Surrendering to the moment reveals so many beautiful experiences in life. In other words, surrendering to find happiness, in this context, means letting go of everything else and being present in the moment. But too often, we get caught up in the negative connotation of what surrender really means.
A group of friends got together to discuss what is meant by surrender. Here are some of their responses:
Letting go of control and letting things flow to me in divine timing. (G. Branch)
To give yourself over to something beyond your control. (D. Snyder)
Time to see what happens next and breathe. (A. Whitlock)
Embracing “What is! (R. Comm)
Laying aside of something which has value – this could be laying down a task/ideal/thought process/emotion which no longer serves you. (N. Moss)
One of my favorite description about surrendering is from a short story shared by Rev. Jackie Holland, CSL Boise
“The late Indian philosopher and guru Osho tells a tale of going to a lake and laying in the cool, soothing water watching birds fly by and 
clouds drifting past a blue, serene sky. Just by being present and drinking in the beauty and splendor of life, all his emotional turbulence drifted away replaced by peaceful thoughts and nurturing feelings.
So happy was Osho that he shared this experience with a friend who was in emotional pain. The next day the friend raced down to the lake to experience happiness. Hours passed as he stared into the sky – he saw the soaring birds, he saw the puffy clouds, he felt the cool water…but where was this happiness that was supposed to be so attainable? He was still miserable and dissatisfied with his current state.
Upon hearing his friend’s disappointing experience, Osho counseled him saying, “Happiness is not a target…it is a state only attainable by being in the present moment. Surrender to the moment and to the universe and happiness will unfold within you. Point yourself at the target of happiness…and you will miss.
Nathaniel Hawthorne once famously said, “Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
Surrendering to find happiness can be a very beautiful experience!