A Laugh a Day

Laughter is a universal language that needs no interpreter. It is also a gift. Not everyone can play the piano. Not everyone can sing or
paint or sculpt images from clay. These forms of special gifts have
been doled out sparingly.

But laughter is a gift God has given to all of us. No special tools are required. Not even a practice run is necessary.

Laughter is good medicine, too. It is as cleansing to me
as a good cry and less expensive—if you consider the cost of mascara.
Remember the words of Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good
medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (NKJV).

Solomon knew it 4,000 years ago. A man named Robert
Burton realized it 400 years ago. In a book titled Anatomy of
Melancholy, he notes, “Humor purges the blood, making the body young,
lively and fit for any manner of employment.”

Laughter as Therapy

Recently, scientific studies have confirmed laughter is
good for your health. At the Primary Health Care Center in Motala,
Sweden, Dr. Lars Ljungdahl (with a name like that, you need a good
sense of humor) conducts laugh therapy. After years of research he has
determined that laughter suppresses the hormones that cause stress.

Laughter also reduces pain. And a good laugh increases
the blood flow to the brain and the oxygen level in the arteries and
veins by releasing valuable endorphins into the body. These endorphins
act as a “brain-made” drug that sets off biological processes that make
people feel good—immediately.

Dr. Ljungdahl believes his research is universally
applicable. He says, “The people of Motala, Sweden, have a reputation
of complaining, so if laugh therapy will work with them, it will work
anywhere.” His goal is helping people give a higher priority to humor
in everyday life.

I read about Dr. Ljungdahl in Steve Simms’ book
Mindrobics: How to Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life. Simms explains
that for 13 weeks Ljungdahl meets with his patients as they review
books, comedy records and humorous videos.

But then for homework, he asks patients to keep a journal
of funny happenings they observe. They are to rank them on a 1-to-5
scale from barely funny to hilarious.

The results? In the course of the therapy, all the
patients experienced a reduction in their levels of pain. Their immune
systems improved, as well as the overall quality of their lives.

Dr. Ljungdahl says, “The humor perspective is a way of
getting distance from your problems. Since every person has a sense of
humor and every child laughs, it’s not so much learning something new
as it is regaining what you once had.”

Jesus Laughed

Does that sound familiar to you? Can you hear Jesus
saying that we must “receive the kingdom of God like a little child”
(Luke 18:17)?

Speaking of Jesus—stop and think about the possibility of
His laughing. Just try to imagine what it might have sounded like. Do
you think he was a snorter or a guffawer?

In her book Managing Your Life and Time, Jo Berry says,
“I used to puzzle over why the Holy Spirit didn’t direct the authors of
the gospels to write, ‘Jesus laughed,’ as well as ‘Jesus wept.’ I’ve
decided the reason is because it’s so obvious that the Lord would
laugh. It goes without was human, as well as divine, so
of course He laughed. He enjoyed life, relished close friendships, and
took great pleasure in being with children.”

Berry reminds us that the classic Westminster Confession
of Faith declares it is our Christian duty to enjoy God. And Martin
Luther once said, “It is pleasing to God whenever you rejoice or laugh
from the bottom of your heart.”

Is this sinking in yet? Do you get my point? God created you to laugh.

Since I am a comedian, it should come as no surprise that
I would write about laughter. But all comedy aside, laughter should be
a big part of your life—because laughter is an incredible medicine
created in us by God. No matter how much your heart may be hurting in
this season of life or how tense and anxious you may be on this
particular day, I want you to just try to find a little piece of life
that gives you the hope of a chuckle.

I am well aware of the paradox inherent in considering
laughter as medicine: On the one hand, healing takes time; it is a
process that cannot be forced or rushed. On the other, I’ve repeatedly
seen that laughter does its healing work as we allow it to—in no time
at all.

Taking Your Medicine

Laughter not only releases endorphins that help you feel
better, but also is sometimes the key that will open the door of your
heart. I suggest you engage in a bit of your own laughter therapy. Here
are some ideas for how to get started:

1. Spend time with several people whose humor you appreciate, people who have made you laugh in the past.
It’s not clear why, but laughter is contagious. One study shows that
gathered groups laugh 30 times as often as people who are alone. And
people laugh more at television shows with laugh tracks than at the
same shows without the canned laughter.

2. Go to the ballpark and watch 6-year-olds play T-ball.
Their shirts and pants barely fit. All the hats are too big for their
tiny heads. And when someone hits a ball, everyone chases after it,
pounces on it, wrestles for it and when someone finally pulls free, he
or she will hold it high like a trophy and then fling it as hard as he
can in whatever direction he happens to have come up for air. And if
the ball should land in the grass again, the whole gang gets up and
stampedes for a second time (and even a third if necessary).

But the kids seem to love to play the game that way. On
the way home after many games, my son, Zach, would be drinking his free
drink and licking the powders from a grape Pixie Stix while asking,
“Hey! Did we win?”

3. Rent The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, starring Don Knotts.
My pregnant friend Alison laughed so hard at this movie she went into
labor. (Have you ever seen anyone laugh and scream at the same time?)
We had to pause the VCR and head to the hospital. (And I’m certain it
was not very polite of us to be laughing about this movie while she was
in so much pain.)

4. Watch Andy Griffith reruns. Especially look for the episodes with Floyd.

5. Do something out of the ordinary. Lose your inhibitions and skip down the sidewalk or swing from the old tire swing one more time.

6. Tell someone you trust about one hilarious memory of yours.
Surely you have one, somewhere in there. I understand if you’re
overwhelmed with grief, this may be hard. You may cry before you get to
the laughter.

But just try it. Let the emotions roll down like a river.
I recently read an article about Bill Cosby and a funny moment that
happened at his son’s funeral. Cosby’s daughter had laid a fishing pole
in the casket with her brother, Ennis. Cosby said, “Now he’s going to
heaven, and up there they have the finest fishing poles ever. Don’t
embarrass him by making him drag that old thing up there.”

Do you get the picture? Are you seeking out a laugh or two? Work at it!

If you do, eventually the medicine will work its wonder.
The endorphins will flow, your heart will open and comfort (in the form
of the Spirit) will enter.

Sometimes when I’m sitting on a plane, I think of
something that made me laugh once before and I laugh again. I do the
same thing when I’m walking through a grocery store or filling the
dishwasher.

You see, I collect laughs like others collect marbles or
butterflies. I mean that in two ways: I collect the sounds of laughter;
but I also collect the memories that make for repeated laughter.

It works like this. On a particularly happy day author
Henri Nouwen wrote in his journal, which later became known as The
Genesee Diary: “I hope that the day will come when the memory of my
present joy will give me the strength to keep giving even when
loneliness gnaws at my heart.”

He wanted “the memory of [his] present joy” to help him
get through some future bleak days. He knew the storm clouds would
return. They always do.

Maybe you can start your own collection of laughs. This
very day you can do something that will add to your permanent
collection of pleasant, laugh-worthy memories. Remember, there is no
child-proof cap on this bottle. And there are unlimited refills.

So when was the last time you had a good laugh? When was
the last time you got those old endorphins flowing? It’s time to take
your medicine.

Chonda Pierce is a comedian, inspirational speaker and
author. She has appeared frequently at Women of Faith and Aspiring
Women Conferences.