The Gift of Laughter

Psalm 30
Philippians 4:4-9

Dr. Andrew L. Cullen
July 27, 2003

Last week’s sermon was the Gift of Tears. This week’s sermon is the Gift of Laughter. We need both of these gifts from God. Last week we focused on the fact that as we experience how much we are loved and forgiven by God in Jesus Christ we will find ourselves becoming increasingly compassionate towards other people, desiring to serve as Jesus served.

Last week we focused on the story of the sinful woman. She came to Jesus weeping - anointing his feet with her tears and wiping his feet with her hair. She knew she was loved and forgiven. She knew she was accepted by Jesus and set on a new way of life. When we understand how much we’re loved, how much we’re forgiven, we have a new way of life. We love God and we love others.

This week the focus is on the fact that when we experience the reality of God in Jesus Christ, what God has done for us in Christ, we will live a life out of a deep sense of joy. That deep sense of joy will overflow into the lives of others, bringing hope and encouragement. That deep sense of joy often results in laughter. Laughter, in its highest form, is an expression of joy. We are called to rejoice in the Lord, our joy comes from God in Christ

The scriptures speak about laughing and weeping. In Ecclesiastes we find there is a time to weep, there is a time to laugh. Sometimes it is appropriate to cry. Sometimes it’s more appropriate to laugh. In Proverbs 15:13 the writer says, "A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance." Proverbs 17:22: A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones." Many studies have related our mental attitude to our health - a cheerful heart is actually healthy for us.

The God who created the platypus, the penguin, and the porcupine certainly has a sense of humor. The God who created us has a sense of humor. When we look at the disciples that Jesus chose to follow him, he certainly must have had a sense of humor!

Let me hasten to add that as we consider this gift of laughter we do so in the context of a world where there is a lot of pain, where there is much sadness, many tragedies and enormous human suffering. We can’t turn on the news or read the paper without knowing pain, suffering sadness. You have probably experienced a time in your own life when you thought that you might not ever laugh again much less experience real joy. That might be your experience this morning.

There was a time in my own life when I didn’t laugh very often. God takes us through those seasons of our lives and God knows what we need even better than we know ourselves. We can trust God in spite of our feelings. The Psalmist writes, "Oh Lord you have healed me. You have brought me up from the pit. Weeping may linger for a night but joy comes with the morning. You have turned my morning into dancing."

There are often difficult times in life but the promise is that God will not leave us; that God brings us out of those difficult times. In Psalm 126 we hear these words, "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy." God will not leave us alone. Our fortunes have been restored in Jesus Christ.

In the letter to Philippians, Paul is writing from prison. He’s uncertain about the outcome for himself. The themes of opposition and the possibility of death are prominent, yet Philippians is known as the letter of joy. Paul says, "Rejoice, rejoice." He says to the church, "My joy is in you because you are serving God by your proclamation of the Good News."

Paul says, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." He encourages the church to rejoice in the Lord, again I will say rejoice. We are admonished to bring all of our anxieties and difficulties, all of our worries and fears, to the God who cares for us - then fix our minds on those things that are positive and uplifting, not to live in denial of the sorrow and difficulty of life, but to know that God is there -working in us and through us. We know that sin, sickness, evil, disease – all of those things pass away in the presence of God. In the book of Revelation we hear that statement that every tear will be wiped away. Jesus Christ holds the final answer.

The memorial service for Earl Salyers was held last Monday. Earl had battled against disease. Evil, sickness, death – those things do not have the final word – the resurrected Christ has the final word. When we are with the Lord, our fortunes have indeed been completely restored.

Can you remember the last time when you laughed until you cried? Where your sides hurt when you laughed – you may have bounced up and down, rocked back and forth or doubled over. Tears may have come to your face as you laughed and laughed.

I’ve had several instances like that. I remember one in particular at Bryant School in 1960 or ‘61, 6th or 7th grade. Several of us were the back of the classroom. We got to laughing and we couldn’t stop. And it was not appropriate! The more we laughed and tried to hold it in, the harder we laughed - then when the teacher corrected us that resulted in even more laughter! (We did quit laughing when we were sent to a different place!) I remember that incident so vividly … and how much fun it was!

Norman Cousins calls laughter inner jogging. Laughter is good for all of us. It is often the best medicine because laughter helps relieve tension - it helps us deal with life and brings a perspective that we often really need.

When the Lord told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child in their advanced old age, what did they do? They laughed. It wasn’t funny, but they laughed. "It cannot happen. Look how old we are!"

Even in difficult times, people find humor. Abraham Lincoln had an ability to laugh even in the bleakest days of the Civil War. People who worked with him were often astonished at his perspective. When Stephen Douglas accused Abraham Lincoln of being two-faced, Lincoln said, "If I had two faces, I certainly wouldn’t wear this one!"

Many great comedians have experienced tremendous tragedy and sorrow in their lives and it’s become part of who they are. I realize the comedians that I’ve listed are basically those of another generation, but I suppose if you did a study of modern day comedians you might find the same thing to be true. Jackie Gleason’s father deserted him. W. C. Fields ran away from home because his father was going to kill him. Carol Burnett’s parents were alcoholics who constantly fought. Charlie Chaplin’s father died of alcoholism and his mother suffered from mental illness. They knew great tragedy and sorrow.

When we look back at difficult times in our lives we’re often able to see the humor in the events. There’s a classic letter that’s been around for years. I first heard it on a record that my late aunt brought to us from Britain. It’s a letter from an employee in Gilders Green, England -- a letter from an employee to his boss:

"When I got to the building I found that the storm had knocked some bricks off the top, so I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple of barrels of bricks. When I had fixed the damaged area on top, there were a lot of bricks left over. So I went down to the ground and began releasing the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was much heavier than I was and before I knew what was happening, the barrel started coming down jerking me up.

I decided to hang on since I was too far off the ground by then to jump and half way up I met the barrel of bricks coming down fast and I received a hard blow to my shoulder. I continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers jammed in the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground it burst its bottom and all the bricks spilled out. I was now heavier than the barrel so I started down again at a high rate of speed. Halfway down I met the barrel coming back up fast and received severe injuries to my shins.

When I hit the ground, I landed on the pile of spilled bricks getting several painful cuts and bruises. At this point I must have lost my presence of mind because I let go of my grip on the line. The barrel came down fast giving me another blow on my head and putting me in the hospital. Sir, I respectfully request sick leave."

The gift of laughter brings perspective to life. I’ve found over the years that I can’t take myself too seriously. If we would stop the service the morning and ask people to share their most embarrassing moment (now there’s an idea) how interesting that would be. We would quickly realize that we can’t take ourselves too seriously.

It’s like the prayer, "O God, so far today I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped or lost my temper. I haven’t been greedy or grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent and God I’m very thankful for all of that. But in a few minutes God I’m going to get out of bed and start a new day and from then on God, I’m going to need a lot more help."

Dwayne Adams, our youth director, sent the staff this list of actual headlines from newspapers: "Grandmother of eight makes hole in one, makes hole in one." (You might have to actually see these in print for them to be funny). "Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers." "Red tape holds up new bridge." "Local high school dropouts cut in half." "Stiff opposition expected to funeral plan." And finally, (I’ve got two dozen of these but I’m going to stop) "Panda mating fails, veterinarian takes over." I’m sorry…remember these are from Dwayne!

We know life is short. I don’t know if you’ve seen this or not - the Associated Press News Release: Pillsbury Doughboy, Dead At 71. Here’s the release:

"Veteran Pillsbury spokesman: The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a severe yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71. The memorial service was attended by dozens of celebrities including Mrs. Butterworth and Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch. The graveside was piled high with ‘flours’ as long time friend Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy, describing Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with many turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Still, even as a crusty old man, he was a roll model for millions. Doughboy is survived by his second wife, Play-Dough. They have two children and one in the oven. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes."

I’m sorry. I mean after all, Edward’s gone. Jack’s gone. It’s summertime. I’m an interim. Interims have a contract with the session. Either one can give the other four week’s notice. I said that in first service and Woody Davis said, "Start counting!"

Paul tells us in Romans to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. He said, "Live in harmony with each other." He said, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them."

As we consider our life together as believers in Jesus Christ, we realize how important those words are, how important it is to rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice. The Lord has restored our fortunes. It doesn’t mean that this life will be easy. It doesn’t mean that this life will be without difficulties. This life will be difficult. Through many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of Heaven, The Kingdom of God.

At the end of the service today we will sing the benediction, "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." In that benediction the translation is usually, "The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you." In the Hebrew that can also be translated as the New Living Translation words it, "May the Lord SMILE on you …" That’s the Lord’s face shining! It’s wonderful to think about the Lord smiling upon us - giving us peace to go on through life and then to be finally in the presence of the Lord where eternal joy will reign. May we be the kind of people who bless others because we have been blessed in Christ. AMEN.