Whose line is it anyway?

I cannot believe it happened again…two blogs in three days that I lost TWICE…each.  

What's going on here?  

Early squirrely at 2:30 this morning…and then again a moment ago – gone, baby, gone.

Originally, this post was about how important laughter is to the world weary soul.

How laughter in good company lifts us from the stuff of earth and into remembering that life is more than Day-Timers, forgotten last-minute science fair projects, and a work week that encroaches upon life away from the office…with friends or family.

How our souls need laughter as much as lunch and a walk in the woods.

How laughter – Not laughing AT someone – breaks through the brass ceiling of the ordinary day and allows light to kiss our insides.  In college, I became fond of saying, "let there be mirth!" as silliness eroded away sadness.  I did not want to lose any chance to giggle.

One of my favorite laugh-fests occurred – unfortunately – near the front right pews of the National Hills Baptist Church.  Yea, I was that one with the short pinkish hair and decidedly un-Southern persona.  The pastor was talking about the "word of truth" and how "not one iota or tut" of the bible would pass away without fulfillment.  Iota or Tut…Jabba the Hut.  I must have spoken it out loud (surprise!) to the glee of my college group friends…which ignited a revolution of mirth – right there – front, right pocket of the h-dropping Baptist church (where we heard "umble", not "humble").  

Well, it only got worse when Pastor Tony stopped to allow us to collect ourselves.  I'm laughing as I write this…and realize that the Sunday in question is the ONLY SERVICE I remember from that year or so of faithful worship.  And it was so freeing…until Chip Wood, parole officer to James Brown/college pastor/Elvis fan turned to us and gave us "the Look."  And all that did was show us we were toast and it was time to go for broke…which essentially shut the whole Sunday service down.  I will always love that day and "Wood Chip."  

Later I apologized to Tony and sheepishly promised to do better.  (I secretly think Tony could have done with remembering his own wonderful and sadly – hidden – funny bone.  He was too smart and loved us too much not to have had a great sense of humor…somewhere.)

The point is…that so often what we say – however earnestly and steeped in research and outlined and offered in love – is so easily forgotten.  What we do, how we go, did we love?, did we share our pumpkinbread…those are the things that people remember and will change lives.  Do we do life in a way that brings life to others?  

I'm working on it here.  Handing over the rights of ownership of my life and long-dead dreams to a God I cannot see in the hopes that my life will matter whether my words and imperfect comic timing ever do.  

And yesterday, I had an invitation extended to go to the Dominican Republic soon as a trip helper with one of the funniest, most authentic, and experienced go-ers at Adventures in Missions.  I'm praying about it.  I'll need to get that support account fired up as I'm still living off of the sale of the house (and that is dwindling quickly).  Thank you to the folks who already support me in prayer and in finances.  You – hopefully – help love folks when they need it most.

I've never been on a missions trip.

I'm prone to say the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong place.

I can build (with Legos), dig, hold a snuffling kiddo or work worn hand; pray, love, and pray some more. Oh, and I can do dishes.

And giggle and guffaw.  

I can do that.

And if God wants me to go, he'll raise up folks to help build my monthly support account, because the answer to "Whose Line is it Anyway" these days is always a faltering uncertain "It's God's line, his gig" as opposed to "It's My Line.  I have to keep those plates spinning!"

Think about it.  Pray about it please.  You might just send a goober to the Dominican Republic to love, laugh, and lift. 

Blog Bonus:  Carly Crookston is a World Racer who has a sparkly way about her – though I've never met her, I've read her blog a big.  The other day she posted a video that is worth a look-it is so full of joy, http://carlycrookston.theworldrace.org/?filename=you-can-dance-if-you-want-to-video.  (I want to be the little girl at the end.)