Laughing Yourself To Health

According to this excerpt from Louis R. Franzini's book, Just Kidding: Using Humor Effectively, laughter just may actually be the best medicine.

Steve Wilson, an Ohio psychologist and self-proclaimed "joyologist," launched the World Laughter organization in 1998 after meeting Indian gurus who were advocating laughter...as a road toward health and peace....

Laughter clubs are organized by trained and certified laughter leaders anywhere for any sized group that can meet one or more times. What is unusual is that the group participates in a variety of laughter exercises for which there is no humor stimulus. The participants laugh loudly as a group, simply upon instruction to use different laughter sounds and cadences. They, and any observers who may come along (if the group has gathered in a public place such as poolside or the lobby of a hotel), just laugh heartily. Capitalizing on the laughter contagion effect, soon everyone within earshot is also laughing.

It is an amazing phenomenon. People in a dire or sober mood, who are preoccupied with their own personal problems, who fear for their business's success or the nation's future or a family member's illness or whatever issue is on their mind, all temporarily forget those stressors and laugh along with everyone present, friends or strangers. All are laughing and all quickly feel good. It's simple, it's bonding, it's stress reducing, it's physically relaxing, it's free, and it's legal!

Truth is...according to Proverbs 17:22, "a cheerful heart is good medicine." According to laughter clubs, it's good even if you have to fake it till you make it.

Eye of the Beholder

Yes, the video below is an advertisement and slightly manipulative. Yes, the Western ideal of what is beautiful has no basis in reality. Yes, we generally need to stop putting so much time and thought and concern into how other people see us...

But in THIS case, it would be good to pay a little more attention to what others think, and a little less attention to our own mostly-negative inner monologue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpaOjMXyJGk 

Truth is...if we could see ourselves through the eyes of someone else, we just might walk away with a bit more spring in our step.

Leader of the Band

Dan Fogelberg's song, "Leader of the Band," made it to Number One on the Adult Contemporary charts in March of 1982, and is on my personal short-list of songs that I will always turn up and listen to if I stumble across it on the radio.

It was written and sung as a tribute to Fogelberg's father, and is certainly not meant to be a spiritual analogy of any sort...but the feeling of the music and certain phrases in the lyric speak to my heart of something far deeper than flesh and blood.

"...a cabinet maker's son, his hands were meant for different work and his heart was known to none."

"He left his own and went his lone and solitary way. And he gave to me a gift I know I never can repay."

"...a thundering velvet hand. His gentle means of sculpting souls took me years to understand."

"I thank you for the kindness, and the times when you got tough. And, Papa, I don't think I said 'I love you' near enough."

"His blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul. My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsocZrEcp0Y 

Truth is...I am a living legacy to the Leader of the Band.

Prosifying "Amazing Grace"

Amazing Grace, written by ex slave trader, John Newton, has been sung in churches, at funerals, and on movie soundtracks...performed by choirs, folk singers, and bagpipes...but perhaps we could use the help of some prosifying (turning poetry into prose) to remind us of what the pretty melody and rhythmic lyric are saying.

Just the sound of the word "grace" is sweetly amazing to me, because it is the free, unmerited goodness of God's grace that saved me, even though I was one of the world's most wretched individuals. Grace has thoroughly changed me: found me when I was lost; gave me insight and knowledge when I was blindly clueless.

It was God's grace that taught me to fear God's wrath, but it was that same grace that soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. From the very first moment I believed, grace has been a precious treasure.

I've been through many things in my life: danger, hard work, temptations meant to entrap me, etc. God has been gracious enough to get me through it all so far, and He'll keep on guiding me until I reach my heavenly home.

The Bible assures me the Lord will cause all things to work together for good; that He will protect me and provide for me as long as I'm alive.

And when I stop living - when my body gives up and my heart gives out - I will forever experience a life of joy and peace in the very presence of God!

And I MEAN forever! We will have been there ten thousand years, shining like the stars in the heavens, and it will be like we had just arrived.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...amazing!

From Brennan Manning's "Lion and Lamb"

While searching my bookshelves for works to place on the Dewey's Gently Read Books Facebook page, I became reacquainted with a book by one of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning, LION AND LAMB: The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus.

I have no intention of selling the book at this time, but I am more than happy to share some of the passages I had highlighted during my initial read...

Religion is not a matter of learning how to think about God, but of actually encountering Him. (p.13)

[God] loves the loveless, the unloving, the unlovable. He does not detect what is congenial, appealing, attractive, and respond to it with His favor. In fact, He does not respond at all. The Father of Jesus is a source. He acts; He does not react. He initiates love. He is love without motive. (p.20, quoting James Burtschaell)

Christianity was no longer simply a moral code but a love affair; the thrill, the excitement, the incredible, passionate joy of being loved and falling in love with Jesus Christ. (p.34)

If God tears up your beautiful game plan and leads you into a valley instead of onto a mountaintop, it is because He wants you to discover His plan, which is more beautiful than anything you or I could have dreamed up. The response of trust is "Thank You, Jesus," even if it is said through clenched teeth. (p.58)

If you love yourself intensely and freely, then your feelings about yourself correspond perfectly to the sentiments of Jesus. (p.132)

Truth is...that last quote may be both the hardest and the most important one to experience. 

Redeeming the Time

Something about standing on the lip of that great expanse called "Tomorrow" makes a person want to take stock of his or her life and see where they've been, look at what direction they're heading, and dream of what could be.

"Tomorrow" is a limited resource, though...as the following video by zefrank1 makes abundantly clear.

Truth is...none of us has a guaranteed number of beans. May each one we are granted be spent in a way that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)

A Visit From Emmanuel

'Twas the night before Jesus, and all through the town,
a couple was searching for a place to lie down.
“No Vacancy” signs were hung within view,

and soon there would be three searchers, not two.
For a child was nestled inside of the lass;
the time of his birth would soon come to pass.
One kindly innkeeper spoke up that day
to offer his stable, with newly-strewn hay.

Outside of town, where flocks of sheep huddled,
all thoughts of deep sleep were suddenly scuttled.
Away to the hillsides the shepherds all flew;
why were the lambs all in such a stew?
They bleated and baaed and ran around so,
that it felt like mid-day to shepherds below.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear
but an angel of God, who said, “Do not fear.
I bring you good news of great joy, so be glad.
This is the best news that you’ve ever had!
Choose you this day to wipe off your frown.
Messiah is born in Bethlehem-town!”
More rapid than eagles, a choir then came;
a huge group of angels all praising God’s name:
"Now there is good will to all earthly men!
Glory to God in the highest! Amen!”
At the top of their lungs the choir sang out:
“Now praise Him! Now praise Him without a doubt!
And here’s how you’ll know what we’re saying is true:
a babe in a manger; a sign unto you.”
So off to the village the shepherds then ran,
to prove all the words from the heavenly band.

And then, in a twinkling, they heard in a stable,
the cry of a baby, both healthy and able.
The shepherds drew close to the source of the sound
and realized the newborn Messiah was found!
He was wrapped in a cloth, from his head to his toe.
His mother was so proud, she practically glowed.
Surrounded by hay as he lay on his back,
he looked like a hungry young lamb’s midnight snack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples—how merry!
His cheeks were like olives; his nose like a berry!
His dear little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
then he quieted down and to sleep he did go.

Thirty years later, on a hill far away,
surrounded by mockers instead of fresh hay,
This innocent baby, now an innocent man,
completed God’s purpose since time first began.
Nails in a tree held his hands and his feet,
and thorns encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a bruised face; they bloodied God’s Son.
He shook when he cried out, “It’s finished! It’s done!”

On the third day since they sealed off his tomb,
his men were hiding out in a locked room
When Jesus showed up and offered them peace:
“You’re no longer sin’s slaves; I’ve arranged your release!”
He was breathing and talking, although he had died!
The disciples could hardly believe what they’d spied.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave them to know they had nothing to dread.
He spoke many words, and sent them to work,
“Go into the world, but don’t be a jerk.
Teach all the Good News through poem and prose,”
and giving a nod, to the sky he then rose!

The disciples all stared up into the sky;
some wanted to yell; some wanted to cry.
Two angels exclaimed, as Christ flew out of sight,
“Fear not! He’ll return like a thief in the night!”

©2013 Dewey Roth