On the quest for carbonated holiness

Author and fellow Episcopalian, Anne Lamott says that laughter is carbonated holiness. The bubbles of sound that pop out of our mouths unbidden and uncontrolled are an amazing gift of the Spirit. The capacity to step back and away from ourselves, others and this circus-of-a-world and chortle and snort and belly laugh is liberation. Because life, kit and kaboodle is so often ridiculous, misguided, and silly, that really, only God can sort it all out. The rest of us just do our best to toddle along like so many Piglets and Poohs.  

When laced with kindness, laughter creates connection and lifts people out of sorrow. It is a powerful antitoxin to despair and fear. It’s also a great lubricant when addressing a fractious situation. As George Bernard Shaw wrote, “If you want to tell someone the truth, make them laugh. Otherwise, they’ll kill you.”

Reader’s Digest reminds us that laughter is good medicine. It has been shown to heal mind and body. So, in these difficult times, how often are you tittering, guffawing, and howling while clutching your belly? Perhaps that’s too much to ask, so how about a giggle? Have you had one today? Have you given one to someone else?

Laughter is your yellow brick road to joy. It’s a bulb in the lighthouse of your faith. Anne Lamott reminds us that lighthouses don’t run around looking for boats to save, they stay in their place and shine the light. Carbonated holiness glows with hope. Let it be your guide, look for the giggles, the gotchas and help yourself out by memorizing a good joke or two. Reward yourself for making it through a hard day by listening to laughter. Here's a sample.

Lifting ourselves and others through chuckles and chortles is faith we all want in on! Did you hear the one about the priest, the rabbi and the Baptist minister…? They all love a good joke! Just like you.

​-- Pastor Rebecca