Expressing Our Humanity
Laughter and tears open a path to hope
It has bubbled up in the news now and again over time, but a NY Times Opinion piece by Pope Francis brought it out in full force: The pope has a terrific sense of humor! It was published a few days before Christmas when readers were in full holiday mode, which made it very easy to miss. (The link can be found here and at the footnote below.)1
The pope shares a few very funny jokes and stories. (Have you heard the one about Pope Francis speeding down the highway behind the wheel of a stretch limo?) And he shares a lesson or two about the importance of humor, such as using self-irony to avoid narcissism (accompanied by a very funny example).
As to the importance of humor, he writes,
“Life inevitably has its sadnesses, which are part of every path of hope and every path toward conversion. But it is important to avoid wallowing in melancholy at all costs, not to let it embitter the heart.”
He views laughter as an expression of our humanity, as is crying. Embracing them as they flow freely allows us to not become “anesthetized” – they keep us moving up that path of hope.
It is not surprising that Pope Francis finds great joy in being with children. They laugh and you cannot help but laugh with them. They cry and you cannot help but come to their aid.
Hope
We sure do need hope! Fires, floods, earthquakes, wars raging on – devastation around the world. No one is laughing, but tears are readily flowing. Those tears, according to the pope, acknowledge our humanity, and in that there is hope.
Tears flow from those who have lost so much, and they flow from us as observers. It is heartening to learn how people are reaching out to help each other. City, state, and country borders no longer divide us as we consider how we can best assist in the recovery of individuals and communities.
There is no wallowing in melancholy. People have lost homes, businesses, all that they own, but they have not lost their humanity. We witness that and we find a way to help. We find a way to move forward together, and in that there is hope.
Laughter
We are days away from the presidential inauguration. Half the country is quite happy about that. The other half, not so much. Those of us in that latter half cannot wallow in melancholy either. Here, humor is a window that I open often.
The NY Times publishes a Best of Late Night column and I find it helpful to start my day laughing at the news. God bless the late night comedians!! Laughter lightens the fear. It widens perspective. Sharing a laugh feels very, very good.
Laughter is healing – physically as well as emotionally. Years ago, a mentor of mine shared Norman Cousins’ healing experience. He had met Cousins’ wife and heard the story directly from her.
Cousins had been diagnosed with a painful, debilitating condition and, since there was no known cure, he decided to laugh himself well. Friends and family were told not to visit him unless they were willing to laugh with him. Melancholy was not allowed, and there most certainly was no wallowing.
He kept a supply of funny movies and television programs and watched them constantly. He noticed he was pain free while laughing and was able to extend that pain free period until he had achieved a cure.2 Laughter is very powerful medicine.
A Reflection
Each day brings more examples of people reaching out to help others in need. This is humanity at its best. Together we have the power to move mountains. Caring for each other makes me hopeful for the future. Then again, this is a hopeful time of year for me.
January is the month in which I move forward with the greatest ease. Each day gets a bit brighter and with it my energy grows. Trees start unfurling their buds way too early but they keep trying – testing, anxious to present themselves. In February the bulbs will start breaking through to the light of day. But in January, all the growth is underground, waiting for the right moment.
I love knowing there is unseen growth that is building, preparing to burst through. In that I find hope.
This was an excerpt from Pope Francis’ upcoming book, Hope: The Autobiography. A free link to the New York Times post can be found here.
Cousins wrote a book about it, Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing, which was later made into a movie.
Wonderful expression of hope we can hold on to! I tell people that laughter can measure our healing. It's sometimes startling to laugh again after a very sad or abusive situation but I see it as a sign of healing. Like those crocuses that will pop out when the temperature is warmer. Thank you, Cathy.
Cathy, We need this beautiful encouragement right now! Thank you!