Weekly Spiritual Reflections  

This morning I was talking with a friend of mine and the topic of laughter came up in the conversation. She said that she doesn’t laugh enough during the day and she wishes she could laugh more often. We both agreed that good-hearted laughter is a great spiritual boost for the soul. In the midst of this upcoming busy week for both of us, we decided to seek out people and resources to help us laugh out loud more often.

Here are a few suggestions for taking care of your soul this week. As always, use what is helpful and ignore the rest.

Understand your sense of humor and what makes you laugh. For example - puns, comics, jokes, stories, people doing goofy things, home videos, movies, etc. Note: It is important that your laughter or sense of humor does not include putting people down or making fun of others. This style of “humor” is a negative energy and not good for the soul.

Make available these resources that make you laugh the most. Have them nearby so you can go to them when you need to laugh during the day.

Be with friends and co-workers who help you find humor in life.

Allow yourself to laugh out loud and laugh with others.

Be able to laugh at yourself sometimes too. This is also good for the soul.

For one week, pay attention to how often you laugh throughout each day. Notice any connections you experience between physical laughter and how you feel, your mood, attitude, and emotions. Repeat often as needed.

Blessings of joy this day!

Denise Pyles, M.Div.

Visit me at Weekly Spiritual Reflections

Compassionate God

You who fashion us for work,

You who call us to labor in the fields of humanity,

Hear the prayers of those who suffer from layoffs,

who struggle with unemployment,

who suffer from anxiety and worry

over the status of their job, their benefits,

their livelihood, their very existence.

Grant them courage and strength to weather the storms of crisis.

Hold them in a community of support and care.

May a surge of hope emerge from the depths of their stress.

Inspire them with a creative spirit

and a willing heart to keep going in the land of labor.

Hear us O Holy One.

For this we pray, Amen.

Link to news source:

U.S. jobless claims surge in latest week
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27336301/from/ET/

Keep your roots deep in Christ,

build your lives on Christ,

and become stronger in your faith

as you were taught.

And be filled with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:7 Today’s English Version

Consider these questions for reflection when praying with this passage:

Where are the roots of your soul planted?

What are the strengths of your faith?

In what ways have you built your life on the teachings of Christ?

What do you still need to learn in your spiritual journey?

For what are you grateful this day?

Denise Pyles, M.Div.

Visit me at Weekly Spiritual Reflections