A merry heart is good medicine

I wrote the following article for the congregation of a church I served a while back.  
A little judicious editing makes it a message pertinent to many (including you) at this time of year.

A merry heart is good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones!

I have this cartoon on my board at home.  You may remember it: Tom Wilson’s Ziggy is sitting on his stool contemplating:
“I wish I knew the secret of happiness . . .
I’d tell everyone I know!!!”

There are several implications here:
One is that Ziggy can’t keep secrets very well – especially of this magnitude.
Another is that Ziggy does not know the secret of happiness – and no one he knows knows either.
And another is that the secret of happiness is something being sought. 
And, of course, if he tells everyone, it’s no secret any more.  Poor Ziggy.

A downcast spirit dries up the bones.

You know people like this, don’t you? 
Always whining. 
Always griping about something. 
Always ready with a “Yes, but . . .” 
Always looking for the down-side, they always find it. 
For such people, life is not pleasant.

Not knowing the secret to happiness, not only is their demeanor affected, but their physical health and appearance is affected, as well. 
We used to say such people had been sucking persimmons. 
Most often, they know not what they are missing by not knowing happiness.

But, a merry heart is good medicine!

The Royal Philosopher in the book of Proverbs, knew what he was talking about. 
The body of evidence continues to mount proving that positive attitudes like love and laughter are better predictors of good health than any other indicator!
Ben Franklin should have said:
A laugh a day, keeps the doctor away!

Of course, you know the truth of this, don’t you? 
Christ Presbyterian Church is a place where you can recover your smile, exercise your soul, and put meat on your bones. 
If you don’t smile for while during and after our Sunday worship, I feel that I have done something wrong. 
Not only does our laughter produce endorphin building up our immune system, but it also helps us be at one with the universe. 
By laughing, we communicate with the very heart of God.

Perhaps you saw the Inquirer article about area clergy working to help people have merry hearts.  The headline read: Gospel With a Giggle. “A little laughter lifts the spirit – and helps shepherd home the good word.”

A new season begins soon at a church near you. 
Remarkably, by remembering our Creator,
coming with thankful hearts,
knowing our place in the scheme of things,
hearing God’s Word read and explored,
focusing on the needs of others and the glories of the universe,
our worship is a time of refreshment,
a time of refueling,
a time of recreation,
a time of replenishment.

The secret to happiness is found here. 
Let the Ziggys of this world know. 
Let the prune-faces of this world know. 
Let all with downcast spirits know. 
Here is one place they can come to learn about the secret to happiness.

Summertime as Sabbath Time

Do you remember the song?
Summertime... and the livin’ is easy...

Sometimes I think if we didn’t have summertime, we would have to invent it!

It seems to be basic to our human nature to need a time of relative quietude –
a time of slowing down a bit more than usual –
a time of reflection –
a time of contemplation –
a time of getting back in touch with the things that really matter –
a time of prayer – 
a time of seeking joy –
a time of pausing —
a time of refreshment —
a time of re-creation.

The Bible seems to ordain that we need a time set aside for these things. 
The fourth commandment speaks to the need for religiously observing a periodic day of rest. Other passages speak of the need for sabbaticals and times of jubilee.

For many of us, Summertime has become Sabbath-time:
a time for respite, a time for rest,
a time for relaxation, a time for restoration,
a time for rejuvenation, a time for refreshment,
a time for recess, a time for recovery,
a time for renewal, a time for revival,
a time for restoration, a time for rebirth,
a time for recovery, a time for reawakening,
a time for recuperation, a time for resurrection.

Yes, summertime can be all of these things.
Time seems to slow down in the summer.
(Perhaps, it’s the heat and humidity, but I think it’s more than that.)

Nature has a way of forcing sabbaticals on us.
As if God is reminding us that all moments are precious:
the roses need to be smelled,
the breeze needs to be felt,
the rain needs to be celebrated, the fruits need to be savored,
the relationships need to be cultivated,
the children need to be befriended,
and laughter needs to resound all around.

Of course, you don’t need me to tell you what you need.

I pray that this time will be of great benefit to you:

Do something you would just not think of doing at some other time.
Take time to smell the roses.
Write a note.
Make a call.
Get in touch with the Creator of time itself.
Do something special for someone.

Remember your church —
and your brothers and sisters in the faith here.
Sabbath times are holy times.
And, summer times are holy times   —  
if  we remember to put first things first.

Putting first things first means to affirm the words of the Psalmist:
   This is the day the Lord has made... rejoice and be glad!

My prayer is that you will find holy times this summer as you take advantage of the days given to you.

Remember to take it easy.
Remember to just slow down.
Remember to keep a Sabbath.
Remember who has given you this day.
Remember who has placed you where you are.
Remember who has given you the people you are with.
Remember whose you are.
Remember who you are.

Use your time this summer to rejuvenate.
And let us, together, gather with new resolve to help God use this church to further the Kingdom of God on earth.

Pray for one another and rejoice in the moments you have.