‘It is absolutely necessary to keep smiling’

Did Shakespeare get it wrong? Is the fundamental question of life ‘to smile or not to smile’ rather than ‘to be or not to be’?

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit, scientist, paleontologist, philosopher and theologian, had a zest for life. He loved this world and called it a ‘divine environmentHe sought to see deeply the abiding presence of God’s Spirit in all things and in doing so he encouraged people to smile. He wrote: ‘It is imperative to keep smiling. The essential and undoubtedly most fruitful gesture is to smile, with something of love in the smile.” The alternative was unacceptable to him, because it short-circuited the zest and zest for life.

Another Jesuit, Pope Francis, consistently encourages us to meet and accompany each other on this journey of life. Part of the encounter is offering a welcoming smile. As the Pope travels from country to country, his radiant face says: “Welcome, I am with you on this long journey called life. Let us travel together, hold hands and live life to the fullest.” A non-Jesuit named Jesus came to give us life to the fullest.

Recently, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote a provocative and insightful piece entitled: “How to save a sad, lonely, angry and mean societyThe title of the article reflects what many people are experiencing today: sadness and loneliness (our national disease), anger and cruelty.

With a surprising ending from O. Henry to the article, Brooks writes about one of his heroes: Samuel Johnsonof all persons, the dictionary compiler, poet and critic. Johnson’s early life was difficult, but he gradually matured and became a generous man. He sheltered outcasts and lived the Gospel with fullness of life, zest for life and, most certainly, a smile on his face.

Then we have Mother Teresa of Calcutta. We know the story of her work with the poorest of the poor. But it wasn’t until her private writings were published that many knew she was suffering from an illness deep sadness and many dark nights of the soul. Yet her constant admonition to her sisters in the community was to smile: “Take what He gives and give what He takes with a big smile.” She also said, “If you do not approach people with a cheerful face, you only increase their darkness, their misery and their sorrow.” Mother Teresa would certainly agree with Chardin that the smile given should have a certain love in it.

Some poets also join Chardin, Pope Francis and Mother Teresa in promoting smiles. Dorothy Donnelly begins her poem “Smiled At” with, “The one-syllable sign of the smile says you are seen, / so you know you are there.” Interestingly, under the title of her poem “Smiled At,” Donnelly quoted the famous Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, who expressed a wish: “What I would like is for someone to smile at me every now and then.” Isn’t that also our wish?

If we are not seen, truly seen, by our fellow human beings, we live in darkness. Perhaps Emily Dickinson had that experience and was talking about it when she exclaimed, “I am nobody! Who are you?‘Being ignored is worse than a slap in the face.

More poets are part of the smile club. In “The Divine Comedy,” Dante says of Beatrice, “The radiant smile with which she spoke to me / Would make even one burned at the stake happy.” I’m not entirely sure a smile is that powerful. But good old Dante was struck with a smile.

George Herbert in his poem “Love III” tells how God took him by the hand and “answered with a smile / who made the eyes but me.” John of the Cross would confirm this: “If God sees, God loves.” Good news, here.

We even hear about the smile from the animal world. In Ruth Pitter’s poem “By a Plain But Amiable Cat,” the cat says, “See what a charming smile I bring.” What the cat’s smile brings about is the recognition that she realizes she exists (unlike dogs who don’t think about ‘being’). Could all of us in the human world smile at the basic fact that we exist, and that the gift of life is precious? But if love is not experienced, that precious gift may never lead to the art of smiling (with love).

We must not forget the novelists. In Jane EyreCharlotte Bronte has a few words to say about the smile: “but the smile expired” and “coin one of your wild, shy, provocative smiles.” Those who have developed the art of smiling realize that a loving smile can be provocative, provocative and wild, or even seductively shy. So smile recipients should beware.

Like Baskin-Robbins ice cream, smiles come in many flavors. The novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler, in his 1953 book The long goodbyewas somewhat carried away by the facial expression known as the smile: “the distant smile / a cool smile / a hesitant smile / that plastic smile / a gloomy smile / a sour smile / a slow smile / the small smile” and the list goes on and on.

A final word and warning about the art of smiling. Disappointment! An art critic said of “Mona Lisa” that although she had a mysterious smile down to the last detail, it was half a smile. The critic went on to say that Mona Lisa’s eyes were not smiling. Teilhard de Chardin would disqualify her smile. There was no love in it.