The Good Life

            I personally believe that in order to have a good life you must have some sort of spiritual dimension. I grew up in a Christian home and have been going to church my whole life. The definition of Christianity in the dictionary says; the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Christians. A lot of people use the term Christian very loosely these days. Some people think it just means simply a person who attempts to live a good life. But what is the good life? .
             Leo Tolstoy was a Russian novelist, philosopher, and playwright. He had hundreds of peasants that lived and worked on his estate. They worked very hard to live a decent life. "Tolstoy found in the lives of these peasants a spirituality that became a model for creating meaning and achieving happiness in this own life." Tolstoy viewed religion as the way to happiness and the good life.
             Living a good life could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Having money or possessions like cars and houses might be all some people need to live a good life. Socrates said centuries ago that, "many people will not be satisfied with the simpler way of life. They will be for adding sofas, and tables and other furniture; also dainties, and perfumes, and incense, and courtesan cakes." Caverly Stringer, a freelance writer was working 60 hours a week in order to live in a $984-a month studio apartment one block south of the projects. He lived in the hub of Manhattan, Grand Central Terminal, "the biggest mansion in New York City". Off the street he was chasing ambitions so unclear that he couldn't recognize them if his life depended on it. On the street his life was uplifting, and clear of confusion. Like most of us Stringer would cringe at the sight of a man lying ragged on the sidewalk, with, But for the grace of God.running through his head. When in reality thinking, thank God that isn't me.