I
Our Greatest Joy
addressed the next question to the Archbishop. “The joy that you are
talking about is not just a feeling. It’s not something that just comes and
goes. It’s something much more profound. And it sounds like what you’re
saying is that joy is a way of approaching the world. Many people are
waiting for happiness or joy. When they get a job, when they fall in love,
when they get rich, then they will be happy, then they will have joy. You
are talking about something that is available right now, without waiting
for anything.”
The Archbishop considered his response carefully. “I mean simply to
say that ultimately our greatest joy is when we seek to do good for
others.” Was it really that straightforward? Did we just need to stimulate
and satisfy our dedicated brain circuit of generosity? As if anticipating
my skepticism, the Archbishop continued, “It’s how we are made. I mean
we’re wired to be compassionate.” Quite literally wired, I thought, based
on Davidson’s research.
“We are wired to be caring for the other and generous to one another.
We shrivel when we are not able to interact. I mean that is part of the
reason why solitary confinement is such a horrendous punishment. We
depend on the other in order for us to be fully who we are. I didn’t know
that I was going to come so soon to the concept that we have at home, the
concept of Ubuntu. It says: A person is a person through other persons.
“Ubuntu says when I have a small piece of bread, it is for my benefit
that I share it with you. Because, after all, none of us came into the world
on our own. We needed two people to bring us into the world. And the
Bible that we Jews and Christians share tells a beautiful story. God says,
‘It is not good for Adam to be alone.’ Well, you could have said, ‘No, I’m
sorry, he’s not alone. I mean, there are trees, there are animals, and there
are the birds. How can you say he’s alone?’
“And you realize that in a very real sense we’re meant for a very