A daily spiritual thought | Monday April 13, 2020
Four weeks of social distancing – and no end in sight! I wake up in the morning and what do I see? Rain! Clouds! This is not why I came to California: isolation and rain. It is frustrating – depressing!
Then I switch on my device: WhatsApp! My friend in Germany has sent me a message. I open it – it is a little clip: An old man ploughs his field – he is very old – he has to go slowly. Behind the old man appears his wife – slowly she lowers a roll of toilet paper into the furrow – then another one …I laugh …
Times of Crisis give birth to creative humor:
“Prediction: There will be a minor baby boom in 9 months, and then one day in 2033, we shall witness the rise of the QuaranTeens.” Or “I washed my hands so much due to CODVID-19, that my exam notes from 1995 resurfaced.” (see: https://www.boredpanda.com/quarantine-coronavirus-jokes)
Sometimes humor is involuntary; just outside a church building one could read on a huge billboard: “Prophecy Class Cancelled Due to Unforeseen Circumstances.” (obviously already a running gag well before our present crisis)
In times of crisis laughter is difficult to find –
In times of crisis laughter is difficult to bear –
In times of crisis laughter is not always the right answer.
Yet, I encourage you –
When you happen to stumble over laughter – linger a while!
Stay for a while in this space filled with laughter!
Laughter stimulates your lungs, your muscles, as well as your heart;
Laughter can activate and relieve your stress response;
Laughter can stimulate your blood circulation and aid muscle relaxation;
Laughter can improve your immune system and relieve pain;
Laughter can make it easier to cope with difficult situations;
Laughter can help you connect with other people.
(for more see: mayoclinic.org)
God loves a good laugh!
Friend,
I pray that you experience God’s grace and love today!
—Friedbert Ninow
