Day 26 – Laughter

   

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it…But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matthew 28: 1-2, 5-8).

 The poet Anne Sexton was often left bruised in her pilgrimage through faith and life but in one of her most moving poems she imagines meeting up with God, who surprises her by producing a pack of cards and playing poker with her. She thinks she has won. Then God trumps her with a fifth ace! He cheats. He breaks the rules. But her response is not outrage. She loves it! The poem ends with her and God doubled over each other in helpless laughter at their ‘double triumphs’. Resurrection is God’s fifth ace. He has broken the rules. You just have to laugh, don’t you?

(Extract from Dust & Glory by David Runcorn)

 Prayer

Lord, teach me to trust enough to laugh.