Dear Family and Friends of The Neighborhood Church,

As many of you have discovered, I enjoy a good laugh. And I enjoy helping others around me to laugh. I have long believed that it is good for one’s soul. It’s funny—no pun intended—where I discover something that makes me smile or outright crack up. I suppose it comes from a sense that God’s still remarkably in charge of this world, that we’re in God’s good hands, and that ultimately all will be well.

In the quest for things that might make us laugh, we have seen plenty of bad comedians along the way. But one I loved was George Carlin—he was brilliant, and often had a keen insight into the human condition, told things the way they really were, and still managed to evoke major laughs out of me—even if his humor was a bit “off-color”. He could also cause me to ponder things. 
George Carlin’s wife died early in 2008 and George followed her, dying in July 2008. It is ironic George Carlin – comedian of the 70’s and 80’s – could write something so very eloquent and so very appropriate, humorous, and wise for today as this essay I share in part: 

Something to Ponder
by George Carlin

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.  We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.  These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big people and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships…

Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.  Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.  Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart, and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.  Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.  Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.

After all was said and done, the Psalmists wrote as their final word: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Ps.150:6) Laughter is one of the ways we do that, and I believe it’s good medicine.  If God can use even Mr. Carlin to make us smile, and make us think, perhaps God can use us too…enjoy, and let’s laugh it up!

Pastor Rick
Intentional Interim Minister