October 27, 2016 – Words of Wisdom
Audrey Hepburn

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.” Audrey Hepburn
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

We all know at least one person who is naturally funny. I had a friend in high school who could just give me a look, and I would start to laugh. I used to play in a brass group with a friend who seemed to remember every joke he ever heard. As Reader’s Digest used to remind us—“Laughter is the best medicine.”

Perhaps the most famous example of using laughter as part of their healing occurred in the life of Norman Cousins. In 1964, Norman Cousins, editor of the Saturday Review, discovered he was dealing with a connective tissue disease in his spine – and he was given a 1 in 500 chance of surviving. He made the decision to lock himself into a hotel room and watch a non-stop supply of Candid Camera episodes and movies of the Marx Brothers. At first, the most relief he got was several hours of pain-free existence – the result of the laughter sending a course of endorphins through his body. But over the next few weeks, he laughed himself, literally, back to health, and published a book about his experience.

In the words of 19th century humorist Mark Twain, “Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.” Indeed, the reaction of laughter is a bit of a mystery to scientists, but it truly is a blessing from G-d. When we can laugh, we can forget the worries and troubles of the day, even if for just a few moments, and experience joy and laughter – two of the greatest gifts G-d has given to the world. We all need to find what brings us joy – and find some laughter in our lives – and sometimes that seems almost impossible because there is so much sadness and hurt in this life. It is in those moments we can remember:

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:2, 5)

Pastor Dave