Monday, October 12, 2020
Shirley Brookhouse
Laugh
Bob and I love St. John’s, its people and its involvement in community. I look back on the shared time spent helping out in the thrift shop, being in book club, setting up for parish events, donning goofy outfits- Bob as a wine bottle and me as an elf at the Holly Hill Fair, setting up and advertising “Mass on the “Grass” - all wonderful times with laughter and Friends. I wore a Pumpkin Patch costume for Halloween to accompany the kindergarten Class Parade only to end up a mess of vines, leaves and felt pumpkins that I couldn’t get off. Laughter and good times transcend so many obstacles. Being a bit goofy at times isn’t all bad. I must admit that some of the fun had a touch or irreverence—- a closing prayer in book club prayed that a husband would pick up his sh-t, or the time that it was mentioned that someone’s husband was a boy toy, or set your a-s on the grass and attend Mass on the Grass. I remember feeling that an apology was needed for the Boy Toy comment and I got a hug and the comment, “Hey I was pretty happy about that!”
Some of the best sermons include a laugh or two! Being willing to step out and make yourself vulnerable is a gift. To laugh and look for the good in one another and to laugh at yourself and with others is acceptance of our humanity. Some of my biggest losses, some failures that were made, were managed with humor and laughter and, yes, even by irreverence! Laughter is a basic human emotion. Laughter is healthy. A gift from God!
Thank you St. John’s for meaning so much to me, to Bob, to my children and to our grandchildren.
Peace, love and laughter,
Shirley
A Catholic Priest, a rabbit and a Minister walk into a bar. The bartender asks the rabbit, “What’ll you have?” The rabbit answers, “ I don’t know, I’m only here because of autocorrect.”