Laugh It Off

(Pro 26:19 KJV)  So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

I don’t have any specific quotes from John Wesley to give you but from reading in his journals I get the feeling that he would have said “Amen” at the reading of this verse.  He comes across as a very serious, shall we say sourpuss, gentleman who had much more on his mind than “sport” (joking NASB) (7832).  The actual root of the word means “to laugh”.  Wesley was death on levity.  It worked for him but seems to go over my head.  I often have to decide whether to laugh or cry.

I find this poking at my innards and asking, “Are you listening?”  I tend to joke a lot.  Recently when I was in a long dialogue with a friend we would respond to our conflict differently.  He tended to get mad and consider walking out.  I tended to crack a joke and bottle up my frustration, which made him madder.  I need to draw down my joking without giving up my sense of humor.

So?  A bit of discernment is in order.  Sometimes a bit of humor can relieve tension and make a point.  Other times it can be part of the problem.  Lord, help me.