“A hidden smile from within”

We’ve just read a delightful book by the Jesuit priest James Martin—Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life.

The book is filled with reminders about the importance of humor and laughter in our lives. Of course, Martin reminds us that we’re not supposed to be happy all the time, that “sadness is a natural response to pain, suffering and tragedy.” Also, some people need counseling to deal with psychological problems or clinical depression. But, generally, it’s better to focus on the positive side of life.

In his book, Martin quotes Jamal Rahman, author of The Fragrance of Faith: The Enlightened Heart of Islam. Rahman says:

The beloved saints in Islam say that many of us are far too severe with ourselves and take life much too seriously. We need discipline and focus but also flexibility, spaciousness and lots of laughter. A hidden smile from within is also grounded in eternity. Truly all is well.

We’ll share more of James Martin’s wisdom in our next blog post.


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