LAUGHTER HELPS US TO GET THROUGH THE BAD DAYS
by Cathy Fenwick
Have you ever written something, made copies and distributed copies, only then to discover an error? It happens to the best of us. Making an error isn't so bad. Sometimes we get a good laugh out of it. I have even found a few in church bulletins:
... "There will be a meeting at both the north and south ends of the church. Babies will be baptized at both ends."
... "This being Easter we will ask Mrs. Smith to come forward and lay an egg on the altar."
... "And ladies of the church, donšt forget the Rummage Sale. Bring all that stuff you have around the house you donšt want anymore. Bring your husbands!"
I give seminars on using laughter to help people make positive changes, learn something new, or come to accept things that can't be changed. But there are risks in using comedy. It is the most challenging and risky type of presentation that I do. When I feel threatened or unsure of myself, I often revert to more serious discussions; then I have a sense of loss because I deny myself the chance to help someone laugh. Using humor is like walking a tightrope.
Comedy creates great emotion because it often hits at the heart of the seriousness of life.
Author Dennis Kaye in his book, Laugh! I Thought I'd Die, tells of his experiences living with a motor neuron disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
This inspiring autobiography alternately brought me to tears and had me howling with laughter. Here was an indomitable person who was truly living. He was rising above his pain and creating something worthwhile. His turn of phrase and healing humour portrayed incredible courage, tenacity and hope.
He wrote, "All things considered, when I put ALS up against the things in life that really count, it doesn't stand a chance."
When we goof up, let's try and keep it in perspective. Kaye tells about the time he was getting ready for bed and he became all tangled up in his clothes. He fell to the floor just as his wife came into the bedroom. She flopped down on the floor beside him and they both laughed so hard, he "thought (he'd) die!"
Dennis Kaye is an obvious role model and is the first to acknowledge the loving care and attention they receive from his family. Role models and heroes are all around us, we need only to open our eyes to the strength and joy of the human spirit.
Humour is a potent way of communicating with others. If we can get people to laugh we can get them to take action. It is important to be serious about serious things; but not be serious about small stuff and the big stuff is so serious that we have to laugh in order to cope.