Behind the smile.

King Solomon wrote plenty of common sense. Let's not underplay the Divine inspiration of his many words---Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Our Christian worldview affirms the sanctity, veracity, and authority of his writing. He was certainly guided in authoring these three power-packed volumes of our Old Testament. Still, his grasp of the human spirit, our highs and lows, his moments of personal reflection and lament, often inspire me like no other. Every single day a Proverb registers something important in my own personal life. Thinking about the value of humor this week, which he wrote about in many verses, brought a note of conviction and sorrow. He wrote---

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

Proverbs 14: 13, ESV

Solomon certainly understood the therapeutic value of humor. Many of his Proverbs celebrate the spiritual blessings of a glad heart, cheerful spirit, joyous outlook, up-lifting words, singing and rejoicing, and general life happiness. He also knew, even in those more simplistic times, the harsh realities of problems and trouble. Long before cognitive science and advanced study of the human brain Solomon understood the profound impact of life difficulties. It was true then and is true now: hard times are etched more deeply in the human memory system than laughable ones. It's why we dwell on them so much. That's one of the significant outcomes of laughter and humor. Even a chuckle can provide a reprieve from enduring worry, anxiety, discouragement, or emotional stress.

Studies indicate the momentary nature of humor given in demanding circumstances. Many corporate entities are installing play areas in their work spaces to to give their employees times of fun and laughter in their high impact and taxing careers. The job descriptions and work objectives aren't lowered or altered for users. But, they do get a brief escape from the treadmill, what the experts in the psychology department call a

short vacation, or even a numbing of the memory. Humor provides that same benefit during times of endurance, waiting, questioning, imagining---and all the other human mind exercises. Laugh, snicker, grin, nod, agree. But, as our dad always told us, life goes on. The agony of a dark time remains behind the smile.

Yes, encouragement is the deal these days. These uncertain times challenge us in more ways than can be enumerated in this tight space. Believers are commanded to encourage one another (see 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11). We are to be kind and seek the good of everyone, beyond the church doors (see 1 Thessalonians 5: 15, e.g.). That's a reason, among many, that we should have more than humor in our encouragement arsenal. We should be prepared to move beyond the moment in our care for others. Often listening is a next affirming step, or a gesture.

Jesus saw the wear and tear on his disciples. They were following him in very hard, demanding, and pressure packed times. He had been speaking to them in figures of speech, parables, what seemed puzzling to them. Then he said, clearly---

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.

John 16: 33, ESV

He comforted and encouraged them so they would have peace. And, in my book, that should be our aim with others...moments of peace, to help them deal with the realities behind the smile. There's usually some trouble lurking there.

Humor Pill for the Day

Stepped on my scale this morning and it said:

Please use social distancing. One person at a time.

- from FB Page of Citadel 1971 classmate Vinny DiMizio

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There are limits.

Laughter isn't always the best medicine. Typically a humorous thought, memory, or idea can shove difficulties to the margins, making them subtexts to the moment. Like it or not, however, humor is distasteful in some occasions, magnifying the darkness rather than enlightening it. There's a subtle line of acceptability that makes even the most well-thought jests offensive and derogatory. And, that boundary has become feint, almost undetectable in our world of anything goes. Truth is, there are probably 328,000,000 definitions of what is unsuitable humor and what is not in the US of A. That's because our standards have been adjusted downward over the last few decades. What was profane in my childhood rarely earns a flinch these days. The mean streets have invaded the parlors and sanctuaries today. Trash-mouth is more the deal and obscenity the most laughable. Yuk! Yuk!

The clear admonition of Scripture should define, at the least, a Christian worldview of language and humor. It's true, many of the brethren have gotten edgy in their preaching and teaching, variance in musical selections, and use of drama in worship. These adjustments are widely accepted as means to reach the millennial cohort with the Gospel. Still, we cannot overlook the clear instruction of Scripture about communicating with others. There are many Bible verses about the words we speak and the humor we use. Let me reference one at this point---

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but

instead let there be thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5: 4, ESV

The context of Paul's writing in that verse is clearly "among the saints", that is, within the Christian community. Verses before and after this reference point, however, give reference to broader application, specifically "the sons of disobedience" and becoming "partners" with them. Scripture sets a high standard for the believing community. So, filthiness, foolish talk, and crude joking are are off limits. Most translators view those terms as applying to sexual innuendo, vile cursing, and joking that is "crude", below the virtue of Christ, our example.

The cultural sense of profanity is even more difficult to define. Many people in the land of the free and home of the brave use their own versions of right and wrong in the humor and language departments. There once was a time when certain four letter words wouldn't be used in a public forum, or language that took the Lord's name in vain. Jokes and memes that pose negative thoughts about race, gender, lifestyle, financial or social status, education, and many of personal distinctions are thought to be profane in culture today. They are excused, however, by our individualistic approach to right and wrong.

The anonymity of social media has created editorial license in our population. Face it, 1.69 billion FaceBook users have made us pretty much editors of our own space. And, that's the deal for me, my personal responsibility to monitor posts and Tweets on my feed. Friends can post whatever is permissible in their space. I can delete or hide the ones that offend me or perhaps others in my friend list, like children.

Religion used to be an off-limits category. But, no longer. Today, people of Christian faith are a favorite target of the many pundits and joke-sters. In my mind this bigotry runs afoul of everything American. I am reminded of what Jesus said to his disciples. We learned it as children---the Golden Rule---

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up

the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7: 12, ESV

So, let's laugh and value humor as a gift from God. But, remember, there are limits, And, let us value that too.

Humor Pill for the Day

Medical professions advise that we wear

our masks at home all the time, not so much

as a guard against Covid-19, but to keep us

from eating all the time.

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The best medicine?

Laughter may not be the best medicine. And, let's get this out up front. The Covid-19 virus is no laughing matter. The many uncertainties of the coronavirus, the number of citizens who have contracted it, the potential of so many more being infected, and the resulting deaths are solemn reminders of its a tragic and mysterious sweep around our world. Few of us would laugh in the face of such a devastating pandemic. If there is any humor in it, it would be the human element, our response to quarantine time, isolation, stay-at-home orders, toilet paper shortages, personal cleanliness routines, and our waiting habits, to mention a few. Viewing the lighter side of life is a coping mechanism. Comic relief can lighten the load of watching the destructive force of this pandemic. Difficult and stressful times generate in the human spirit a need for diversion. Humor is often our pathway through grief, sadness, stress, and debilitating events.

May I share a personal observation. Last year our dad, affectionately known as The Chester, passed away at age 91. Our family watched his decline after a serious fall, months of disorientation, suffering, pain, and other difficulties. He was a great husband, father, and grandfather and we grieve his death, our mothers as well, every day. Everyone that knew him appreciated his influence---a deacon, Sunday School teacher, business and civic leader. One notable character trait was his rich sense of humor. When our family met to discuss his funeral service, we all agreed that his faith, commitment to our mother, and unselfish provision for his children would be the main topics of his memorial. We further decided that his humor would be an over-riding principle of the comments my brother Mike, brother-in-law David, and I prepared. Yes, we all mourned his death. The service was respectful and reverent. But, everyone in teh standing room only chapel laughed. The friends that spoke to me about the service agreed that it was him. The Chester had touched us all with his wonderful take on life. The comic relief guided us through a hard hour.

The people over in the psychology department teach us that laughter is a mighty scientific force. When we laugh endorphins and dopamine are released into our systems, the feel-good bodily chemicals. Recently I read a HuffPost article by Tasha Eurich about the science of laughter (You can read the article by clicking here). With many references and examples she reminded readers that laughter can help us "cope, find hope, and see problems in new ways".

Scripture identifies a cheerful spirit as an asset in life. Several verses from Solomon's Proverbs affirm this truth---

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15: 13, NIV

All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15: 15, NIV

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17: 22, NIV

This certainly doesn't mean that happy people won't suffer or experience the many exigencies of life under the sun. All of us will deal with the physical, emotional, and even spiritual maladies of human life. There will be pain, distress, disappointments, anger, questioning, relational complications, and mysteries that are complex and dreadful. On occasion, however, a light moment can be our life preserver, a thought that may lift us through something horrific.

Maybe it's just me, and I haven't been diagnosed with Covid-19, this pandemic has inspired hundreds of really funny memes, side-stories, and examples of the light touch. They give us comic relief as we wrestle with the many questions that assault us daily. Laughter may not be the best medicine, but it can be the prescription that guides us through difficult times.

Humor pill for the day---

Thirty days hath September,   April, June, and November, all the rest have thirty-one Except March which has 8000

— brandAn is good (@LeBearGirdle)

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