Part 4 – Light from Many Lamps – Dr. Will Durant

Dr. Will Durant was a distinguished and successful American journalist, writer, and educator. Therefore, it would come to no surprise that he was asked to give his definition of that elusive, priceless quality of heart, soul, and mind called “happiness.” As he tried to figure this out, he looked at his life through work, pleasure, travel, friends, wealth, knowledge, and yet could not pinpoint a time where he could say, “I have found happiness.” Then, through a specific circumstance and recognition, he found his answer. He writes:

Today, I have neglected my writing. The voice of a little girl calling to me, “Come out and play,” drew me from my papers and my books. Was it not the final purpose of my toil that I should be free to frolic with her, and spend unharassed hours with the one who had given her to me? I perceived that if I will do as well as I can the tasks for which life has made me, I shall find fulfillment and a quiet lane of happiness for many years. Gladly I surrender myself to nature’s imperative of love and parentage, trusting to her ancient wisdom, and knowing that, as Dante learned when we entered Paradise, “La sua volontate è nostra pace – in her will and service is our peace.”

Dr. Will Durant has found that his true happiness in the simple, familiar joys of life.

“There can be no real or lasting happiness without love. There can be no fulfillment of life’s ultimate purpose without a successful marriage and a good family life.” – Dr. Will Durant

How this related to my life and my practice of leadership within my context is the promotion of having a solid foundation in your marriage and having a healthy work-life relationship. I believe that through the methods that my wife and I have implemented, we can be models for a healthy life-work rhythm.  We have taken steps to make sure that we have our family, and personal time together. Steps such as: turning our phones off when we get home, using our calendars to pencil in family time and events so that work doesn’t overshadow it, also the simple task of being the example of joy when you enter into situations can help create a very positive work environment which, when taken home, can create happiness and joy in the house.

Being a pastor, I was raised with the belief that separation between your work and personal life doesn’t exist. I disagree in regards to that because I believe that your family needs to be involved in ministry, and if that’s the case then we also need to use Jesus’ example and rest (Mark 1:35; Mark 6: 31-32; Matthew 11: 28-30, New Revised Standard version). That rest could be spending time out of ministry with your family.

References:

Watson, L.E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps. New York: Simon and Schuster.