The Pursuit Of  HAPPINESS

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"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

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When Thomas Jefferson penned these world-famous words recorded in the Declaration of Independence, he had borrowed an idea from the great Greek philosopher, Aristotle.  More than two thousand years before, Aristotle pondered and wrote about something called, 'the Pursuit of Happiness'.  In the end, Aristotle came to the conclusion that living a full and happy life required a few basic steps.  We, at St. John-Emmanuel Lutheran, use this concept (adding a few ideas along the way) as a foundation for the educational process. 

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This list includes:

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~learning for a lifetime

~using leisure time to both relax AND better yourself

~understanding the importance of living a healthy life

~preparing for a future that serves God and man

~financial intelligence (saving, investing, etc.)

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These ideas and concepts are captured perfectly in a poem written centuries earlier, a poem that 2014 Class President, Rachel Griebel, learned about in 8th grade and used in her speech at the graduation ceremonies.

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Dropping Keys (by Hafiz)
The small man
Builds cages for everyone

He
Knows.
While the sage,
Who has to duck his head
When the moon is low,
Keeps dropping keys all night long

For the
Beautiful
Rowdy
Prisoners.

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We teach our students to become 'key droppers'; to become people who help others as much as they help themselves.  It is one of the 'keys' to striving toward the grand idea referred to as the 'Pursuit of Happiness'.

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