I do not know if God laughs. I have heard some people say that if you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans, but I am not sure if that’s true or not. It is just one of things people say to make you think more deeply about what you do.
When I think about God laughing I don’t have a good answer. However, I think Jesus did laugh. I do not think Jesus could have garnered as much support if he had been a sourpuss. Even considering Jesus to a completely serious person seems both right and wrong. Right, because he was the Son of God and knew the task he had to accomplish. Wrong, because how can you live a full life and not see the humor in the world and in living.
Laughter is a healthy and necessary part of life. It helps to relieve stress and infuses difficult situations with needed relief. But, laughter is important for another reason. When we laugh we give ourselves permission to remember how brief life is. There are many responsibilities and tasks requiring our attention. However, our lives should not be marked by these. There is more to life than seriousness and obligation.
The picture above is interesting because there are not many depictions of Jesus laughing. I have often wondered why? I am not sure I have a good explanation, but I suspect, for some, it is inconsistent with what we expect from Jesus. I disagree with this point of view, even though I understand it.
In this season of preparation I hope we take time to laugh and enjoy the beauty within our lives.
