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“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh, and the greatness which does not bow before children” (Kahlil Gibran).
WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN LIFE TO WHICH LAUGHTER IS THE RIGHT RESPONSE. Sometimes we act as if laughter were nothing more than a concession to weakness, and that anytime we’ve indulged in a bit of laughter we need to return to a serious state of mind as soon as possible. But that’s simply not true. While it is certainly wrong to laugh when laughter is not appropriate, there are some things that call for laughter as surely as a gift calls for gratitude. Not to laugh at things that should produce laughter is as unhealthy as it is foolish.
When we encounter something that should cause laughter to bubble up inwardly and that doesn’t happen, what’s the cause? There might be many reasons, some of which would be perfectly understandable, but now and then the culprit is simply our pride: we take ourselves too seriously. Our notion of “dignity” or “maturity” is such that it won’t let us laugh. But that’s unfortunate. As Kahlil Gibran observed, “the philosophy which does not laugh” is not a good philosophy to build our lives upon. It’s one to be avoided.
It’s a curious fact that sometimes we may be feeling quite mirthful on the inside but no one could tell it by looking at our faces. Shouldn’t we let laughter break out of our brains and onto our faces more often? Although it’s a delight to feel joy in our hearts, it’s even better to express that feeling with good, physical laughter!
But what about our relationships with others? Wouldn’t it be a good thing if laughter were allowed to enliven our relationships more often? If it would, then here’s a good gift we can give to those whom we love. In our relationships with them, we can do our part to create an environment where it’s as safe to laugh as it is to cry. Good relationships can’t be made from laughter alone, obviously; they also require some genuine sorrow. But on the other hand, if others aren’t sure what our reaction would be if they laughed out loud in our presence, that’s not good either. Let’s unbutton our collars and loosen up!
“Where is home? Home is where the heart can laugh without shyness. Home is where the heart’s tears can dry at their own pace” (Vernon G. Baker).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com
