I was in an office building the other day for an appointment. As I was sitting in the waiting room I watched several office workers hurry by. Their faces were full of seriousness and worry and not a single one had a smile. Each of them seemed full of stress and empty of joy. It saddened me to think that everyone of them had just started their work day and would spend another seven hours in this state.

It was then, however, that I noticed what had to be the happiest worker that I had ever seen. This person was actually singing while she worked. She had a smile for me, the others in the waiting room, and every other worker who passed her way. Several of those serious, worried, and unhappy workers that I had seen earlier, in fact, stopped to say hi to her. They soon were exchanging kind words and gentle jokes with her as well. It was clear that she was the real heart of this office building and not just the janitor who was mopping the floor.

This wise lady with a mop reminded me that it is not your work that makes you happy and it is not the world that makes you happy. It is rather you who bring joy to your work and you who make the world a happier place. God didn’t create you to be miserable in this life. God brought you here to spread love and share joy no matter what your circumstances may be.

George Bernard Shaw once wrote that you should be “a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish, little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” Let us all take his advice then. Let us all follow the beautiful example of a wonderful janitor I know and bring joy to our work, happiness to our world, and love to everyone around us. Let us all be joyous forces of nature and loving Children of God working to clean this world with our mops and to uplift this world with our smiles.

Joseph J. Mazzella joecool@wirefire.com