It was a Sunday like any other. People were arriving a little late and church had begun by singing a couple songs of praise to our Lord. I love this time of service. It's too bad many people miss the opening praise time. It's a great time to express our joy to the Lord with the body of Christ. That joy would soon turn to utter laughter as some kid that resembles me would take the microphone to welcome everybody. I sat in church and howled along with everybody else as my son began a roast on the pastor. Wait a minute I'm the pastor he is roasting.
He began by immitating me, holding his belly and using phrases that I would use. Then randomly he started talking about food and mentioned how eggcited he was that we had all come to church. The funniest thing was that very morning on the way to church, (I'm talking out of the blue) I said you know who makes the best bagel BLT? And began to explain why Country Style's bagel BLT is the best in the world. My wife looks at me and says that was rather random.
Kids pick up on our idiocincracies (if that's how you spell it) and the truth is we all have them. God has made each one of us with different passions and desires. Mine happens to be BLT bagels :) and those we love will pick up on those things. I was thinking later how great it was to have your son pay attention to the things that I do. I also thought, "what a scary thing" that he picks up on the things that I do. As he began and ended his roast I laughed and howled with the rest. Why? because it was funny. We all do funny things in life and have to learn to laugh at ourselves. When we can laugh with others about our stuff, the stuff becomes small and what becomes big is the joy that we share with the people we are with.
I remember when I was young taking offense to someone poking fun and many will continue to do that as they grow older. Why do we take offense so quickly? When something comes up that may speak against us or point out one of our faults we can react in a couple different ways. We can take it and laugh at ourselves, examine it and see if there is some way we could grow or we could take the other route which is to think this is a personal attack and argue your position from a perspective of self-preservation. Most people that can't laugh at themselves live in a mode of self-preservation. Many who hold this position in life don't have intention of doing so, but have usually suffered some kind of wound or hurt and have not dealt with those blows of life. I challenge you today if you are struggling with some of those blows in your life... walk through paths of forgiveness and healing because most people that can't laugh at themselves or take an offense to something that is said about them it's usually because of an offense that they are living with. When we live with an offense the naturaly reaction is offense. If we live with forgiveness, healing and joy our natural reaction will be one of forgiveness healing and joy. Go laugh at yourselves today.
Blessings, Pastor Jeff
