“Joy is the happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” —Br. David Steinda-Rast
We are all aware of the terrible things that have happened in the world this past year and the year before, and everyone is anxious for it to end. We often feel guilty when we experience moments of joy when our fellow human beings are suffering. But allowing ourselves to feel joy when it arises is a crucial part of our collective healing. One of the tools I have found useful and inspiring is reading poetry about the human condition. It allows me to feel the anguish while at the same time holding onto to the joy of being alive no matter what happens. Poetry is like medicine for the soul. It can inspire hope that when the reality of something horrific happens, it won’t last forever, and that change is on the horizon if we are willing to work for it or give it time. Even a glimmer of hope during a time of great turmoil is the solace we all seek. Kelly Fanucci, a nationally syndicated columnist, offers that glimmer of hope in her poem, “Faith at Home,” that went viral last year:
“When this is over, may we never take for granted
A handshake with a stranger, full shelves at the store
Conversations with neighbors, a crowded theater
Friday night out, the taste of communion
A routine checkup, the school rush each morning
Coffee with a friend, the stadium roaring
Each deep breath, a boring Tuesday, [and] Life itself
When this ends:
May we find that we have become
More like the people
We wanted to be
We were called to be
We hoped to be
And may we stay that way—better
For each other
Because of the worst.”
A new year means a new chapter. We hope that 2022 is an incredible part of your life story.
Peace, Love, and Light,
Dennis & Cecile Augustine
