There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. Ecclesiastes 3:4a NCV
“You need to stop that humor stuff, it’s taking away from God’s message!” That was the advice written to me on the comment card that was dropped into the offering plate as it went by then delivered to my office on Monday morning. I still remember the man’s name, “Unknown.” Yes, he actually wrote the name “Unknown.”
As I stared at the words I felt like a failure, I felt hurt, I felt pain. You see, ”There is a time to cry.”
Now, as I retell this story both in writing and speaking around the country I can’t help but get a smile on my face. Why? Because, “There is a time to laugh.”
What Does The Bible Say?
He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21 NLTse
When the righteous see God in action they'll laugh, they'll sing, they'll laugh and sing for joy. Psalm 68:3 MSG
My servants will laugh and sing. Psalm 65:14a CEV
Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy. Romans 12:15a Msg
Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time. Proverbs 17:22 TEV
There is a time to laugh. Ecclesiastes 3:4a NVC
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30 NIV
A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength. Proverbs 17:22 NCV
Every day is a terrible day for a miserable person, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15 GWT
What Does The Research Say?
In an article in the “Scientific American” Entitled “Laughter is Involuntary” Meredith Small writes, “Laughter offers a uniquely trustworthy sign of friendliness and involves highly complex neural systems that are largely involuntary: it’s hard to fake a laugh. In a neurological sense, laughing represents the shortest distance between two people because it instantly interlocks the limbic systems of the brain (which is where the brain processes emotion).
It’s no surprise, then, that people who enjoy each others company laugh easily and often, those who distrust or dislike each other laugh little if at all. In any setting the sounds of laughter really are a gauge for the groups emotional temperature. (“More Than the Best Medicine,” Scientific American, August 2000 pg. 24)
The Yale University School of Management had an interesting finding in their research on laughter. “Cheerfulness and warmth spread most easily. Irritability is less contagious and depression hardly at all. Moods effect how people work. Upbeat mood enhances cooperation, fairness and performance. Laughter in particular.”
Emotionally Intelligent leaders attract other good leaders. In fact, leaders who laugh and enjoy life exude upbeat feelings. In particular they are…
- Optimistic vs Irritable
- Enthusiastic vs Apathetic
- Warm vs Cold
- Passionate vs Lethargic
- Personable vs Impersonal
A good laugh sends a resonant message, we are on the same wave length, we get along, there are signs of trust and chemistry.
Questions:
1. Would you like your family the be on the same wavelength?
2. Would you like to be on the same page with your team at work?
3. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being Lol funny, how would you rate yourself on accepting humor?
A Joke A Day For You
Monday:
Dad, Can I borrow the car? Not until you cut your hair! Why should I cut my hair? Jesus had long hair! Yeah, and he walked everywhere He went.
Tuesday:
The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.
Wednesday:
Popular guy in an old folks home. “Do you know who I am?” No, but if you go to the front desk they will tell you.
Thursday:
Sign on the fence of a countryside farming area: “If you cross this field, you had better do it in 9.8 seconds. The bull does it in 10.”
Friday:
There was a man who sent 10 puns to some friends in hopes at least one of the puns would make them laugh. Unfortunately no pun in ten did!