BEING A PASTOR
NO LAUGHING MATTER
It’s not easy being a pastor these days:
People expect a lot from their pastors:
They expect you to be an expert on sin without experiencing it.
They expect you to turn water into wine, but not enjoy it
They want you to demonstrate grace and forgiveness to the members of the church, but not expect it from the church if YOU make a mistake.
We are living through a chaotic and anxious time.
Some of you may have suffered the pain of the death of someone you love.
And all of us have experienced the strain of this pandemic and wondering what comes next.
When life is so uncertain, it is difficult to know how to face the future.
As Ecclesiastes is reminding us of the full range of life’s experiences, he includes one set of opposites that I have found extremely important during our pandemic.
He suggests that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh.”
I not only have found that as valuable wisdom in my personal situation but also in a community that is struggling with all the conditions of our current society.
In addition to my share of weeping this past few years, I’ve also tried to open myself to the healing power of laughter.
I’m sure you have had the experience of being part of a crowd, even of strangers, and something happens that causes the people to erupt with laughter, and suddenly, you are no longer strangers but rather bonded together as a human community.
I would like to bring to your attention a biblical story that has helped me navigate 50 years of ministry, as well as numerous challenges and periods of despair in my life’s journey.
It’s the story of Abraham when he believed he was called to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
It’s a frightening story and causes us to recall the many stories we’ve heard of religious fanatics who committed horrible acts, thinking that they were obeying God.
Isaac means “laughter.”
The key for me is that God acted in the story to protect laughter from being sacrificed.
The lesson I gain from this story is that God acts to preserve laughter in our faith journey.
Science has discovered the value of laughter for our own physical health
Laughter can also lessen tension and heal the bonds of community.
That is particularly important in our current situation.
Healing laughter often gives us some perspective.
Judy Carter, a professional comedian, suggests that a major way to address the stress and strain of life is to learn to convert our problems into punch lines.
Take the problem of becoming old.
THAT’S RIGHT, I SAID OLD.
You may not have recognized it, but with few exceptions, most of us here have become what is loosely described as ELDERS.
Consider what it means to be an older person. You (U) can lead others (0) in reflecting on what we are experiencing.
1. U: When we were in our 20s, we dreamed about the future.
O: When we are 70 and beyond, we reminisce about the past.
2. U: When we were in our 20s, we sacrificed hours of sleep to socialize.
O: Now, we sacrifice social life for a few more hours sleep.
3. U: When we were in our 20s, we spent money to experience pleasure.
O: Now, we spend money to relieve pain.
5, U: When we were in our 20s, there was always tomorrow.
O: Now, we are grateful for each new day.
6. U: When we were in our 20s, we debated God’s existence.
O: When we are in our 70s, we hope God values our existence.
7. U: We used to hear people say to us, when you are older you will understand.
O: Now when we can’t make our computer work, we are told to go ask your grandson or grand-daughter.
It really is a different world we live in, but as people of faith, we do have a contribution to make for a better world.
As part of your participation in your faith journey, I want to give you an assignment
For your own health and the health of the community, I encourage you to join God’s effort to lift the spirits of humanity with laughter.
Here is how this works:
If Alexa is hooked up, go home and say: “Alexa, tell me a joke about old people. Copy it down.
Or go online—perhaps Google and search for jokes about growing older. Copy the best ones down.
Or if you don’t have either Alexa or internet, look through the comic section of a couple of newspapers and find a funny cartoon that makes you laugh.
Now,, take the best of your research and either visit or call up or gather with some friends and share the joke or cartoon with them.
Here is what happens.
The laughter you find helps lift your spirits.
The laughter you share not only lifts them up but bonds you together.
You are a living witness to Isaac—laughter, and in one small way you contribute to God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven—where I suspect there is plenty of laughter