Lighten up, it's Friday! I know we all get caught up in our daily lives and may get consumed with stresses of the Material. How often we get distracted or lose sight of what we're here to accomplish in the first place? Our purpose transcends every possibility to succumb to the opposition that surrounds us. Are you feeling opposed? Are we carrying the load? Are we doing what we've been told?
"Happy are those that inherit the Kingdom of God" and another quote that comes to mind is "You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans." When the plans of others interfere with your greatest Intentions, Laugh! When we smile in the face of adversity we take the power of which that seeks to conquer us. Have you ever wondered why Laughing is contagious? It's your Spirit's reminder that nothing is too heavy to move. No worries to heavy to bear. No dissappointment too heavy to forgive. No challenge too heavy to overcome.
Yesterday, I read an enlightening blog entry about humor, I have to say it was an eloquent tribute to Japanese culture. The blog, "Mysterious Laughter", highlights Anne Thomas', experiences in Tokyo in the realms of funny moments.
She beautifully illustrates how during her presentation in Art class she was so embarassed by her stumbling attempts to communicate the message of her piece in Japanese(and the fact that her painting was far from great) she was flushed red. She couldn't possibly understand how in an awkward moment her fellow "energetic" classmate, who presented after her, was able to laugh at himself during his presentation. The whole class began to laugh with him. Anne learns that the Japanese laugh with you and not at you for they too have been embarassed and can relate to nervousness.
Interestingly enough, mystery births the greatest questions. The Japanese live a life of humility on their path to Greatness. So they often demean the dearest people to them in the interest of not putting themselves or their family above anyone else. Anne found this hilarious at first, but she soon discovered that it is a reflection of their humble culture. Although she continues to laugh, she finds a Greater understanding of this "mystery" of Japanese culture from....the Japanese proverb....
"The heavier the stalk the lower the bow." Here, the stalk is of rice. The more grains it produces the more it will feed. The more fed the Greater it {the Stalk} becomes. The Greater you are, in their culture, the more humble you must be. It's when we are reminded that we are more similar than we are different, our laughter takes on a meaning of its own.
We discover, as Anne in Tokyo has, there is so much to learn from one another. Are we open? Are we bounded by our self pity? Are we made to be victims or are we a cure for the symptom? Are we moving in Faith? Are we sowing?
If and when we do.......Are we Laughing?
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