Are You laughing with me?

While driving north to Spring Grove, Minnesota to discuss wedding plans with some friends, we tried to tune in the news on a local radio station. The headlines for the day were oil shortages, gas prices, food prices rising. They were all negative. Not one piece of good news in the 20 minute drive. Wow, where do we live? It seems that we not only thrive on negative news, but that it is all we are fed. It is no wonder that people are unhappier now then at any other time in our short US history. Well, so much for the theory that abundance brings contentment.

Later that evening, we were sitting around the table getting ready to share dinner together when Tony said, “Well we just usually say a prayer from the prayer box or one of our guests says a prayer.” I said, “Great!” and handed the prayer box to my wife. She quickly pulled a card from the little plastic box and everyone bowed their heads. My wife began to read the card while everyone closed their eyes. “Select a prayer card from the box and read aloud” she read. We all broke out in laughter. Even a prayer box has instructions.

We live in a world that continues to lead us into isolation. The computer screen, the Ipod and many other varieties of opportunities cause us to tune out the world and tune in to our own little world within us. Those things are not bad in and of themselves. Actually they provide great avenues for learning and entertainment.

We were made for community, for sharing life with one another, and to laugh at our own humanness. Try as we might to further ourselves through artificial means. To bring pleasure into a world that promotes all the bad stuff out there. We can’t. Nothing brings joy to the heart like a friend. We were made for each other. We were made for community!

Thanks Tony!