it’s the monday giggles…

 

(giggles.)

Minions remind me to laugh despite the chaos & difficulties of life.

And right now there is an awful lot of chaos amuck in the world!

Laughter is a good thing. Scientists tell us that laughter, humor and joy are an important part of life. Laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and increases muscle flexion. It increases the circulation of antibodies in the blood stream and makes us more resistant to infection.

It is also a great tool to use in Spiritual Warfare.

Don’t believe me?

Well, can you hear me laughing now????

Both Martin Luther and St. Thomas More wrote on the need to smirk at Lucifer!  Luther says, “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.” For his part, St. Thomas More writes, “The devil…that proud spirit…cannot endure to be mocked. 

Reading about St. John Vianney also taught me the awesome power of diffusing such malign misbehavior(s) with the use of laughter.  One morning the devil set fire to his bed. The Saint had just left his Confessional to vest for Mass when the cry, “Fire! Fire!” was raised. He merely handed the key of his room to those who were to put out the flames: “The villainous!” (it was his nickname for the devil.) “Unable to catch the bird, he sets fire to the cage!” was the only comment he made.

*To this day the pilgrim may see, by the head of the bed, a picture with its glass splintered by the heat of the flames.

“WHEN TEMPTED TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, REMEMBER THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USUALLY USES WATER.” – UNKNOWN

This is utterly important for myself to remember as, I must confess – I find it next to impossible whenever I encounter my own villainous character –

the debater!

Don’t get me wrong.

I am extremely passionate about my beliefs/opinions & enjoy discussing them, BUT…I lack the boldness & self-confidence necessary to defend myself against the patronizing, artificial charitableness sometimes being thrown toward me dictating just how wrong I am.

You’ve probably heard of them?

The antagonist,

eristic,

polemic,

&

contrarian,

which are all good terms for someone who always has to bring up a contrary point.

But the term I prefer best is…

the devil’s advocate.

The Advocatus Diaboli (Latin for Devil’s Advocate) was formerly an official position within the Catholic Church: one who “argued against the canonization (sainthood) of a candidate in order to uncover any character flaws or misrepresentation of the evidence favoring canonization”.

Nevertheless, in common parlance, the term devil’s advocate describes someone who, given a certain point of view, takes a position he or she does not necessarily agree with (or simply an alternative position from the accepted norm), for the sake of debate or to explore the thought further. Despite being ancient, this idiomatic expression is one of the most popular present-day English idioms used to express the concept of arguing against something without actually being committed to the contrary view.

Yep, sounds about right.

And God has tested me mightily by placing several in my life…

who do not seem to want to ever stop! Never. Ever.

Now don’t get me wrong, they are generally lovely people – with family & friends who I am sure adore them dearly, but no doubt deserve a medal.  However, just like St. John Vianney, who was persistently challenged by his own villainous, I have learned (sometimes the hard way) that indeed laughter is the best combat tool I have in my arsenal of defense against a Contrarian, in an effort to earn a medal of my own too!

So, when yet again, up against a devil’s advocate – just because  I’m silent doesn’t mean there aren’t all sorts of things dancing through my head enveloped in laughter!!

“I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“Remember: never wrestle with a pig. You’ll both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”

“It’s not about me, it’s not about me, it’s not about me, (it’s really about them.)” *Their anger or self-righteousness.

“Being right isn’t nearly as important as knowing when to just. be. quiet.”

“I didn’t realize you were an expert on life! Should I be taking notes?”

“Uh-huh. (Head nod.) Uh-huh. Repeat.”

“Lord have mercy on me and bless them.”

“In all things be grateful.”

“God loves them, too!”

And even tho’ I may fail to follow these tools I’ve put in place for myself and decide to hide in the women’s bathroom instead – I know I always have the back-up of my mellow-yellow friends, who manage to remind me how important it is to laugh once again!

“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:11

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” Psalm 126:2

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.” Job 8:21

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”  Ephesians 5:4

 

hugs n’ blessings for all the villainous flouted away amidst triumphant laughter!  

And I do hopity-hope you will find joyful power with-in the giggles I share, on these Monday’s with you!