Lent 2015: things that make me laugh

I love to laugh but some days it's hard.  We all have days like that I'm sure. I guess that's what makes us human.  Tears and laughter sit side by side in this emotional roller coaster of life. Send in the clowns please. May the rain turn to sunshine. For all of you feeling sad may God send a rainbow, a promise of his favour. May we laugh together again soon.

An Adventure through Lent: joy!

Today is the start of Lent. The start of an adventure! Would you like an adventure or shall we have tea first? Tea is a good thing as it makes us pause and rest for a while. It’s always good to take stock, to look back, and to reflect. It’s also good to laugh at the absurdity of it all. There is lots to laugh about in life but we seem to become much too serious if we are not careful, or is that just me? I’ve been known to dress up as a white rabbit and invite people to church for a Mad Hatter’s teas party before now. It was an induction service where I officially became minister of the church, often a solemn occasion. I wasn’t not taking it seriously I just wanted the community to come and to have fun. Start as you mean to go on as they say!

Last night my comedy writing course classmates and I put on a show. It was a theatric reading of the scripts we had written. I got to play the parts of an estate agent who liked dressing up as a bear, a psychiatrist with some very strange clients, a patient who was advised to make and eat shepherds pie to help with their alcohol addiction, and Henry VIII! Today I found out Henry VIII was crowned at Gloucester cathedral. 

I’ve been reflecting recently about why church has got so serious. There has to be more room for laughter in our services. It’s not about entertainment it’s about being fully human. Jesus laughed. God laughs. I like to laugh a lot! My happy place is fooling around. It’s how I like to connect with people. We are created to experience joy. Philippians 4:4 says, ‘rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice!’ Galatian’s 5:22 reminds us that joy is one of the fruit of the spirit. So where’s our joy? What are the things that bring a smile to your face and make you laugh? So often Lent is about giving up things but what about taking something up? What about taking up something that brings you joy and makes you laugh? 

Life in a Roundabout way

Life can be a bit like a roundabout sometimes. It can spin so fast you want to get off but most of the time it’s a lot of fun. Ever feel you are going around in circles? Or perhaps stuck on the same loop? It’s easy to get into bad habits, less easy to break them. How easy has it been to put on weight during the lockdowns we have had? How easy was it too loose those extra pounds? If we want to do it properly we have to track those calories, and macros, and make sure we exercise regularly. If we put the effort in and track our steps we eventually get there. 

Moses took the Israelites through on what but have seemed like a never ending journey. Were they ever going to reach that promised land? God has a habit of leading us the long way round. There are lessons he wants us to learn along the way. Without the wilderness experiences we don’t grow, in-fact we just become complacent and comfortable. There is more to life than sitting in our cosy armchair in our PJs and fluffy slippers. This journey that God invites us on with him is one of joy and excitement. Embrace it! 

Lead me to the helter-skelter Lord! Bring on the laughter!

Patience in Waiting

So how patient are you? Does you foot start to tap as you wait at the checkout? Life seems so hurried. A full-on non-stop, multi-tasking energy sapping sort of existence seems to be the norm. When did you last sit down and do nothing? And I don't mean when did you last sit down and check your emails, or Facebook, or your Twitter account. When did you last sit down and stopped to think? And I don't mean mean stopping to think about all those things on your to-do list. When did you last sit down, with no agenda, and really thought about those important things in life. Things like friendships and family and faith. When did you last sit down with no agenda?

I must admit to enjoying sitting and reflecting but so often that time gets pushed to one side for something else. There is always so much to do! Over the last year, or so,  I have made a conscious effort to re-priorities that which is important. In particular I have done some things for me. Just for me. So often in the hustle and bustle we can squeeze that all important me-time to the point where it becomes almost non-existent. Is it just me? Or do you relate to what I'm saying?

This year I took the bull by the horns and, in the same week, joined a community choir and started a course in improv. By impov I mean - improvised acting. Making it up as you go along - if you will. I like meeting new people. I will talk to anyone but put me in a largish group where I don't know anyone and I am well and truly out of my comfort zone! But I did it. I survived. I made some new friends and I have learnt some new techniques. Most of all I have smiled from ear-to-ear and I have laughed, and laughed, and laughed! I love to sing it is so good for the soul, but I will let you into a secret, I hate to sing on my own. Well, singing on my own when there is no one around bar the cats is fine but definitely not to an audience. I have done it occasionally and am fine when I don't think about it but it is really out of my zone. Performing improv can be a bit scary but the fun factor of it takes over.

Anyway, I digress...   We can get even more caught up in the rushing around as we prepare for Christmas but I would encourage you to take some time out, just for you. To sit and to think about what is important. Where is God in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations? And where are you? Are you to busy rushing around to enjoy life? Have you got your priorities and life balance right? Does something need to change? Is it time to re-priorities? When was the last time you fed your own soul with things that you enjoyed? When did you last laugh out-loud big belly laughs until the tears ran down your face? 

In the waiting of Advent may you find those things that bring you joy that can't be wrapped up in a box.

Lent 2015: things that make me laugh - cartoons

You can't beat a good cartoon to make you laugh. Tom and Jerry, Roadruner; Tweetiepie and Sylvester the cat were favourites. I can't tell you when the last time I saw a cartoon was. Certainly it was some time ago. But why is that? Do we think we can't watch such things as an adult? Do we just get more serious as we get older and loose that inner child? What we laugh at changes as we get older. Tastes change. Life gets in the way.  I hope you have managed to laugh today evening it's been a tough day.

Lent 2015: things that make me laugh - my husband

My husband, John, always seems to make me laugh. We often laugh at the silliest of things. 

This evening I was eatting some grapes when one dropped from my hands and rolled across the floor. John jumped and said, 'I thought it was a mouse'! How on earth does a grape look look like a mouse? I couldn't help but laugh. 'It scared me' he chuckled. Today has been a good day. All age worship at church and lots of fun. No one really wanted to go home which is always a good sign. 

Worship doesn't have to be always serious, and neither should life. There are times when lament is appropriate such as, when someone dies in tragic circumstances. God has made us as emotional beings and yet  so often we try and deny our emotions. The British stiff upper lip is still alive and kicking in the UK. I am sure other countries and cultures are better at being honest with their emotions that we are here. God likes us to be honest with him and if our worship is to be heart felt then we must learn to laugh and indeed cry as we worship him in spirit and truth.

My Old Friend, Laughter

Laughter

I remember her

somewhere inside 

in the corner 

of my mind

tucked away 

in an envelope

marked,

'Do not open until...'

Laughter

I remember her

her sound

bubbling up

making me smile

eyes twinkle

in a time

gone by,

Christmas maybe?

Laughter

I remember her

she knocks

once more

an old friend

returning

sharing

merriment 

and glee.

Laughter

I remember her

she's here,

with me.

©revdjo 31/8/14

Lent 2014 - 6th March: Laughter

I like to laugh, big belly laughs that I can't stop. Silly things make me laugh. I don't really like jokes as such, it is more situation humour that makes me chuckle. I like to banter and tease folk and I like for them to do the same back. For me the world is a dismal place without laughter. I haven't laughed as much as I should have recently. Life has been stressful but c'est la vie. My husband John and I took a trip to London to see a show recently and came across Chalie Chaplain. Photo opportunity or what! Well it made me laugh. I thank God for the simple pleasure which is laughter.