Good Medicine

“Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” (Ecclesiastes 2:2).

We're only to the second chapter of Ecclesiastes, and already I want to take the Teacher by the hand and say, "Dude, lighten up!" Especially when he makes a radical statement at the beginning of this chapter: "Laughter is madness."

If that really has been his experience with laughter, I have to say to him, "You're not doing it right."

God gave us the gift of laughter, and over the years, laughter has shown to have many healing benefits. Laughter relaxes the whole body and eases muscle tension. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases infection-fighting antibodies. Laughter releases endorphins that give you an overall sense of well-being. And laughter improves the function of your blood vessels, increasing blood flow and protecting your heart. And that's just the beginning.

Madness? I don't think so!

How like God to give us something so easy, so natural that provides such healing benefits. Laughter really is good medicine, not madness.

One of my favorite pictures hangs in our piano room. It's a picture I was given many years ago, a drawing of Jesus laughing. Perhaps you've seen one like it...

Now, granted, I don't know of any scenes in the Gospels where this is particularly described, but I can't imagine Jesus going through life as many of the older "Jesus" movies picture him—somber and almost sad all of the time. Jesus came, he said, to give us life abundant (John 10:10), a life full of joy even in the midst of pain and struggle. Children loved to be around him, and they aren't likely to approach a sourpuss. Don't you imagine that, as Jesus and the disciples traveled, they shared many, many joyful moments? Much laughter? Can't you picture Jesus listening to a joke told by Bartholomew and then throwing back his head and laughing, something like what is in the picture? I can. He is the Lord of Life (Acts 3:15), and the conqueror of death. He brings life, joy, peace and fulness to our world. He brings laughter, the good medicine.

So, rather than saying more this morning, I want to leave you with something that always makes me laugh. I hope it brings "good medicine" to you, too, today.