Wednesday, June 4, 2014 Our Director Of Music And Creative Arts is James C. Martin. He has, as someone once said in introducing the famous preacher Carlyle Marney, “A voice like God’s—only lower.” Well, James sang First Corinthians chapter 13 in German from one of the great master’s just before it was my time to get up and preach last Sunday. When the applause was over, I walked to the pulpit and said in my altogether compromised voice, “Now you talk about diversity.” It took a few seconds, but we did have a good laugh together. Trust me, these days we need some good laughs. With so many changes, so much loss, and all of the raging and quiet controversies, a belly laugh matters. A heart and tummy laugh is even better. The other evening our son Anthony was treating the acne (sorry, but true) bumps on my face from the chemo. Intent on putting the antibiotic cream on each spot exactly right, I noticed he would stick out his tongue with each place treated. So, in a flash, I stuck out and withdrew my tongue faster than greased lightning and we both laughed until the tears came. Here’s a line I read just yesterday: “Warning to the humorless: Lighten up or die.” This article in one of the weekly magazines went on to say that those who don’t or can’t laugh at life’s ‘vexations, blunders,’ and I’d add difficulties, are more prone to heart disease. The University of Maryland did a research project on 300 heart patients, and found that patients who found little humor in life were forty per cent more prone to serious disease. Michael Miller said of this study, “Laughter is cheap medicine. You can laugh anywhere, any time. ”The bad news here is,” this article concluded, “is that the Department of Revenue won’t allow you to deduct expenses for the Comedy Channel as a health aid.” We had a family experience with tongues years ago. (Redemptive, but not Pentecostal in nature) My sister was in a funk, Mom and Dad had a fight over money, and I’d got a ‘D’ in ‘citizenship’ in school for talking to much (imagine…) We sat at the supper table long faced, and silent. Then Mom looked at my dad and said: “Dennie!” Dad looked back and answered, “What—Louise?” And Mom stuck her tongue out. Way out! Dad tried so hard not to laugh, that his face got red, and then he roared! And so did we all! Supper saved by laughter. An illustration I used in a sermon a long time ago comes to mind just now. Two women were in the hospital sharing a room, as often is the case. The younger of the two was afflicted with kidney failure and they couldn’t figure out why. The other patient, older and pale and thin, hardly said a word to her roommate. Finally they began to talk a bit, and the next day the young woman reached beyond the ‘appropriate.’ She asked, “Do you ever smile or laugh? I know your pain and illness must be very bad, but last night when that comedian was on the TV channel you chose, I noticed you didn’t laugh at all. It just concerns me.” The older woman looked at the younger for a long time, and then said, “No, I don’t laugh much. Hardly at all. In fact, the last time I laughed out loud was when a silly clown stood on his head at a circus I attended.” No sooner than the woman had finished her statement when the other patient slipped out of the bed, and red cotton PJs and all-- attempted to stand on her head! She never made it, but tried several times until the older woman, said, “Stop! Enough! I’m smiling, maybe about to laugh.” The evening passed in pleasant conversation with smiles exchanged. Early the next morning the younger woman called the nurse into the room, “I need to go to the bathroom,” she said. “For some reason or the other, I feel a need to go for the first time in a long time.” Her kidneys came back ‘on line.’ Both patients the nurse, and others smiled at that. “Even a cup of cold water, in my Name,” our dear Lord once said, (Mark 9:41) Laughter also counts. Always love, always, Keith
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:52:04 +0000
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