Laughter, Joy and In Between Things.
I love it when I read a quick witted article or social post. I love when something makes me laugh out loud too. But most of all, I love it when something makes me laugh so hard that I cry! These days we may have to look a little deeper or further for those things - but they are all around us.
My family has a Facebook page and it was one of those things that wasn’t used very often - sort of just a news section - babies, new jobs, and such. Over the winter I decided to post something funny - to wake us up out of our slumber - and connect because if families weren’t connecting - who was?
The family caught on right away and the page is mostly hilarious. Somehow, we all needed laughter, and a reminder of our family humor and just what it does to your heart to laugh. There is still the newsy part of things, but I like to think it’s a lot of pastoral care!
Have you noticed in your family, church or work that things are a little bit on autopilot? Easter was a lovely boost, but the season is still speckled with vaccination news, shootings, border issues, and economics plus a million other things. They lead us away from joy to places where we feel helpless and without an ounce of control. It’s disarming.
Over Easter, my husband and I visited one daughter and her family - it had been since the pandemic started that we were together. It was so much fun, but I noticed what a year away from in person gatherings does to people. We feel isolated. We don’t share the little things when we Zoom or Facetime, and there is something about a big wonderful hug that is like a magic potion. We feel good instantly. What was the best about the visit was the laughter. So many funny and fun things happen when going about our day. This is the stuff of life that fills our hearts up and has it overflow out into the world. Others catch our joy when it’s like that.
Life is nuanced and we need to make time to see that, hear that and feel that. That’s where the joy lies. It’s all about our relationships and now more than ever they take an effort. We are feeling numb but the cure for that is to enter into life. Really enter.
Call a family member - a cousin, auntie or uncle - ones you don’t usually call. Check in and make sure they have a good laugh over a memory or story.
Your local doctors, nurses and hospital personnel are still working as hard and long as they were at the beginning of the pandemic. Show some love. A box of fun for the ICU team. Nostalgic treats, thank you cards, new masks or scrub hats - any or all will bring joy.
When you’re at the store next - any store, ask the person checking you out - how they are and what they have done this past year to make it through. What has made them laugh?
The young adults in your family, parish or neighborhood could use some time and attention. It has been hard on the most social humans to not be able to be social. They could use a boost. Maybe host an art or paint night , a comedy event- and leave time for conversation and prayer. Could the adults in the parish offer to host some learning nights or days on gardening, home repairs, finances, or just coach or consult on something else? This demographic needs relationship desperately.
It’s not possible to solve issues with humor and fun, but it is a way to lift hearts, lighten moods and help people look up and see the light, potential and possibilities. It’s Scripture my friends - we are called to be LIGHT!
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.…”
Matthew 5:14
Light, salt and joy go together for me. You and I even when we are feeling down or low still have that impenetrable joy that comes from knowing Jesus. It doesn’t waiver - it is real and true. This joy gives us what we need to be there for others. To look out and up to see where God is leading. We have work to do friends!
Peace,
Jane
