He who Laughs

I am doing a top secret project and I can't tell you anything about it or it will spoil the surprise...but every time I look at it, I laugh. I conceived the project a few months ago and have consulted the aid of just one other informant in carrying out my task. Since then, every time I have thought of the project, I laugh. It will be several months yet before I can reveal the project, and I imagine, for several months, I will be laughing.

Laughter is good, regenerative, cleansing. Laughter blows away the shrouds of despair. Laughter makes joy bubble up from within, sometimes at most unexpected times. Laughter is contagious. Asherel has a soundtrack of laughter on her iPod. Every single time she plays it, I roll my eyes at her, but then inevitably, we are both laughing as hard as we can.

I think our next president should run on a platform of "laughter." Think how much more willingly we would all pay our taxes if we knew we would get a good laugh in return? And I mean something other than the laughable policies that are already in place. I mean real honest to goodness funny...on purpose.

I used to be a "deep" reader- reading only books that enlarged my conscience and my mind....but lately what I really want to read is something funny. It is surprising how little really funny stuff is out there. There is smut and bad language that passes for funny nowadays, but honest, clean funny is rare. (Honestly, with a little self promotion here...it is part of what I hoped to achieve with my book, I'm Listening with a Broken Ear, which it is not too late to order for Christmas, free shipping, and on sale from Amazon.... Tell all your friends.)

When Job's friends are trying to comfort him in the midst of unspeakable woes, they assure him not that his fortunes, children, or health will be restored, but that God will "fill your mouth with laughter." (Job 8:21)
They knew that laughter is indeed a God given medicine for a distraught heart. Now, laughter has its place. We are also warned in the Bible not to bring levity into a house of mourning, because it can hurt and offend. There are times when laughter should be suppressed. However, I think everyone would be better off if they embarked on a secret project like mine...one that makes them laugh every time they look at it. After all, like all gifts of the human spirit, laughter was created by God.

Psalm 126

 ¹ When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dreamed.
² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
   our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
   “The LORD has done great things for them.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us,
   and we are filled with joy.