Danger lurks in every corner of our lives, or so it seems. Governments urge us to be alert for suspicious activity. Consumer advocates issue warnings about toxins in the foods we eat. Marketers and the media exploit our personal concerns, from health to finances, disease outbreaks to sharp attacks. It would seem we�ve never faced more perils. No wonder we find ourselves looking over our shoulders, expecting the worst. We need to refocus on the best, what�s positive in our lives and our world. We need to trust God, ourselves and one another.

Rebuilding Joy: To regain zest and find lasting satisfaction and peace of mind, according to Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness, we need to outgrow "our obsessive concern with how we feel" and meet the challenges of love, work and family. Still, some fear and anxiety are normal. Exploring the roots of our concerns and keeping them in perspective are essential to a God-centered and well-adjusted life.

Hope and Happiness: There are many concrete steps that can bring a sense of security and satisfaction into our lives. Sometimes, it�s a matter of opening our eyes to the love before us.

Trust and Openness: Each life journey is unique. Yet, our ultimate destination is the same: everlasting union with the God who lovingly created us. The search for peace and joy presents us with a tremendous opportunity for spiritual growth-and our day by day responses to our particular circumstances largely determine the attitude with which we live out our days. In A Call of Joy: Living in the Presence of God, Matthew Kelly reminds us that, "you will not be any happier today than you were yesterday unless you do something different, or at least in a different manner, with a different state of mind or heart."

�Christopher News Notes