Learning to Smile

Confession: my default facial expression is not a smile. Typically my screen-saver face vacillates between “I’m thinking deep thoughts” or “I’m vaguely upset about something.” I have to think about smiling, be intentional about it, because I have been practicing for years not doing it without even knowing it. And the thing is that there’s so much to smile about (e.g. chocolate chips)!

Students, take heart if you discovered something about your default or screen-saver reaction to literature. It could be tension or tiredness or exhilaration or contemplation. It’s not that you consciously chose to have any of those emotions this week. It’s just that when you began writing in class or sat down to read Beowulf, boom, your mind and body were suddenly there in that old space, good or bad, without you even trying to get there.

One benefit of reading and thinking about literature is that it helps us observe the world better, including ourselves. It’s not a retreat from life. It’s a way of discovering a richer version of life, one where we see God’s cosmic story played out: the beauty of human creativity, the reality of fallen human nature, and joy at seeing the world’s progressive redemption.

Part of that journey is simply recognizing something you’ve never noticed before.

The next time you see me smile, rest assured I’m working on this too.