Proverbs 14:13 "Laughter"

Gelotogy is the study of laughter and its effects on the human body. Sounds like a fun line of work.

The saying that laughter is the best medicine is quite accurate; 
By laughing we burn 20 calories each
minute, we increase levels of cortisol which reduces stress and we can add up to 2 days to our lifespan by laughing for 15 minutes.

I know that when I'm stressed I tend to laugh or giggle a lot. This seems to be an odd thing to do, but it helps me. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one though.

In the same vain, laughter can be used to distract others from what is happening to us.

Proverbs 14:13
Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,
    but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

So many people are able to put on the 'everything is awesome' mask and not let the world see the real them behind it. Sure they may laugh; They may even make others laugh, but in the end the underlying hurts will still be there and, without letting others in, they will fester and grow.

Unfortunately, being funny is not the same as being happy. Look at comedians like Spike Milligan, David Letterman, Jim Carrey and Robin Williams, to name a few, suffer, or did suffer, from depressive disorders.

I can\'t help but wonder if the need to always be 'on' meant they couldn't let through the darker thoughts because it wouldn't fit with what the people around them expected.

What this verse speaks to me most highly about is the need to take the time to sit and really listen to someone; Not the high level discussions about weather and sport, but the deeper heart issues. The hurts, longings, frustrations and celebrations that we all carry around with us but seldom share.

As the song 'Save My Life' by Sidewalk Prophets asks:

You come here every Friday night
I take your order and try to be polite
And hide what I’ve been going through

If you looked me right in the eye
Would see the pain deep inside
Would you take the time to

Tell me what I need to hear
Tell me that I’m not forgotten
Show me there’s a God
Who can be more than all I’ve ever wanted
‘Cause right now I need a little hope
I need to know that I’m not alone
Maybe God is calling you tonight
To tell me something
That might save my life?

My personal challenge this week is to listen, really listen, to those around me and take the time to really hear what they're saying rather than planning my next response. Who knows, maybe I'll help someone who really needs it.

Maybe you could take up this challenge too. If you do, let me know how it goes.

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