December 10: Day 163

STONE ELEVEN CONTINUED
 
Laugh: I choose laughter as the notes of my song. This temporal life is a journey to be enjoyed. I look for the comedy in situations, and I learn to laugh at my own comedy of errors.
 
Instruction: Notice your spiritual growth.

The Divine wants us to be happy, and as we observe children, it is apparent that for the most part they are happy. It’s almost as if children have to learn how to be unhappy, miserable, and sad. Most parents want their children to be happy, so most parents don’t intentionally raise their children to be serious, somber, and stern about life and its meaning. Perhaps when religion, well-meaning though it may be, teaches us its rules and structures, it aids in the process of quieting the laughter and humor of life. Certainly, religions that believe in eternal damnation tend to take away the fun side of life. One might think that those who are part of the fold who believe they are safe from this eternal damnation would be filled with fun and laughter, but that is often not the situation, because they have a huge (and very serious) responsibility to save family, friends, and in short, the world from the fate they would have suffered had they not found their way. We mean no disrespect of these religious beliefs, but, somehow, in the midst of all this damnation, their story of hope, love, and joy seems to have been lost to many.

If we search for a religious belief system that meets our needs, we might want to consider the childlike factor. Does the religion we’re considering understand and encourage what it means to be childlike? Many religious organizations have come to understand the value of the fun factor, and they use this to engage their audience, so they will have a good time and want to come back to the party. If this is done in moderation, the fun factor can be a positive experience. When overdone, the show becomes more important than the message In addition to this, many of those churches teach grace and mercy but the members are unhappy and serious because they are constantly fighting not to lose their salvation. As we heal, the fun and laughter returns to our lives, and we do, indeed, become more childlike. We see the beauty in creation; we look forward to new adventures; we are open-minded, accepting, loving and forgiving. We love easily and without distinction, and laughter becomes the notes of our song.

Today’s Assignment is to check your life to see if your fun factor, childlikeness, and humor quota are in balance. As in nearly all areas of life, balance is important. Perhaps you need to laugh more in order to help develop the childlikeness and fun you might have taken for granted.