A Road Less Travelled

Have you ever thought about laughter? about what laughter is? You smile, open your mouth and exhale forcefully. A sound comes out that people find amusing though if you asked most people if you have a funny laugh they will likely say no. The answer really is yes, but your laugh is no funnier than anyone else’s so it doesn’t really count. Have you ever watched someone laugh really hard? It is hysterical to watch. And if you’re not careful you will start laughing simply because someone else thinks something is funny. Have you ever wondered why? Why did God make us with laughter? Why is this such a good thing? I wonder if anyone could really say though we all agree that it is. Laughter is one of those things that no one really understands. It’s like eating. Eating is weird. You put food in your mouth, grind it into bits and swallow it only to have your stomach do unspeakable things to it. Somewhere in there your mouth noticed whether it was enjoying the experience of the food and your body figured out how it could use what you just put into it. Eating is really strange, but when you sit down and enjoy a good meal with someone you are somehow closer to him than you were before you started. I think I notice friendships starting when I and someone else laugh at the same time about the same thing. It’s a bond that is formed between us. What lengths would you go to to make someone laugh? What would you do to make a child laugh? I am here to tell you that normally dignified people will act ludicrously just to make a child laugh. Normally diligent churchmen who are eanestly listening to an excellent sermon will get easily distracted by the baby in front of them giggling. I know, I’ve seen it. So, if this is how we are with our children how is our Father with His? I can tell you how He is- He does the exact same things we do. Have you ever thought about giraffes? Giraffes make me laugh every time I think about them. They don’t make a noise. You’re going through an animal book with a child and there’re horses and elephants and cats and dogs and you’re making all the noises and trying to get the kid to mimic you and suddenly you come upon a giraffe. You stutter for a moment because giraffes don’t make a noise. The best you can come up with is a comment about how the giraffe’s neck is sooo long, but isn’t that funny looking, too? Have you ever watched a penguin waddle? Have you ever looked closely at your nose? Have you ever watched a cow run or a bird fly into a window? These things are funny (though someone might disagree with me on that last one). Could it be that God put them here for no other reason than to make us laugh? I am perfectly willing to say that the duckbilled platypus was put upon this earth to make me chuckle ever time I think about it. Kangaroos were, too. I can say this because God says He’s my Father and He has given me the gift of laughter. So, please don’t mind me if I walk up to you and ask if you’ve ever seriously contemplated your nose. I’m just trying to pass on the gift.