Humor

We all need humor in this world! And as diversified as humanity is, humor can be found according to our personal whims as to what "tickles our funny bone".  Humor is defined as that which is intended to induce laughter or amusement.  Laughter can bubble up from the profound to the profain, depending on the context and inclination.  Just listening to a child's laughter is good for the soul - there is nothing like hearing this innocent sound that can in turn, make you join in the good fun of simply laughing.  There is a proverb 17:22... "a merry heart doeth good as a medicine....".  

I was pleasantly surprised to learn this week that my favorite comic strip "Bloom Country and Outland" is coming back after a 25 year hiatus.  Through comic depictions, a perception of life is given out of the mind of its creator, Berkeley Breathed.  It is a satire that leaves no stone unturned as far as the 'stuff of life' is concerned. Anything is fair game in current affairs and some may call it 
'politically incorrect',  which can be a breath of fresh air during this time of increasingly extreme 'correctness'.  Situations take form as interpreted through his cartoon characters, one such being as "Opus",  a penguin who is a little weird but loveable. 

He's b-a-a-a-c-k!!

Flossing mind tartar!

 
The world hasn't changed much in 25 years - yes, technology has sky rocketed but the human condition has not in war and violence as depicted in the above comic strip.  As it was then and is now, after watching the news, how often do we need our 'dandelion break' and go to that secret place to find inner peace.

"A heart at peace gives life to the body...", Proverbs 14:30.  That sanctuary or place within where we draw from the presence of God, saturates us in His peace.  Our anxieties are quieted down and well-being is the result as we still ourselves in His Spirit. When Jesus walked this earth in human flesh, he also experienced human emotion, to name a few - sorrow, fear, hunger, thirst, compassion, and yes, even laughter.  I love the pictures of a laughing Jesus as artists have drawn or painted their imagery as to how Jesus could look in the emotion of gladness or humor.

There are times not to take each other or oneself too seriously.  We all need a good laugh now and then - our world seems to become a lighter place when humor can be used to dispel all sorts of negativity that would pull us down.  The below description of laughter is a beautiful explanation of what laughter is and does.....

Click on the link below to find out more about Bloom County.  You may or may not enjoy but give Opus a try - you might find yourself smiling....
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/13/422545636/bloom-county-2015-berkeley-breathed-revives-comic-strip

Until we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday August 3, may you experience gladness of heart in your days....