It was the first thing that greeted you as you walked into his office. Hanging on the wall directly across from the door was a large painting that – without fail – always made me smile. The image was that of a man with a beard and longer hair, and he appeared to be engaged in a full throttle belly laugh. All of which was iconic of the occupant of the office, my childhood priest.
Fr. Jack was a very large man whose entire body seem to be engulfed when he laughed. So infectious was his full body laughter, even when I didn’t quite understand what he was finding so amusing, I couldn’t help but join in on the frivolity.
Many who know me know that Fr. Jack played an instrumental role in my development. He is the person who taught me the fundamentals of my faith, introduced me to the transformational world of camp, pushed me into leadership positions at a young age, modeled for me that finding humor in almost all things is good for mind, body and soul.
I have always found it perplexing when someone suggests that humor is a sign of immaturity or that a person lacks depth. I work with a wide variety of leaders and one of the things I suggest that is critical to their success is to be able to laugh – at themselves, with others and even when you find yourself in a challenging place.
I appreciate Anne Lamont’s word’s, “Laughter really is carbonated holiness,” and John O’Donohue’s, “May the relief of laughter rinse through your soul.” They articulate for me the transformative capacity laughter embodies.
I am eternally grateful to Fr. Jack for showing me how healthy, holy and life-giving laughter can be.
May you have joy.
May you have gut-busting belly laughter, every day.
May you ask more and better questions.
May your rage be a force for good.
You got this. We got this. May it be so. Dr. Brittney Cooper
BP