Recently I’ve been doing a little reflecting on laughter (as I read Fr. James Martin’s book Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor, and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life); for me laughter can be such a sign of God’s presence…that life is not so serious as we might sometimes make it out to be. Laughter of course can also be rather disturbing per say when my students snicker as my back is turned to them and I am writing on the board about DNA replication…which is no laughing matter in case it’s been awhile since you’ve been in a biology class.
The laughter that really brings me joy is well…uh…joyful. I think of Brayan on the swing when I pushed him so hard that he could do nothing but explode with laughter, and again more recently when I picked him up about 77 times with him giggling out “otra vez…again, again” between every toss. When this kid feels loved, nothing can stop his laughter. Couldn’t I learn from him?
I think that Kate’s 3rd grade class might be the funniest place on the Farm with 6 of the kids being boys from the Finca itself. Kate (bless her heart) is already on the fast track to sainthood for this. Once when talking about the dangers of tsunamis, one of the boys, Rony, declared that he knew just how to deal with such a disaster. You see, he explained, tsunamis have a fear of crucifixes, so all you have to do when you see the tsunami coming is hold up your crucifix and the waves will turn right back around. Kate always quick on her toes responded, “Uh…maybe, but you might want to move to higher ground too.”
The laughter that really brings me joy is well…uh…joyful. I think of Brayan on the swing when I pushed him so hard that he could do nothing but explode with laughter, and again more recently when I picked him up about 77 times with him giggling out “otra vez…again, again” between every toss. When this kid feels loved, nothing can stop his laughter. Couldn’t I learn from him?
I think that Kate’s 3rd grade class might be the funniest place on the Farm with 6 of the kids being boys from the Finca itself. Kate (bless her heart) is already on the fast track to sainthood for this. Once when talking about the dangers of tsunamis, one of the boys, Rony, declared that he knew just how to deal with such a disaster. You see, he explained, tsunamis have a fear of crucifixes, so all you have to do when you see the tsunami coming is hold up your crucifix and the waves will turn right back around. Kate always quick on her toes responded, “Uh…maybe, but you might want to move to higher ground too.”
Another humorous happening in Kate’s class was a discussion of planetary orbits. Kate explained how the planets are pulled by the force of gravity around the sun. Many of the students still had their doubts. Why don’t the planets just fall from their places into the darkness of space? Despite this being a complicated subject for third graders, Angel provided a confident explanation saying, “Each planet is held in place by one of God’s fingers…” he paused noting the mathematical dilemma, “…and two for Pluto!”
One of the things that Fr. Martin points out in his book is that humor has the tendency not only to make us laugh but to reveal some truth. The truth here is this: be children of God. Be like little children “for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” says Jesus (Matthew 19:14)—or “Jefuf” as Luz might say, and again he reminds us “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4). Yes, maybe Angel and Rony didn’t give the most scientifically correct answer, but certainly God sustains the planets in their places and helps us through difficulties and disasters. These things are true. Angel also reveals to us that Pluto that tiniest, rejected quasi-planet is the one that God supports with the love of two fingers just as He has a special love for the poor and despised. As we stand before God humble and limited, our kids remind us that we shouldn’t try to explain away all the mystery that God’s creation has to offer because sometimes it’s just that--mystery. From this childlike point of view, we begin to see our need for God in all that we do. Our children reveal to us that our planet really is balanced on one of God’s fingers. While we chuckle, they teach us to trust in God.
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