Friday, August 1
- Scripture: Psalm 126:2 – “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.'”
- Reflection: The opening of August invites us to rediscover the joy and laughter in our lives. This verse captures a moment of pure delight, encouraging us to embrace the beauty of cheerfulness and song as an expression of thankfulness for the blessings in our lives.
Finding delight can be an act of worship, honoring the gifts we’ve received. It can be spontaneou or it can be prompted. Today, let’s focus on the simple pleasures that fill our days with such lightheartedness and remember them as signs of divine love.
Laughter is also a form of mindfulness and self-care, and can be included in exercise routines. It changes mind-body chemistry and induces greater facets of resilience, healing, and overall wellbeing.
Laughter can also become a spiritual practice, as well as a form of worship. What are some tips for cultivating this capacity? Laughter yoga helps people, even if they’re not ‘feeling’ humor at that particular moment. Practitioner Rachele Kanigel writes (full article: https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/laughter-cure/, “How do you laugh when nothing’s funny? Just open your mouth into a wide smile and force the breath out. You may feel silly at first, but when you’re in a group of people committed to laughing, the make-believe version often transforms into the real thing. A typical … session involves some warm-up clapping and chanting (“Ho, ho, ha, ha, ha”), a few deep breaths with prolonged exhalation, 15 to 20 minutes of laughter exercises interspersed with deep breathing … Here are six ways to get started:- Greeting laughter: Walk around to different people … greeting or shake hands and laugh, making sure to look into other people’s eyes.
- Lion laughter: Thrust out the tongue, widen the eyes, and stretch the hands out like claws while laughing.
- Humming laughter: Laugh with the mouth closed and hum.
- Silent laughter: Open your mouth wide and laugh without making a sound. Look into other people’s eyes and make funny gestures.
- Gradient laughter: Start by smiling and then slowly begin to laugh with a gentle chuckle. Increase the intensity of the laugh until you’ve achieved a hearty laugh. Then gradually bring the laugh down to a smile again.
- Heart-to-heart laughter: Move close to a person and hold each other’s hands and laugh…
- Spiritual Practice Prompt: Laugh on purpose. Try one of the techniques above, perhaps with a friend or family member, but alone if necessary, How does it feel and how does it change your state of being?
Song:
- Laughter in the Rain by Neil Sedaka: https://youtu.be/MtIibcNDQ6o?si=06sk_9kAZxp20rWu
“Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.” — Karl Barth
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ― E.E. Cummings
August 1 Daily Devotional