Laughter

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Ps.126:3

Traditionally Holy Week is a very busy time in the Church calendar for clergy and church goers, who enjoy being caught up in the customs and rituals of the season. In the Caribbean, Carnival precedes, and allows for an outburst of exuberant energy before the austerity of Lent. Here in the UK we have Shrove Tuesday where traditionally we are supposed to use up our larder contents in the making of pancakes. We do not seem to have anything that uses up our physical energies and provides an inordinate amount of fun. Just as we have times of religious intensity, perhaps there should also be specific times when folk can refresh or more simply, chill out, shake a leg and enjoy themselves. We need creative activities that are restful but energising, spike our interests, keeps us in shape and our creative senses alive. Even David danced before the Lord with all his might!

Many years ago, in a sermon on how I see Jesus, I raised the question - Did Christ ever smile, laugh or have a profound belly laugh? The Gospels tell us much about his emotions; his passions, his depressions, even his tears yet we have no record of him smiling, chuckling or rolling around the synagogue in a fit of laughter. Yet in his humanity he must have. Whilst there are some references in the Bible to laughter it is mostly used in a context of derision and only rarely refers to constructive laughter. Are there any stand up Christian comedians in the House? We need humour, clean humour in our lives. We need to laugh and celebrate with holy spiritual laughter. We also need to express our God given joy through our bodies in creative and energetic activities.

One of my closest sensing of the Divine, was when I was snorkelling in the beautiful blue Caribbean Sea, gliding over the myriads of tropical fish above the coral reefs. This is my Cathedral. The magnificent beauty of the ocean teeming with life. Here I am engaging body, mind and soul in a unified spiritual experience of the glorious nature of the Divine as expressed through creation. Donning a wet suit to withstand the rigours of the cold English Channel simply does not compare. Yet in the Book of Job we read that even in the most dire of times - God will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with joyful shouting - so there is hope!

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing…Prov.17:22 Amplified

Many the Holy Spirit of God continue to place a smile on your lips and give you fun.

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