Joy Along Rocky Roads

Well, after the first day of viewing Halloween decorations in my neighborhood, we have a winner. It does not surprise those of you who know me well that this would capture my attention. In fact, this may very well be the best Halloween character ever! I want to meet the person who conceived of the Pink Flamingo as a skeleton!

The Psalmist writes, “Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, “The LORD has done spectacular things for them.” The LORD has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed.”

I believe we often fail to appreciate the power of laughter in our lives and in our world. Yes, we know laughter lifts our spirits and lightens our burdens. Yes, we know that a sense of humor helps us to be spared the sin of taking ourselves too seriously. 

But the Psalmist reminds us that the power of laughter reaches farther still. Our ability to laugh, our lifestyle of joy, is a witness in the world to our faith and of God’s presence. Do we not all take note of those who face difficult times and come out on the other side with their sense of joy and wonder somehow still intact? Are we not amazed at those who refuse to let hardship make them hard? Our mind goes to the question of “how?” And the “how” question opens our minds and hearts to God.

In a world like the world we share today, we are all starving for a touch of laughter and joyful song. We don’t need more silliness, but we do long for the kind of joy that can ground us and see us through tough days. We do need the bond that grows in laughter shared by fellow travelers on a rocky road. We do need a few Halloween-style Pink Flamingos along the way, and the eyes to see them.

Peace.