by Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration

What a question!  But this is a chapter title from one of my favorite books, “The Book of Joy” by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Abrams. In this chapter, the Archbishop Tutu poses this question to the Dalai Lama.

On many occasions throughout the book, the Dalai Lama answers that question. He notes that being exiled from his country and a refugee could have, but didn’t, take away his joy. About his decades as a refugee, he states that he chose to look at his situation as an opportunity to learn and experience life. “That’s the main reason I’m not sad and morose. There’s a Tibetan saying: ‘Wherever you have friends, that’s your country, and wherever you receive love, that’s your home.”

Last Saturday, many of our congregants from the youngest ages to the oldest, went out to gather with the community and rally against actions that have the potential to harm and destroy people and the safety net systems that they depend on. Folks held signs that said “Hands Off” in response to current actions which financially strap, punish, and exile in the name of power.

Yes, protesters are angry with our country’s leadership, but one thing they aren’t is “morose.”

They organized so that hundreds of thousands of people could peacefully come together and have a chance to be seen and heard. Will the government stop and look? Will actions be reversed? There is hope, but there are no guarantees. But, with hope or faith, there is an opening to joy. As Archbishop Tutu says: “ I look frequently at pictures of people fleeing from violence, and there’s so much of it. I say God is crying, because that is not how God wants us to live. When people gather to help, through the tears, God smiles.”

 Earlier in the book, during a discussion about how hope and faith can allow happiness and joy, the Dalai Lama, responded to the Archbishopby saying:

“So there are a few differences between us. You usually empathize with faith. Personally, I am Buddhist, and I consider faith very important, but at the same time…billions of people on the planet are non-believers and we cannot exclude them. So one need not depend on religious faith to educate our inner values.”

 I saw people gathering, various religions, beliefs, non-beliefs, and those journeying towards their own personal spiritual practice. They gathered to fuse their energy focused toward inner values: those of equity, responsibility, and change for the good. Many people are suffering. It’s not joyful to know that so many more will suffer in the future with new cuts and new “laws.” It was joyful to see how many people care about correcting that.

In Fellowship Hall this past Sunday, I was talking to 4 year-old, Desi. His mother had just shown me a picture of him at the Worcester rally holding a “Hands Off” sign. More specifically, the sign read, “Hands Off my PBS Kids.”  Desi said that they shouldn’t take away money for his good programs on PBS…and other things like that. He stood with his hand on his hip, speaking up about his concern, and yet smiled as he did it. His mom gave him the opportunity to feel the joy that comes from action, speaking his values, and doing so in a beloved community. 

“True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.”

                                       ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery “The Little Prince.”