yemen. Libya. Gadhafi’s death. Syria. Egypt again. Bin Laden’s death. Royal Wedding. Norwegian shootings. Riots in London. Riots in Britain. Phone hacking. Somalia famine. Turkey earthquake. Pakistan floods. Philippines floods. Anti-capitalist camps. Greece crash. Italy Prime Minister. Euro troubles. Euro veto.

And the year is not over. 2011 is one of those years when more has happened than we can begin to write down. A lot of it tragic. But one thing remains the same: ‘I the Lord do not change’ (Bible: Malachi 3:6).

The Happiness Survey (2)

The latest results from the Office of National Statistics happiness survey – carried out earlier this year and interviewing over 4000 adults- shows money doesn’t make for happiness. The survey shows that as a nation we have a happiness index of 7.4 out of 10. The same score as last time, despite a real downturn in the economy.

What did show up was what a lack of a job did. Here the index went right down to the low 6’s. People need to be valued, to have a purpose, to be able to provide for others. We are a ‘people’ people. Work is what is valued above money.

As we’ve been told over the years, riches can’t buy happiness. And the statistics show it to be true.

Money can buy a house, but not peace; medicine, but not health; amusement, but not joy; therapy, but not healing; a bed, but not sleep; allies, but not friends.

A final word from the writer of Proverbs: Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.