Good Medicine...

Proverbs 17:22 ~ "A joyful heart is good medicine..."

We went on a couples' retreat with our new church this weekend. We had to miss the first night because of a prior commitment, but we were able to join them for the last 24 hours. There was some great time of meeting and sharing together, but the highlight for me was the time we spent laughing!

Laughter is an instant vacation. ~ Milton Berle

Saturday night we played 2 rounds of The Newlywed Game and what a hoot it was. Our MC had some priceless lines and the couple interaction was hysterical. We laughed so much and so loudly that we actually had to move to another room because it was late and we were running the risk of disturbing some guests who had come in for the night.

It's been a long time since I was with a group that has made me laugh quite as much and quite as long as we did Saturday night. While we had not even met many of the couples in attendance, it was amazing how laughter broke down any barriers of reserve that may have been in place and allowed us to bond quickly. Makes me realize Victor Borge was onto something when he said...

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

I am thankful for the opportunity we had to go on this retreat and get to know our staff members at a deeper level and get to know some other couples in the church. The transition we are experiencing can be a little overwhelming at times, but moments like we had this weekend give me a glimpse into the amazing opportunities to connect at a heart level with those we are being called to minister to in the years to come. I am not naive enough to think that it will be without its struggles because that is the nature of human relationships. I am thankful, though, for the reminder that laughter really is a powerful tie that can cut through relational distance and help create a bridge for deeper communication!