A recent posting on the Our Prayer website stated: “In the moment of sincere laughter, our heart is open as we experience true joy and gratitude for life.”
That’s the spiritual side, but there is also physical healing in humor. We know that laughter can improve heart rate, ease muscle tension and strengthen the immune system.
What a blessing laughter is. So why not pray for it?
A Prayer for Laughter
Dear Lord,
The day can be challenging.
Often our problems overwhelm our joys.
Today help me to see the moments that lighten my heart.
Help me to laugh more and fret less.
May the radiance and joy of your love shine in me.
Amen.
- OurPrayer.org
Showing posts with label laughter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laughter. Show all posts
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Joy From Spirit
One of this morning’s readings was about laughter and it got me thinking...
Last night was weekly rehearsal time for the Mystic Choir. I experience such joy there. I feel joy not only in singing, but in our opening and closing prayer time, chatting with others before and after the rehearsal, the ‘hello’ hugs and the ‘good night’ ones, and in connecting to Spirit throughout this special time in a special sanctuary.
Laughter is another time of joy for me. I don’t get it on a prescribed, regular interval of the week, but when it comes my way, I grasp it. For laughter, like singing for me, is also a time to connect with others and God. It is a time of being so in the Now that I forget myself and just let me be.
There are times when laughter brings me to tears, tears of joy. And too, when the lyrics and/or the music of a song bring me to tears, my heart has been touched; I feel closer to God and joy.
Dear Spirit -
Thank You for the myriad of ways You open my heart to connect with myself, with others, and with You. Thank You for the joy You grace me with. Help me to be awake to the moments that lighten and open my heart and may the radiance and joy of Your love shine in me.
Last night was weekly rehearsal time for the Mystic Choir. I experience such joy there. I feel joy not only in singing, but in our opening and closing prayer time, chatting with others before and after the rehearsal, the ‘hello’ hugs and the ‘good night’ ones, and in connecting to Spirit throughout this special time in a special sanctuary.
Laughter is another time of joy for me. I don’t get it on a prescribed, regular interval of the week, but when it comes my way, I grasp it. For laughter, like singing for me, is also a time to connect with others and God. It is a time of being so in the Now that I forget myself and just let me be.
There are times when laughter brings me to tears, tears of joy. And too, when the lyrics and/or the music of a song bring me to tears, my heart has been touched; I feel closer to God and joy.
Dear Spirit -
Thank You for the myriad of ways You open my heart to connect with myself, with others, and with You. Thank You for the joy You grace me with. Help me to be awake to the moments that lighten and open my heart and may the radiance and joy of Your love shine in me.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Laughter
Daily Thoughts, From Daily Guideposts, February 24, 2010
A Time to Think
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. - E. E. Cummings
To Act
Find an opportunity for laughter whenever you can.
To Pray
Lord, when I'm weary and need refreshment, renew me with friendship and laughter.
Laughter is healing, laughter is upliftment, and laughter is surely fun. And, I clearly do not have enough of it in my life.
Last night I got the unexpected news that a dear friend of ours (and Bill W.’s) from Tucson, will be coming up to Sedona to visit today. I’m excited. For although a major part of his multi-day trip is to be in the Silence to contemplate and meditate about a recent disturbing event in his life, I know that we will laugh. For laughter and joy, along with spiritual and business conversation, has always been a part of our coming together. I suspect that shall be the case this time as well.
And, this time laughter will help bring healing, love, and faith to our friend who is in need of an extra dose of feeling God’s Presence. It will do the same for me as well.
A Time to Think
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. - E. E. Cummings
To Act
Find an opportunity for laughter whenever you can.
To Pray
Lord, when I'm weary and need refreshment, renew me with friendship and laughter.
Laughter is healing, laughter is upliftment, and laughter is surely fun. And, I clearly do not have enough of it in my life.
Last night I got the unexpected news that a dear friend of ours (and Bill W.’s) from Tucson, will be coming up to Sedona to visit today. I’m excited. For although a major part of his multi-day trip is to be in the Silence to contemplate and meditate about a recent disturbing event in his life, I know that we will laugh. For laughter and joy, along with spiritual and business conversation, has always been a part of our coming together. I suspect that shall be the case this time as well.
And, this time laughter will help bring healing, love, and faith to our friend who is in need of an extra dose of feeling God’s Presence. It will do the same for me as well.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Direction
My dear friend Karen and I had rented a car in Manhattan and driven to Vermont for a long, fun weekend of downhill skiing.
On this particular evening, we had made the last run on the slopes, enjoyed après-ski, and were now heading back to our hotel, when it started snowing again. Soon a light dusting turned into a whiteout. It might have been evening, but it was bright out due to the white snow. Still, that didn’t make it any easier to drive with snow swirling around us.
I was the driver, yet could not make out where the road was beyond a foot or so ahead of us. Karen worked hard to assist me as best she could, with the hope that from the passenger’s side of the car she might be able to see some lane and road markings to guide me.
As we crawled along with no other vehicles in sight, frustrated, concerned, and whatever else, I blurted out to Karen, “Pick a direction!” We launched into hysterical laughter. Out of lemons, we had just made lemonade – perhaps even a snow cone!
On the spot, that phrase became famous for us, making history that is not apt to be forgotten. When one of us simply utters it to the other, we start laughing and we are brought back to that difficult, dangerous, and somewhat fearful experience. But more importantly, it reminds us of one of the many fun and joyful adventures we’ve shared, and the strength and quality of our love and long-time friendship.
These days, 20+ years later, the phrase has been picked up by some of our family members. In these times of extreme change, releasing old ways of thinking, letting go of material possessions, etc., Rog and I have evolved much. Yet we sometimes find ourselves clueless.
The other day Rog assessed what he truly knew about our current life, our life to be, friends’ situations, what was so locally, nationally, and globally – the list could go on. He concluded he knew nothing about anything, and was frustrated because he could not tap into Guidance or get direction. What a wonderful place to be, so open, so teachable. Then he exclaimed, “Pick a direction!” I immediately thought of Karen and reminded Rog of the origin of that phrase.
Karen mentioned our "pick a direction" story to husband Charlie again recently as well. They had been talking about driving in a storm. She suggested to me that “it looks like "pick a direction" has become our (yours and mine) mantra in a way for life.” Hmm. That is food for thought.
When we are stumped and don’t know which way to go, we still have it in our power to make a choice. We can decide the direction and start heading that way, remaining open to Spirit’s guidance, which we’d been seeking in the first place. Maybe sometimes we just need to take the first step –perhaps even the first plunge off the cliff – for God to then make Its Will known and open the flowing channels.
Rog and I have done just that, and more has been revealed to us in the past day or so than in recent weeks. We still don’t have total knowledge, but God’s abundance has increased, flowing to us with ease and grace. We’re taking that as validation that we picked the right direction.
On this particular evening, we had made the last run on the slopes, enjoyed après-ski, and were now heading back to our hotel, when it started snowing again. Soon a light dusting turned into a whiteout. It might have been evening, but it was bright out due to the white snow. Still, that didn’t make it any easier to drive with snow swirling around us.
I was the driver, yet could not make out where the road was beyond a foot or so ahead of us. Karen worked hard to assist me as best she could, with the hope that from the passenger’s side of the car she might be able to see some lane and road markings to guide me.
As we crawled along with no other vehicles in sight, frustrated, concerned, and whatever else, I blurted out to Karen, “Pick a direction!” We launched into hysterical laughter. Out of lemons, we had just made lemonade – perhaps even a snow cone!
On the spot, that phrase became famous for us, making history that is not apt to be forgotten. When one of us simply utters it to the other, we start laughing and we are brought back to that difficult, dangerous, and somewhat fearful experience. But more importantly, it reminds us of one of the many fun and joyful adventures we’ve shared, and the strength and quality of our love and long-time friendship.
These days, 20+ years later, the phrase has been picked up by some of our family members. In these times of extreme change, releasing old ways of thinking, letting go of material possessions, etc., Rog and I have evolved much. Yet we sometimes find ourselves clueless.
The other day Rog assessed what he truly knew about our current life, our life to be, friends’ situations, what was so locally, nationally, and globally – the list could go on. He concluded he knew nothing about anything, and was frustrated because he could not tap into Guidance or get direction. What a wonderful place to be, so open, so teachable. Then he exclaimed, “Pick a direction!” I immediately thought of Karen and reminded Rog of the origin of that phrase.
Karen mentioned our "pick a direction" story to husband Charlie again recently as well. They had been talking about driving in a storm. She suggested to me that “it looks like "pick a direction" has become our (yours and mine) mantra in a way for life.” Hmm. That is food for thought.
When we are stumped and don’t know which way to go, we still have it in our power to make a choice. We can decide the direction and start heading that way, remaining open to Spirit’s guidance, which we’d been seeking in the first place. Maybe sometimes we just need to take the first step –perhaps even the first plunge off the cliff – for God to then make Its Will known and open the flowing channels.
Rog and I have done just that, and more has been revealed to us in the past day or so than in recent weeks. We still don’t have total knowledge, but God’s abundance has increased, flowing to us with ease and grace. We’re taking that as validation that we picked the right direction.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Experiments
Rog’s ‘dowry’ included a bread machine. He kept it idle for a while, then started using it again last fall. I finally got up the courage to learn how to use it a few months ago so I could make breads of the whole grain variety, my preference (I can be pretty picky about some foods).
I usually don’t follow a recipe after the first time. Okay, even then I tend to experiment. Nevertheless, using fine quality ingredients, the bread usually rises well, looks good, and tastes great. However, there are times when the chemistry of the combined ingredients causes my concoction to form something that looks like....well, that doesn’t quite look like a loaf of bread! However, despite its looks, it usually does taste great, which is the most important thing.
Like the bread I concocted yesterday... It never did form into a ball or rise properly. This got me thinking about me and my life.
I’ve not led the life of the average women of my generation, and I’ve not been afraid to experiment and try new ways. Also, I may not always look great and I may not respond wisely in every single situation. But the ingredients inside me are of fine quality: my caring nature, perseverance, joy, laughter, intelligence, honesty, integrity, walking the walk, etc. My ingredients are of fine quality – they are of Spirit. When all is said and done, my light shines. Just like my bread experiments – they delight one’s taste buds.
As for yesterday’s bread... Well, it didn’t rise more than ½ of what it should have, but it turned out super delicious!
I usually don’t follow a recipe after the first time. Okay, even then I tend to experiment. Nevertheless, using fine quality ingredients, the bread usually rises well, looks good, and tastes great. However, there are times when the chemistry of the combined ingredients causes my concoction to form something that looks like....well, that doesn’t quite look like a loaf of bread! However, despite its looks, it usually does taste great, which is the most important thing.
Like the bread I concocted yesterday... It never did form into a ball or rise properly. This got me thinking about me and my life.
I’ve not led the life of the average women of my generation, and I’ve not been afraid to experiment and try new ways. Also, I may not always look great and I may not respond wisely in every single situation. But the ingredients inside me are of fine quality: my caring nature, perseverance, joy, laughter, intelligence, honesty, integrity, walking the walk, etc. My ingredients are of fine quality – they are of Spirit. When all is said and done, my light shines. Just like my bread experiments – they delight one’s taste buds.
As for yesterday’s bread... Well, it didn’t rise more than ½ of what it should have, but it turned out super delicious!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Friendship Anniversary
Today is the 25th anniversary of my friendship with Karen. It was 25 years ago on the very first day of a new job at American Express in New York, that I heard Karen’s laughter ripple across the 18th floor. I’m blessed to have had that joyful laughter in my life all these years since.
We of course have been through a lot and shared a lot. However, one of my most poignant remembrances is how Karen stood by me through my days as a devout, militant atheist. If we somehow dared to get into a discussion on God and religion, I was quite outspoken about my beliefs – it was not a pretty sight. But Karen stood by me. She loved me. She mentioned that she thought “the lady hath protest too much.” She accepted me and respected me.
About 6 years into our friendship I joined OA, and, through the 12 Step program, my entire outlook on God, people, and life was transformed. It’s been quite a journey. And, Karen’s been there all along the way.
I’m blessed and most grateful to have such a person in my life. Thank You, God – and Happy Anniversary to us, Karen!
We of course have been through a lot and shared a lot. However, one of my most poignant remembrances is how Karen stood by me through my days as a devout, militant atheist. If we somehow dared to get into a discussion on God and religion, I was quite outspoken about my beliefs – it was not a pretty sight. But Karen stood by me. She loved me. She mentioned that she thought “the lady hath protest too much.” She accepted me and respected me.
About 6 years into our friendship I joined OA, and, through the 12 Step program, my entire outlook on God, people, and life was transformed. It’s been quite a journey. And, Karen’s been there all along the way.
I’m blessed and most grateful to have such a person in my life. Thank You, God – and Happy Anniversary to us, Karen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
