Cup of Happiness

One of the premises for the founding of my home country is that all people have the right to pursue happiness.  (No guarantee that you will find it but only that the government shouldn't stop you from trying.)

One of the popular promises of the current government of Thailand is that they want to return happiness to the people.

Everyone, so it seems, wants to be happy.

Why wait?  Your opportunity has come!

A little over a year ago, a new coffee shop opened in Wiang Kaen.  It is the most expensive coffee shop in town, probably out of the range of most of the people in the waiting area of the hospital across the street.

But it is a coffee shop.  I mean, there might be a couple of tea items on the menu, but mostly they sell coffee.  No cake.  No cookies.  No biscotti.  The decor of this place tells you that this place is about coffee.





And the coffee is good.  Flavorful.  Not bitter.  And they make it the way I want it.





The decor is a bit different.  There is a book theme going on.  There are lots of books--real books--not just the borderline porn that passes for popular magazines that you find at the other coffee shops.







The name they chose for this place: เปี่ยมสุข - piam suk.





Which translates: cup of happiness.





The problem with my cup full of happiness is that an hour after I start drinking it, it is not merely not full, it is rather quite empty.

So much for my happiness!

So where do I get a cup that never runs out?

Jesus said there are two things we need to do to keep our cups full: ask and abide

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
     John 16:24 (ESV)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
     John 15:7-11 (ESV)

Jesus promises something that Piam Suk, as good as it is, cannot do.

A full cup.  Forever.

Take a big sip.  It's still full.  The ultimate bottomless cup.

All we have to do is abide and ask.

And not only enough for us.  There's some to share as well--because our cup overflows.  As King David wrote at the end of one of the more famous passages of scripture:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
     you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
     and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
          Psalm 23:5-6 (ESV) 

Now that's a good cup o' joe.