Saltshaker

One of the most significant things I am learning this semester is this: it’s a good practice to carry a hypothetical saltshaker around in case you encounter a new set of information. As a journalism major, I’m taught to take everything with a grain of salt—to not only believe one side of the story but to get the whole picture. To be honest, it actually took me a while before I learned what the phrase “take with a grain of salt” meant. I mean, why salt? Why not cayenne for a little spice? But no, “take with a grain of salt” does not have anything to do with food flavoring. I finally learned what the phrase “take with a grain of salt” meant this semester, because I did some of my own grain-of-salt-taking when reading Morreal.

Morreal’s Comic Relief can be some pretty meaty reading (which explains the need for salt). One of the concepts Morreal seems to discuss repeatedly is the Bible’s supposed disdain of humor. He quotes several verses in which the Bible condemns humor and laughter, such as Proverbs 26:18-19 (“A man who deceives another and then says, ‘It was only a joke,’ is like a madman shooting at random his deadly darts and arrows.”) and Ecclesiastes 7:3 (“Sorrow is better than laughter…”). Upon reading Morreal’s statements about the Bible, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Whoa, whoa, whoa! The Bible cannot possibly be entirely against happiness!” After all, I am a Christian and have been for many years. If the Bible is against laughter, why does reading the Bible give me joy?

I decided to go on my own personal investigation to find out what the Bible really says about laughter.

The first verse that came to mind was Nehemiah 8:10b: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” I dug a little deeper and found a number of verses in which laughter/happiness is shown in a positive light:

·         Proverbs 17:22- “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Doctors do say that laughter is good for the health. So does the Bible.

·         Psalm 100:1-2- “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.” What else can a “shout for joy” be but laughter? In these verses, laughter and gladness are ways to worship God.

·         Job 8:21- “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” According to this verse, God is the giver of joy and laughter.

So why then do we find verses like these alongside verses like those Morreal mentions in his book? It is said that “scripture interprets scripture.” I believe the answer to that question is summed up in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, or the much-repeated “time for everything” verses. Verse 4 says that there is a “time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” In other words, there needs to be a balance. A person can’t live laughing his entire life away, but he can’t be in a constant state of pouty-face either.

I learned a lot about balancing laughter and seriousness from comparing Morreal's book and the Bible. And, in the midst of this, I learned what it means to “take something with a grain of salt.” Skepticism and investigation are part of being a responsible citizen. So, as a responsible citizen, I am packing my hypothetical saltshaker in my purse.

And also cayenne. I like spicy.