The Gift of Laughter

I have been busy. Way too busy.  But when Belinda asked me recently if I'd heard about the passing of comedian, Tim Conway, I paused. Now here's some news I should take time with. "You know...  he made us laugh," I said.

As I've thought about this since, I have mused over the fact that laughter really is a marvelous thing. Especially when coming to us sans putting others down. As well, it is something far too underrated and sorely, so sorely needed. Even Harvey Korman as a 'patient' could not keep from laughing as Tim Conway, his 'Dentist,' attempted to administer to him a shot of novocaine from his wayward needle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF_C3bO8WZ0 And how can we forget Tim's famous 'fall of the 'Old Man' down the stairs? That was the longest timed fall time ever recorded on TV, and with hilarious results. Yes, Conway did make us laugh, and considering his gift of such has prompted in me food for a thought or two.

Proverbs 17:22 reads: A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

And though we may not know all that might be known about the collection of wisdom shared by King Solomon, we do know this - God gave it and saw to it being written down and preserved for us.

Yes, when I think back over my ministry of these 40 plus years, it has been laughter and joy that I remember most. Oh, sure there were difficult days, even days of great challenge that stand out, but my mind runs more towards the smiles now. Such as the day Ed Hayes set off the fire sprinkler's over Miss Debbie's office, or the Sunday Matt Dildine tried to pull me under the water as I baptized him. Or, how about the day Paula Michel entertained the staff with head stands as we sat in the hall waiting out a lock down due to a tornado watch at the church?  And those... well, those are just a few! 

My pastor mentor, Bob Norman, taught me many things - but one thing I learned from him is that to laugh is to love and to love is to laugh. He took the high road not the toad road - and made joy his everyday choice. Watching him I discovered that no matter the news there was always a good news story somewhere, and that this story was worth hearing more than all the rest. He saw to it that happy stories stayed at the fore. One of my favorite memories of him came when a new  - and very large - copier was delivered to our Northway Church. After installation the empty box it had been delivered in sat in the hallway outside our offices. So, seizing the moment, Bob decided this was a perfect opportunity for some fun and climbed into the box and cried out softly, "Help me!" "That's right, you!" as people passed by. You can just imagine the fun.  

So I say 'thank you' to Tim Conway and 'yes' to more laughter! For a merry heart really is good medicine.  Plus this - our children need us to laugh. If we don't, how else will they learn?  Perhaps all that will be left is a humor turned cruel, disdainful, and one only at the expense of others. And I, for one, want to do all I can to see this is not so. 

So, from this pastor to you,  how about some...

Love and laughter, always! 

Pastor Sam