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Laughter: The Best Medicine |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 9/29/2010 2:45 PM | Greetings on this lovely day,
Something really important hit me today: Lately, I just don’t laugh enough. Here’s how I figured this out:
I had to go over to the Child Development Center this morning to talk to one of the teachers. Valischka also serves as one of our nursery/child care workers on Sunday mornings and for special events. I was just going over to check in about some upcoming dates. I stopped in at the office and Mary Mallard told me that Valischka was with her kids on the playground so I headed that way. As I stepped into the hall, another teacher had just lined up a class of 3 year olds to go to the playground, so I just got at the end of their line and waited for them to head out. After a minute or so, the kids started turning around and finally one of them asked, “What are you doing?” I replied that I was in line to go play on the playground. You would have thought I had just uttered the funniest line in the history of comedy. They just about exploded with laughter and started shouting things like, “You can’t! You’re too big!” and “you won’t fit on the slide!” I held my ground and said, “I don’t care, I’m going to the playground with you. I want to play.” I felt a little guilty because this little stunt was really riling them up and the teacher seemed to be having a little more trouble than usual getting them in line to go outside. So, I tried to help: “Come on,” I said, “get in line! We’re wasting time! I want to get to the playground and play!” They lost it. Some were just howling, some asked their teacher, “Is he really going with us?” The teacher said, “Of course he is. You heard him, he wants to play!” In a fashion, they headed toward the playground, the once straight line careening down the hall, each of them turning to look if I was still there, each of them responding in peels of laughter when they saw I was. Finally, we made it to the playground…they all scattered, but kept watching what I would do. I walked over to the slide and said, “you know what? I think I’m too big.” One of the little girls said, “That’s okay, you can still stay and play if you want to. We have balls to kick around.” I thanked her but said I would join them some other day. She turned and shouted, “The guy from the church will play with us later!” And they all waved good bye and ran off to play. I found Valischka and we talked about what I had come to talk about.
I have to tell you though, watching those kids simply throw back their heads and laugh was just about the most therapeutic thing I can imagine. And I longed to be as quick to laugh as they are. And that’s when it dawned on me: I can, if only I will let myself. As I think back now on their surprised and laughing faces, I can feel my own laughter bubbling up. Pure, joyous, life affirming laughter. That’s what I need more of, and that’s what all of us need from time to time. And make no mistake: I seek to avail myself of a certain kind of laughter. Not the cynical laughter that is at someone else’s expense and is so prevalent today, but the heartfelt, breath catching, eye watering laughter that comes from celebrating the great gifts we have been given. I want to laugh so hard that no sound comes out. I want to laugh so long that I feel cleansed. I want to laugh until I forget what it is that I was laughing about in the first place. And it’s not that I want to forget that there are serious things to be dealt with in my world, but rather, that I want to continually reenergize myself through laughter so that I can face those serious issues head on.
There is a picture on the wall of my office that is one of my favorites: it is called “The Laughing Jesus” and it is a drawing of Jesus, head thrown back in full laughter. Whenever I look at it, it makes me smile. And, I am reminded, laughter begins with a smile. And hey, if it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me.
For an updated prayer list and list of upcoming activities, go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Mike Parker, going home after surgery to remove a small carcinoma from his esophagus. The news so far is good: awaiting biopsy results in a couple of days.
The Sabols, as Michael continues at the Piedmont NICU, as doctors work to make him stronger.
Traveling mercies as Carol and I travel to Rhode Island for Carol’s father’s memorial service.
Ruth Luckett, our office manager, has been home sick since last Thursday with a very serious throat infection called herpangina but seems to be making progress and will hopefully return to work soon. The October newsletter will be delayed because of her illness, but it will be sent out as soon as is practical.
Upcoming Events:
We have found that Wednesday evening is not the best time for many who would like to attend the Midweek Prayer Group. And as we move into the fall, the choir will also be meeting one half hour earlier than normal, so we have made the decision to postpone any more prayer group meetings until we can work out the best time. If you are interested in the group, please let me know by return e-mail what time and day would be best for you. One suggestion that has come up and makes a lot of sense to me is to actually have the meeting on Sunday morning, say about 9:15 a.m. All who would like to would gather in the sanctuary to practice different forms of prayer, centering prayer, breath prayers, and other prayer practices, to begin our Sunday schedule with a group undergirding the work and fellowship and worship of the church with heartfelt prayer. I have been a part of two congregations that started their busiest day this way, and I must admit, the results for participants and those they prayed for were powerful. If you might be interested in such a prayer time on Sunday morning, let me know. As soon as decisions are made, it will be announced.
A Congregational Meeting will be held this Sunday following worship. One of the important reasons for this meeting is to vote on the budget that has been recommended by the official board for 2011. Come and hear where we plan on going and lend your support to our efforts to get there.
The Super Sunday program continues to go well. We want to remind folks to please let Debbie Kinney know as early as possible if they expect to attend each week so that food can be ordered. A special event for the groups that has been looking at “Missions and the Church” takes place this Sunday October 3rd. We will gather for dinner at 5:30 and then at 6:00, those who wish to will carpool to the Interfaith Outreach Home for a tour of the facility and a presentation of this important ministry that BCC supports. We are visiting in order to get a better idea of how exactly we can help, as a church, as individuals. One of the reasons we are undertaking this discussion of missions and service is summed up best by an anonymous quote I read recently: "Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand." If we truly want to understand how we can make a difference in the name of Christ, come and join the conversation of how we can get involved.
October 10 is a big day: the Pumpkins arrive! In order to make things easier for many people, the Membership Ministry has moved the Pot Luck Luncheon to the Second Sunday, October 10th. So, bring a change of clothes, grab a bite to eat and help us unload the truck! The more the merrier, and the more hands, the lighter the work. But don’t stop there! Go to the website (www.brookhavenchristian.org) and follow the link to sign up to work the pumpkin patch between October 10 and Halloween. Everyone is needed, not just to raise money, but to greet our neighbors with smiling faces and let them know who we are.
Mark your calendar: Saturday October 30th: More Hands for God Day at the City of Refuge. This is an area-wide Disciples event that serves the folks of the poorest zipcode in the state. Sign up by e-mailing Ruth Luckett at ruth@brookhavenchristian.org or by filling out a sheet this Sunday and dropping it in the offering basket. Also, attached to this missive, you will find a list of items needed to make hygiene kits for our friends at COR. You can bring items Sunday (and until October 25) and put them on the table in the hallway across from my office.
I hope you can make it to worship this Sunday as we celebrate with Praise on Peachtree in the Fellowship Hall. This is World Communion Sunday and the service will explore the theme of “Communion.” Have a great rest of the week.
Be peaceful,
Brad | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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