THE SIXTH SENSE–A SENSE OF HUMOR
“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face”
“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.”
These are just a few sayings you may have heard by people like me—who say:”I believe in Humor”.
Erma Bombeck said:” If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I always in the pits??”
Comedian Lily Tomlin said:” The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win–you’re still a rat”!
Then there are the religious rantings of comic “Bruce Almighty”! Our Hollywood motion picture industry comedies are popular all over the world. Situation comedies comprise the most successful programing genre in the history of television. I believe in the Sixth Sense–a Sense of Humor.
Yet, we live in serious times. Much of the laughter which rings out is hollow. The jokes of stand-up comedians are often cynical, merciless and only too often obscene. Much of our laughter today is unhealthy, therefore many stoics disown humor itself. My Grandmother was not one of them.
When I was only 9 years old, I took my first autograph book to her home and asked her to sign her name in ink. She gladly did it (she lived to be almost l00 years old, so the laugh is on me). She wrote by her signature: “A Merry Heart does good like a medicine.” She challenged me to keep a merry heart as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for all things.”..so there must be a time for laughter too.” I believe in godly Grandmas!
When John Hinckley jr tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in l981, the world watched tensely praying the President would not die. But President Reagan himself broke the tension with his endearing sense of humor. He said to his dear wife Nancy when she arrived at the hospital:”Honey, I forgot to duck”–a line borrowed from Jack Dempsey when he lost the Heavyweight Boxing Title to Gene Tunny in l926.
It was also revealed at a press conference soon after the shooting that when the barely conscious President was wheeled into the operating room, he looked at the doctors and nurses and said:” I sure hope you are all Republicans!” I believe in Humor
Humor is the “Art of the Unexpected.” But does God have a sense of humor? We often accept that He is a diety of wrath, but does he possess this Sixth Sense? We need to go no further than to the local Zoo and look at the monkeys and chimpanzees–0r the giraffes and the penguins –to prove that He does!
Stress is big news. Everybody experiences it, but nobody likes it. Sometimes it seems as though nothing can make it go away. But studies prove that people who have a good Sense of Humor are less likely to become depressed during periods of stress. Whats more, Laughter has positive physiological effects on the human body, actually protecting the organs such as the heart from harmful effects of stress. In other words, those who laugh loudest–just might live the longest! A Sense of Humor has a double reward–more fun for more years!
Many today think of God as an old Ancient -of -days-humorless -Victorian prude. The truth is His people have always known how to ‘party”. In Old Testament times, each Israelite family was required to save enough money to attend a Nationally sponsored Holiday–the Feast of Tabernacles. It was a Memorial of the time Israel spent in the wilderness. Was the celebration characterized by solemn reflection? No, the Feast was filled with joy, feasting and fun.
A Chinese Proverb says “Life itself cannot give you joy, unless you really will it; Life just gives you time and space–it’s up to you to fill it!”
I believe in developing that extra special Sixth Sense of Humor–it helps me balance my steps on the tight-rope of life. Grandma was right!
Won’t you join me?