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"The Healing Power of Humor" Religion in Daily Life By the Rev. Edward Chinn, D.Min. echinn@promedia.infi.net Positive, constructive, gentle humor can have a healing effect on persons who are ill. Investigators drew blood samples from college students who were watching funny videos. These investigators found that levels of disease-fighting antibodies and immune cells went up. Levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, decreased. Gentle humor heals. In contrast, biting sarcastic, mocking humor hurts people. The cruel humor of ethnic and racial slurs wounds persons. It is wrong to mock and deride others. Jesus of Nazareth experienced this kind of cruel humor from common people (Luke 8:53) and from persons in power positions (Luke 23:11). The healing power of humor was portrayed in the motion picture Patch Adams. Hollywood based the film on the life of Hunter (Patch) Adams, a physician who has championed the medicinal power of humor since his days in medical school. He has dressed as a clown to bring humor, hope, and healing to his patients. In 1971, Adams founded the Gesundheit Institute. It is a home-based medical practice in West Virginia. It has treated more than 15,000 persons for free. In 1993, Adams wrote about his approach in a book, "Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter." He has used his royalties from the book to fund the Gesundheit Institute. The healing power of humor is evident in the work of Jesus of Nazareth. Familiarity and the stately prose of the King James' Version of the Bible hides the humor of Jesus from us. Jesus used verbal cartoons in his speech. For example, he talked about religious leaders swallowing camels. He described a faultfinding person who tries to get a speck of sawdust out of a neighbor's eye while he has a 2 by 4 plank sticking out of his own eye. Thirty-five years ago, Elton Trueblood wrote a great book on the subject titled The Humor of Christ. More recently (1986), Cal Samra wrote his book The Joyful Christ. The healing power of humor has long been recognized. Three thousand years ago, Solomon wrote, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). The Hebrew word for "merry" means joyful, gleeful. The ancient Greeks built their healing houses next door to their theaters. In this way, the sick could enjoy the comedies performed there. "The American Association for Therapeutic Humor" is studying the use of mirth in medicine. Norman Cousins used humor to treat his own illness. Now, at UCLA, there is a program in honor of Cousins called "psychoneuroimmunology." It studies the effect of humor on the immune system. Reflecting on humor's healing power, one man said, "He who laughs-lasts!" -------------- I don't want to go to school! It was the first day of school and the mother went into her son's room to awaken him. "C'mon, son, you have to get up and get ready for school." "But I don't want to go to school!" he replied. "I understand, but you have to. Now get up." "O-o-h-h! I really don't want to go!" he groaned again. "The kids don't like me. The teachers don't like me. I don't want to go!" "I know, son, but you have to go. You're the principal." ----------------------- There are benefits to improving you humorous side. Question: If you were looking for a new spouse, which ONE thing would be most important? Out of the 3878 participant(s) that have taken this survey: 17% Chose Money 11% Chose Good Looks 26% Chose Intelligence 43% Chose Sense of Humor Relationships benefit from humor. Remember, "If you can laugh at it, you can live with it." -------------- I found the funniest thing I have read in along time ... It is as follows.... About my Y2K problems... Did you ever notice that most zippers have YKK on them. I wonder if when the year 2000 rolls around people will have their zippers lock up? It could be a messy situation. I think the government should throw billions of dollars at this Y2K Problem. This is much more tragic than a computer problem. -------------- Here is a little humorous motivation to treat people right. You never know when you might need them. A big shot business man had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. He was a royal pain to the nurses because he bossed them around just like he did his employees. None of the hospital staff want to have anything to do with him. The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to him. She came into his room and announced, "I have to take your temperature." After complaining for several minutes, he finally settled down, crossed his arms and opened his mouth. "No, I'm sorry, the nurse stated," but for this reading, I cannot use an oral thermometer." This started another round of complaining, but eventually he rolled over and bared his rear-end. After feeling the nurse insert the thermometer he heard her announce, "I have to get something, now you stay JUST LIKE THAT until I get back!" She leaves the door to his room open on her way out. He curses under his breath as he hears people walking past his door laughing. After almost an hour, the man's doctor comes into the room. "What's going on here?" asked the doctor. Angrily, the man answers, "What's the matter Doc" haven't you ever seen someone having their temperature taken?" After a pause, the doctor confesses, "Well, no. I guess I haven't. Not with a petunia anyway." Kevin Rayner Rochester, MN http://oaktree.faithsite.com |
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