This quote came around to me this morning, by Donald Cargill. He was a Scottish guy of yore, born in 1619, and he did something or other in the way of being a Presbyterian. A Covenanter, which is historically complicated in so many ways. But he ended up getting “captured by dragoons” and he was executed at the Cross of Edinburgh, in 1681.
At any rate, on one of his days, he said this:
“This is the most joyful day that ever I saw in my pilgrimage on earth.”
One of two things is happening here.
1. He meant that “every day” should be the most joyful day that we see. No matter what the day, we should be filled with joy. On our paths.
OR
2. He was just extremely elated on that one particular day. Perhaps he said this on his 10th birthday, when he got a brand new bike with those streamers that hand down from the handlebars.
If it is number two, I’m all down with that. I got one too on my tenth birthday. With a horn.
If it is number one, I need to expand.
I understand the principle, that every day is miraculous. And they are. Each moment that we are alive is a miracle in its little self. And somewhere, deep in our psyche — in our knowing — we should be aware of this, and be grateful for each moment.
But let’s face it, Donald. Some days are better than others and the pilgrimage can have a way of dragging us through the mud at times. Heck, maybe even the quicksand.
Especially now. Things aren’t feeling particularly joyous for a lot of people. The truth of things is that many individuals are afraid right now, and for good reason. I am making a wager here too. I bet the day that Donald was captured by those dragoons wasn’t so joyful. Much less, the day he was killed by an executioner.
Another thing I’ve noticed along the way is that everybody is different. Every. Single. Body. In that, some people are a little more joyous than others. I’ve met some pretty bubbly characters. Yet. There are folks who can be completely deadpan. And both are just fine if you ask me.
We all have dark, and light within us. I know this to be true. Some times we are happy, loving, considerate, accepting, giving. Other times, we are sad, angry, defensive, reactive, selfish. The list could go on in both directions. It’s human nature. Some say it is the apple in the garden that is biting us. Other’s say it’s just the way we finally stood up from our ape walking. Either way. There are days when we give the banana to others, and some days we peel it for ourselves.
Again, I assert. Both are fine. It is how we are made.
There are components of darkness in each one of us. At the same time, there are just as many pieces of light. In fact, I would say, there is mostly light in the majority of us. And what a good thing it is, when we are able to bring that light into any given moment. It doesn’t have to be all the moments. But one. And then another. How joyous it is when we can give that lightness of spirit to one another. A smile. A word of encouragement, or a compliment. A chuckle. An endorsement. Any good thing.
Those little bits of goodness are multipliers. Like rabbits, they do. Before you know it, they are hopping around all over the place. Pilgrims. On your pilgrimage.
Today, I hope we can all bring the light. To any moment. In any way, we can.
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“There are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.”
― Bram Stoker, Dracula
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“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”
― William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
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“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. “
— Buddha
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