Rich people are happier than the poor !

Poor People on the Shore, by Pablo Picasso (1903).

This is probably the lamest study ever conducted: Rich people are happier than the poor...

"PHILADELPHIA: Physical health is the best single predictor of happiness and is followed by income, education and marital status, says a study that concludes that rich people are happier than the poor."

No kidding Sherlock - Should have taken the money spent on the study and given it to the poor instead - when we sit around and gabfest about whether music should be free, and debate the theology of driving SUV's, my vote is to take all of that energy and self centerness and be a blessing by standing with the poor - especially to the working poor - witness the following observation:

"It costs a lot of money to be poor in America.

Bankruptcy, check cashing and payday loan stores, credit reporting inaccuracies, and predatory lending all were frequent topics as activists recently gathered for the Consumer Federation of America's Consumer Assembly, the nation's largest annual meeting of consumer advocates."

Last, consider a sermon by Rowan Williams -

"The blessing that comes to us through standing with the poor is not derived from some self-righteous satisfaction of having done good. Rather, it is because in standing with the outcast and the poor we come dangerously and safely close to Christ Himself who said "In as much as you have done to the least of these my brothers and sisters you have done it to me." This is the doing of God's Will on earth as it is done in heaven.

We all love Jesus when he gives us what we want. The sticking point comes when Jesus challenges us to reach out to those on the edge, to those beyond the boundaries of our own community and self interest."

The poor will always be with us - some suggestions:

• Set aside at least one hour per week to reach out to the needy.
• Look for opportunities to help the poor in your neighborhood. Give food, furniture, clothing, and time, rather than money.
• Help with babysitting and housecleaning and repairs.
• Visit a blind person and read for them.
• Visit the prisons and pray with the prisoners.
• Help in a homeless shelter.
• Participate in a literacy program to help adults learn to read and write.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Luke 4.18,19 (NIV)