Laughter

Laughter

Often, when I was a kid, our family ate supper together. We brothers would usually tell some dumb jokes or wear some weird outfit and mom would get us all laughing with her uncontrollable giggling. Her laugh was insatiable, it would entice us to keep it coming, not to just put off doing the dishes but because the laughter seemed to clean out some of the toxic world.

Will there be laughter in Heaven? If so what will it be like? Of course there is that uncomfortable, awkward laughter we are sometimes forced into. But it seems that most laughter should come from something which is actually funny. Will it be self- deprecating? This hardly seems as if it would be part of Heaven's humor. Maybe pointing out something peculiar or idiosyncratic would lift our spirits. But wouldn't idiosyncrasies be classified as gifts in Heaven...not something goofy at all? There must be some types of jokes Jesus would tell. Do you think His sense of humor would be dry or roll back and howl funny? Surely there is laughter in Heaven. 

Our world is full of hurting, lonely and sick friends. There are uncomfortable decisions being created and acted upon within our society. We see too many odd situations developing within our political realm. The suffering we see around the world is epidemic. All this makes our hearts heavy...oh for a little laughter.

Kent, my buddy who passed away earlier this year, was a great joke teller not because of the jokes he told but because of how he told the joke. I can see him walking past Jesus on some golden side street, their eyes meet and Kent gives Jesus the "up nod"... " knock knock", and without flinching, Jesus, in all His omniscience, flashes a quick smile..."who's there." Neither of them would make it past the "who's there" because Kent would be in hysterics and although Jesus would already know the punch line His laughter would also be hysterical as he watched His created laughter be so perfectly exhibited through Kent.

Sure, in Heaven there will be everlasting joy. But what about here, what about now? Is laughter necessary? Although sometimes it's hard to come by I do believe it is important. There are healing qualities for the struggles we encounter keeping us healthy and capable for the work God has given.

Proverbs 17:22

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

 but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

The more we let the bones dry the more susceptible we become to the taunts and testings of the evil ones. Don't give in. LOL 

FRIENDS

Recently my daughter was married. Along with the celebration came many of her friends. It may not have been the idea of these people to include me as one of their friends but they stole my heart so what can you do? I have added them to my list of special people.  Many of Heidi's school comrades stayed with us and I can't tell you all the sweetness, laughter, long talks and just plain fun I enjoyed with these new friendships that were created.

I am incredibly blessed to have so many friends...or am I? What is it with friends? They freshen your life, they accentuate your demeanor, they push you to higher levels, they cry for you, they pray for you, they bail you out, they take you in, they hold you up and pull you along. they build you up and strengthen you... they humble you and keep you accountable. Why am I worthy of this? What do I have to offer? And even so, though I don't offer much, they don't care. I am accepted, propped up, prayed over, laughed with and fed much.

Then they leave and it's not just a bump in the road to climb over...it's a hole in my life to crawl out of. My friend left us and went to be with Jesus. Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge him since many of our talks included a desire to see our God. Time with Kent was limited since normal life took up most of our time... then why this deep hole? Is this friendship thing all it's made out to be?

Kent was electric! You may think I'm just using a descriptive word... but that's what he was. I have a ninety nine cent extension cord running though my body. Kent was an electrical grid spewing energy all throughout the room. I don't think I remember any punch lines to Kent's jokes because I was waiting for him to explode. And when he talked about his Lord every muscle was twitching and his mind was so far out in front of his mouth because he so wanted to describe the wonder of it all. One never noticed how often he served others because it was so commonplace. And you knew his life was always true, with no show, because his family exemplified his instruction and faithfulness.

Would there be no holes if there were no friendships? Would the sorrow be less if the love was less? I should think the sorrow is great because the love is deep... and would I want it any other way? Thanks Kent for allowing me into your wonderful place of friendship. You will be greatly missed.

Vulnerable

I have a wonderful friend from years gone by and even though we only seem to see each other at funerals of mutual acquaintances, I hope I am considered a friend as well.  When I have thought and prayed for her, as of late, memories of days gone by come to focus in my normally blurred mind.

I don't remember the exact words that were used but before I went to college she told me that us Benson boys are not very good "huggers".  Off to college I went not registering such a preposterous statement.  Returning from school I gave her a big hug, not thinking of our previous conversation, but because I was glad to be back amongst old friends.  She said, "You're getting better." Odd as it may seem, her comments had significance.

To this day hugging can be uncomfortable.  Is it my Scandinavian heritage or the revelations of confusing body language?  Will they think I'm flirting? Should I do a front hug, side hug or a fist bump?  Is all this hugging stuff even about me?  Maybe my open arms of acceptance are nothing more than being vulnerable. I should think Jesus was a great hugger.  He was there for all who needed him.  His arms are open even when we yell, rebel or spit on Him..."Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  I must beware, however, if I do inconsiderate things to my Savior when I know what I'm doing, but we'll leave that for another day.  How many times could God say, "Enough, off with their heads"? But He doesn't, he gives us time to seek Him out.

I am programed to worry about me.  I have no idea what other are going through.  The most "together" people could be unraveling as fast as my favorite old shirt.  I think I should open myself to others even if they despise me.  I am awkward, I get that, I don't know what to do or what to say.  There is protocol, standards and cultural issues, for sure.  But maybe hugging isn't necessarily hugging. Maybe it's just being vulnerable to someone who needs a boost and the appreciation that they are who they are.

As I pray for this friend I hope she will accept the hugs of those who reach out to her and let their vulnerability give her peace.  I think I was born one hundred years too late.  I feel like I could go away, homestead some unknown land and be fine.  But the Bible instructs me, in Hebrews 10:25, to ".....not forsake the assembling of ourselves together."  We must be vulnerable to prod and be prodded, help and be helped, sharpen and be sharpened.  This is how we manage the journey.  It's not always easy but as we share this walk together the added strength that is received when we all become vulnerable makes our load lighter and our days seem brighter. 

Prodding

Do you have trouble keeping up with people?  I don't mean in a race, as such, but life in general...God has blessed my life with many wonderful people, so much more than I deserve.  But my discipline of keeping all these people part of my current life seems so out of reach.  However, grand memories often fill my mind of these friends.  The laughter, sorrows, prayers and ideas we shared are so...right there.  These memories happen to me over and over.  I think I have been misreading these reoccurring experiences.

I have wonderful friends from long ago that I had corresponded with every five years or so (see what I mean?).  But very often memories of them would come over me.  A smile would come to me as I would remember this beautiful and contagious couple.  Unfortunately, fabulous memories were as far as my mind went.

Not long ago my memories were rocked with the disclosure of a marriage in distress.  What had I done?! I had misread Gods prodding for a call to arms as just a fabulous memory.  How else would the Holy Spirit coax me to pray?  Most all memories of my friends are wonderful.  It's what He had to use to move me to pray for them

Satan has already been defeated and he knows it.  But in the time he has left he will confuse and mislead us as often as he can.  We cannot miss the moving of the Holy Spirit to uphold our friends.  People are hurting.  Often they do not know why and more often don't want others to know what.

                   No matter how God brings people into your memory, pray for them.

                                                           You think ~ You pray

                                      We must not misread the prodding of our God!