Laughter is the Best Medicine
When I was a kid visiting my grandparents’ house, Boo and Pop always had copies of Reader’s Digest everywhere: on the kitchen cabinet, on the coffee table, even behind the toilet.
Reader’s Digest was, generally speaking, more than my child’s concentration could maintain, but there was one section to which I immediately turned: “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” The jokes were funny, easy to get, and clean (or, if they weren’t, they went over my head). I also never forgot that title: “Laughter is the Best Medicine.”
Of course, today we know that’s true, emotionally, psychologically, and physiologically. The Mayo Clinic reports that laughing can help lessen depression. Further, Hara Marano reports in Psychology Today that laughter reduces pain. We now know laughter even affects the inner lining of blood vessels, causing them to relax and expand, increasing blood flow. In other words, laughter is good for both heart and brain health.
Individuals who can laugh at their own foibles are more forgiving of themselves and others. Relationally, those who laugh together form bonds of trust and communion.
God and the people of God also commend laughter. When the Jews return from their long exile in Babylon, the Psalmist reports, “Our mouth is filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:2). And the teacher of Proverbs makes this specific instance general when he says, “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
At George H.W. Bush’s funeral, retired Senator Alan Simpson said, “Humor is the universal solvent for the pervasive abrasiveness of life.” Healthy laughter is not escapism from reality, but rather a recognition that life is to be held lightly, taking joy in life as a precious yet ephemeral gift and proclaiming through our laughter that God’s love for us is deeper and truer than anything that may assault us.
So, in these days, remember to laugh. Laugh at yourself. Laugh with those you love. Laugh at a good joke, a silly T.V. show, a slapstick gag. Laugh, and be of glad heart.
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Coronavirus Update
Public health and civic officials have begun talking about how we might reopen society as we approach and then pass the peak of the coronavirus in the Houston area. Bishop Doyle is in close conversation with officials, and I participate in a weekly conference call with the Mayor’s office, officials from the Texas Medical Center, and local faith leaders. We are listening and taking our cues from medical experts.
Here is what we know: We will continue to worship from home and refrain from any in-person gatherings through at least May 16. Hopefully by early May, we will have received additional guidance. Even so, it is very likely that for some time, group gatherings will be limited to fewer than fifty people. That makes life on our campus a continuing challenge. This week I am creating a task force of Cathedral staff and lay leaders to imagine creatively how we can most quickly and safely invite our parishioners to return to the Cathedral we all love.
Stay tuned. I keep you all in daily prayer. Please continue to keep the Cathedral in your prayers as well.
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Supporting the Cathedral
Even as we worship from home, the Cathedral is engaged in ministry. Our pastoral care, outreach, worship, and program ministries of the Cathedral carry on, and supporting Cathedral ministries is as important as ever. You can make your offering in any of these ways:
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Visit the Cathedral Give page to find out the many ways you can support our church
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Make an offering or give in other ways using PayPal
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Text the word “Give” to 888-998-1634
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Cathedral Good Neighbors
The Cathedral is here for you. We have implemented the “Cathedral Good Neighbor” program, and you are likely to receive a phone call or email from a Cathedral Good Neighbor who lives near you. Please let that fellow parishioner know if you need anything at all. You can also contact our Minister for Pastoral Care Jody Gillit or any Cathedral priest. Our contact information is available on the “Staff” page of our website.
Grace and peace,
The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson, Dean
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