“Laughter creates a sense of social connectedness, making us feel less alone.  The release of endorphins calms the spirit, mind, and body, reducing stress and warding off anxiety and depression.  Even better, laughter bolsters the immune system.” – Michelle P. Taylor- Director of Community Care Alliance, Providence Journal

Do you like to laugh?  When someone smiles, doesn’t it make you want to smile?  I like comedy.  I always have.  Many nights when the inevitable question gets asked, “What do you want to watch?”   I will go for the comedy before the drama.  I can watch and listen to countless hours of stand-up comedy.  Like most people I try to figure out the punch-line before it comes.  The comedians I like best are the ones that surprise you with a punchline.  They may take a joke in a completely different place than you were expecting.  I guess, I like the craft of comedy.  Much as a musician is drawn to the million things that are happening with instrumentation and choices in melody and harmony- I like to analyze comedy.   This doesn’t make me funny, it just means that I appreciate a funny story, person or joke. 

Many of my first friends were the funny kids.  If a funny kid wanted to hang out with me- that was the best.  The class clown is the kid who always has to be ‘on.’  We all know people like that- they just can’t turn off the jokes, and the need to be at the center of everyone’s attention.  When we say someone has personality- it almost always means they’re humorous.       

Humor is wonderful, but it has its place.  A sermon should not be a stand-up comedy bit, yet humor is inviting and usually appreciated.  A friend (a very funny friend) told me once that he was at a wedding and the officiant broke into a stand-up routine.   And he bombed!  Trade secret here:  I will put jokes into a wedding ceremony, or sermon- but I will always put them in parentheses.  If the first joke bombs, or I feel that the congregation is not with me- I ignore all other jokes.  But….if they’re laughing- then I keep going with the humor.  

The Sunday after Easter is Holy Humor Sunday.  The idea is that it is God who gets the last laugh over the devil- with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The empty tomb is the symbol that Jesus lives- and now we have abundant and everlasting life as well!  That is something that is worth celebrating.  So, on Holy Humor Sunday- we can let our hair down a little.  We may sing silly songs, or tell some jokes.  Trade secret number 2:  Traditionally Easter Sunday is well attended, and then attendance would drop the next Sunday.  Even pastors take that Sunday off!  Not me, I like to keep the Easter momentum going- so Holy Humor Sunday is my hook.     

We need to laugh.  These are serious times, and a little levity can go a long way. 

I pray for you happiness and peace, and some laughter too.