"On the Lighter Side...."

“On the Lighter Side….”

 

It was a hot and humid Saturday in late June in upstate New York for a young couple’s wedding in our un-air-conditioned building. At the rehearsal the previous evening I’d told the bridal party to be sure to eat the next morning and to relax when standing during the ceremony. In his nervousness the groom hadn’t had breakfast or lunch and stood with his knees locked as the service got under way. As a ladies’ trio began to sing after the giving of the bride the groom fell over in a faint. I motioned to the musicians to keep going while the best man loosened the groom’s collar, an usher ran for water and I grabbed smelling salts from a first aid kit in the office down the hall. As each of us did his part we had the bride and groom sitting in chairs on the platform by the time the trio finished their number. Everyone then breathed a sigh of relief.

The next part of the ceremony was Scripture reading by our Youth Pastor. The couple had requested Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 which begins, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up.” Once the uproarious laughter subsided the service went on as planned. (P.S.: After this I always carried smelling salts when I conducted a wedding.)

Throughout the years of my ministry I learned that, along with God’s calling and gifting, at least two other things were needed: a tough hide and sense of humor. Both served me well as they did Jesus during His time on earth. He was able to deflect challenges and carry out His Father’s will without wavering (“…I always do what pleases {My Father}”—John 8:29, emphasis added). And think of two of His familiar statements: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3—his trade as a carpenter is likely its source) and “…It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24). In these cases He made His point by using absurdity.

We certainly must take Jesus’ words seriously (read his story of the two builders in Matthew 7:24-27) but there’s also “…a time to laugh….” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). So both are appropriate and must be kept in balance. Solomon observed, “A cheerful heart is good medicine….” (Proverbs 17:22). So let’s enjoy the healthy benefits of the lighter side as we walk with God through life.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan