Graceful Summer: Hammock Time
>> Friday, July 6, 2012 –
graceful summer,
slow,
small moments
I’ve got one leg hanging off the hammock, toes touching the
grass so I can swing us ever so slightly. Too much, and I feel queasy – I was
never one for the amusement park rides. Too little, and the boys complain. They
like movement at all times.
The three of us are piled onto the dingy, frayed ropes.
Rowan sits up high, perched on the top of the metal stand. “You look like a
figurehead,” I tell him. “What’s a figurehead?” he asks. And when I tell him it’s the statue that juts off the very front of a ship, he grimaces. “Aren’t those statues usually girls?”
The three of us are discussing what to do. It’s mid-morning, and the day is unfurling slowly, like a crinkly elementary school map being pulled across the chalkboard, revealing a whole world of possibility.
I don’t remember what he says, but it must have been funny, because I say to Rowan, “God is laughing at that for sure.”
“What? What do you mean God is laughing?” asks Noah,
twisting on the ropes to look me in the eye. “I don’t ever picture God laughing.”
“Me either,” agrees Rowan. “God’s all serious. Plus he
doesn’t really have time for stuff that makes you laugh.”
I think about this for a moment. I have to admit, I feel the same way. I don’t imagine God laughing either. And I certainly didn’t as a kid. My childhood perception was of a stern God, heavy on authority, light on love. Laughter, any lightheartedness for that matter, was out of the question.
“What about Jesus, though? I can definitely imagine Jesus laughing, can you?” I ask the boys.
They both nod in agreement. “Yeah,” says Rowan, kicking his right leg hard and flinging one sandal across the lawn. “Yeah, Jesus definitely laughs. Not super loud and crazy. But he laughs.”
What do you think? Do God and Jesus laugh?
I think about this for a moment. I have to admit, I feel the same way. I don’t imagine God laughing either. And I certainly didn’t as a kid. My childhood perception was of a stern God, heavy on authority, light on love. Laughter, any lightheartedness for that matter, was out of the question.
“What about Jesus, though? I can definitely imagine Jesus laughing, can you?” I ask the boys.
They both nod in agreement. “Yeah,” says Rowan, kicking his right leg hard and flinging one sandal across the lawn. “Yeah, Jesus definitely laughs. Not super loud and crazy. But he laughs.”
What do you think? Do God and Jesus laugh?
With the lovelies, Laura and L.L.
Welcome to Graceful Summer, a link-up community here on Fridays through the end of August. We're sharing stories about the smaller, quieter moments of summer - will you share yours, too?
1. Write a post about a quiet summer moment and link it up here on Fridays.
2. Visit someone else and leave a little comment love - you might get a new creatively quiet idea!
3. Please include the Graceful Summer button or a link in your post, so people can find us if they want to join in.
Posts
I think God laughs much more than we realize. I hope He delights when He sees me coming; smiles when He sees me hugging my grandkids and giggles with me when I dive into His word or any good book that brings me closer to Him. Love the hammock images and your new head shots, Michelle
Oh, yes! I definitely picture God laughing!
He created penguins, giraffes, and kangaroos...how could He not laugh? Plus He loves kids, and that pretty much makes a sense of humor mandatory.
C.S. Lewis wrote a lot about Joy being the serious business of Heaven. Knowing that I am created in His image, and knowing how vital laughter is to my emotional health and well-being, I really cannot imagine God without a sense of humor.
Back in the 70's, Johnny Cash produced a movie called Gospel Road that depicted Jesus laughing and joking with the disciples, as the traveled. I always liked that movie, because Jesus seemed more real in it than in most movies about His life.
More recently, the movie "Matthew" shows Jesus as having a sense of humor as He preaches. Again, He seems much more real, with laughter.
How could someone have the charisma that Jesus carried...how could everyone want to be close to Him, if He had no sense of humor?
God laughs.
He created it.
:-)
Oh, I love this Michelle. Those random moments with our kids that turn into teaching moments. And I could see every word your wrote so beautifully. I don't do amusement rides either and we love swinging in the hammock at our cottage.
Joe, I love your answer - especially the part about penguins, giraffes and kangaroos! Good point! Thanks so much for this...truly. When the conversation comes up again with my kids (and it will), I'll have this to help me answer.
Lovely, Jean - thank you, friend.
Good answer, H!!! Why didn't I think of that? Darn kids...they always put me on the spot!
Thanks, Shelly - the conversations are good. They help me grow in my faith -- as do the answers I find in the comment box here. Happy Friday, Lovely!
I need a hammock!
Yes, I think God laughs. Most of us view having a sense of humor as a good thing, and since God is perfect, I would think He'd have the best sense of humor of all! (I really like Joe's answer, too)
I just love that you and the boys are hanging out in the hammock trying to plan a day that's "unfurling slowly, like a crinkly elementary school map being pulled across the chalkboard, revealing a whole world of possibility." It makes me smile so big.
I've been looking at hammocks. My brother got me one years ago when we lived in Georgia, and it totally fell apart. Loved that thing.
Your hammock pictures are divine. And yes, I think Jesus laughs. God, too.
I definitely think God has a sense of humor! Looking at some of His creations, and how He brings circumstances and people together to accomplish His will, I can picture Him laughing! And He made us in His image, so where else would we get our sense of humor from?
God bless,
Laurie
Wonder of Wonderful Moments. I love the description of Jesus laughing. Perfect. And a sweet memory. Thank you.
Just in case you need a biblical reference look up Zephaniah 3:17, one of my favorite verses.
Oh, yeah. I see it.
It was brought home during a recent production of "Godspell." The way the cast did it (under advice of the EV Free pastor) was to make many of the parables funny.
I can definitely see some of the parables being funny - like the one about the rich man...and the one about the disgruntled vineyard workers (which I can relate to a little too well!).
Yes, yes, that's a good one - thank you for the much-needed reminder. I just read Zephaniah a few weeks ago - I should have remembered that!
Thanks for stopping by, Leslie. Happy weekend to you!
Really good point about being made in His image - including the laughter part!
Thanks Courtney. Unfortunately the hammock ropes just sort of disintegrated recently, so we had to toss it - much sadness! (although truth be told, I never sat in it).
I like your answer a lot, too, Jennifer!
YOU NEVER SAT IN IT?? Well, I guess that's what they call poetic license then... Take a look at the pictures in this post. you will believe that God most definitely has a sense of humor. Show them to your boys. How could God not enjoy the fun and humor in life, in creation, in scripture (yes, there's actually a fair amount of it - in and around all the serious stuff! Balaam's ass is a good place to start, but there are dozens of weirdly funny stories in there.) http://drgtjustwondering.blogspot.com/2012/01/god-has-got-to-have-sense-of-humor.html
I don't know about a boisterous kind of laugh, but I definitely believe God has a fantastic sense of humor! And yes, I believe Jesus too has a warm laugh and I can't wait to hear it! Lovely to meet you - I enjoyed your post very much!
Love hammock time! Swinging and chatting, deep discussions. Makes me want to head out to my hammock!
We are neighbors at PD... for a long time I did not see one reason that Jesus came was so we could see the Father...He and the Father are one...one is the reflection of the other...I used to think of God and Jesus a bit like good cop/bad cop...but now i see they both come from the same heart...the same love...so if Jesus has laughter...for me...God does too.
I love this sweet interaction you had with your boys...precious
Oh, what beautiful moments you are living and priceless memories you are making and how gracefully you tell the story. I love those ponderings.
Well, not NEVER EVER, but rarely...
You make a good point, too, about that Balaam story -- I remember laughing when the darn donkey could see God and Balaam himself couldn't. Sounds familiar!
Thanks for stopping by Graceful, Carrie!