And
if you say you are happy, then tell your face!Joy: an important key to Don Bosco’s methodology
by FR. STEVEN SHAFRAN SDB
Pay attention. Look around you as you go
to work, or school or as you go walking or traveling. Do you see
a lot of happy people out there? Do you see a lot of smiling
faces? I must confess that people are too serious. Lighten up! It
doesn’t matter who you are: SDB, FMA, Cooperator, parent,
young person; whether you are part of the Salesian Family or
not—add a dose of JOY to your life. And
if you say you are happy, then tell your face!
Despite his difficult early life in a single-parent home, a half-brother who gave him a hard time and very poor circumstances, St. John Bosco continued to point to the importance of joy and cheerfulness in one’s attitude. Don Bosco knew that joy was a key ingredient to the recipe for any life-style, spirituality, home and Salesian environment. A joyful attitude was definitely something that John Bosco grew up with.
As a young boy growing up in the small village of Becchi, Johnny learned much about joy from his mother, Margaret. She made every effort to be consistent, cheerful and loving, making her presence welcomed. Mama Margaret took part in her children’s games, encouraged new ones and would always take time to listen to their insistent questions. She knew full well that a cheerful appearance rooted in the joy of Jesus Christ would do much in helping her raise her family despite her poor means, and she was right on target.
John used a great deal of cheerfulness in his dealings with his companions. He treated the other boys with kindness and patience, always giving them good example. John had a large circle of friends and often regaled them with stories, magic tricks and acrobatic feats that regularly led to a review of the sermon from the previous Sunday. This was the first sign of the festive oratory that would be Don Bosco’s legacy to the Salesian Family. The natural weaving of healthy games, good humor and the things of God should be the fabric of every Salesian environment.
Don Bosco wanted the Salesian environment to be a place where the young could experience the love of Jesus through every action, word and activity. Here the young person would be welcomed with cheerfulness and kindness into a real family. The Salesian, and by "Salesian" I mean everyone connected to the environment, would make every effort to be the first to approach the young with cheerfulness and a smile, offering a word of friendship. This attitude is contagious, and the young then treat one another in similar ways. When the whole Salesian environment takes on this flavor, it becomes one of trust, respect, joy and charity. We all feel safe and at home in this kind of place and every activity, whether a simple conversation, recreation, study or religious practice, reflects a joy that is ultimately grounded in Jesus Christ.
In some ways our world today is much different from Don Bosco’s, but in many ways it is the same. We have a number of difficulties that come our way daily. Young people and families are constantly in danger, but the simple solutions found in Don Bosco’s attitude of joy and cheerfulness are a constant. Our first question should be: How am I a joyful person? How do I communicate cheerfulness and good humor to those I meet, my family, my community, those I work with and those I educate? We are not superhuman, and so we will have tough days, but these should not be the norm. We are not asked to go out and become stand-up comedians or lead slapstick life-styles, but we are challenged to make our words and actions uplifting and joyful.
I remember that when I was in high school (I went to a Salesian school) there were many adults involved with our education, but there was something special about those who smiled a lot, went out of their way to greet you and at least tried to be humorous. I felt drawn to these educators and felt good being around them. As teenagers we looked forward to their classes, and as alumni these are the people who are the center of our conversations at reunions. I must say that the same holds true for my memories of the parish, summer camp and boys club I attended. I firmly believe that we could do much as educators, parents and followers of Christ in putting a lot more emphasis on joy, cheerfulness and laughter in our lives and those of others. I think we would realize healthier families, communities, schools and clubs, and probably encourage more vocations to the Salesian family along the way.
Here are some practical things that we could do:
Don Bosco’s methodology has many components, but joy and cheerfulness are underlying threads. Many of the practical things I mentioned above are found in different ways throughout Don Bosco’s biographies. I think that is why we hear it said of him: "‘Serve the Lord in gladness’ was his favorite motto and this ‘holy joy’ was for him the basis of a social edifice for a real education" (W. Cornell, ed. Wisdom from a man with vision [Manila: 1986], p.62). Even though talking about joy and cheerfulness may sound simplistic, it is not something completely easy to put into practice on a consistent basis. It does take a conscious effort, a willingness to take the risk, and a consistent presence to put joy and cheerfulness on the front burner. For Don Bosco holiness consisted in always being happy. So let’s start right now... and if you’re happy—TELL YOUR FACE!
Fr. Steven Shafran, SDB, is the director of the Salesian Center in Columbus, OH. He holds a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco.