GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN CAPE GIRARDEAU: A GREAT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: DEVELOP A SENSE OF HUMOR!

Dr. Larry E. Gallamore was born in Poplar Bluff. He earned two degrees from Arkansas State University, and received a master of divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Drew University. Gallamore came to Grace United Methodist as senior minister in June 1994.

When we look at the big picture of life, there is always reason for joy. Often God's joy is hidden when we have the wrong view of life. Having the right perspective of the world around you is an important skill that God can help you develop over time. Our ability to deal effectively with the most painful trials of life is a measure of our ability to live with God's perspective and not our own.

Changing your perspective is difficult. It requires mentally re-evaluating all the ideas and elements that contributed to the creation of your current perspective.

People always say, "If you could just change your perspective." That's like saying, "If you were just six feet tall, you'd understand how I feel." Or, "If you grew more hair on your head, you would be more comprehensive." It just doesn't work this way.

To change your perspective you have to view yourself in proper relation to the world rather than at the center of it.

The best way I know to change this perspective is to develop a sense of humor.

Getting a humorous perspective allows you to view yourself in proper relation to the world rather than at the center of it. As human beings, we have a tendency to believe that any problem we are confronting at any given moment is the most important thing happening in the entire world. People have a tendency to believe that the world revolves around them, and that idea actually magnifies and exacerbates their problems.

My grandmother was an island of joy. She taught me many important things. She used to say that the main trouble with the world is that everyone wanted the same job -- director of the universe. People are always saying, "If people did things my way, we'd have a much better situation."

I am not implying that everyone gets up in the morning and consciously tries to control the world and make people follow their lead. Maybe some of you do. But, when people's environment begins to alter and move in a direction they may not like, they don't approve of or they don't understand, they start trying to change it back to the way they want it to be. That is what's called functioning as if you were really the center of the universe, and it's an immense responsibility for anyone to handle.

When we experience a problem, it becomes the main focus of our being. A well developed sense of humor will help you to laugh at your problems, because you know God is at the center of your universe.

When I talk about a humor perspective, I am referring to the remarkable capacity all of us have to control how we perceive the events happening around us. Nobody can control what happens to them. Over the course of our lives we learn that we cannot control the incidences in our lives very effectively.

The only thing we have control over is our reaction to what happens to us. Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not suggesting you take your problems lightly. I'm saying we have a gift from God that will help.

The enormous capacity of the human mind to focus your thoughts and ideas in a particular manner is the greatest gift of all. When you angle your perspective outside yourself, self-inflicted pain and self-pity tends to dissipate. That allows you to see the problem with more clarity so you can cope more effectively.

The second aspect of what a sense of humor is, is the developed capacity to take yourself lightly, even though you may take your work or your problems very seriously. Think about it for a moment. Have you ever thought about why it might be so important?

When you take yourself lightly, you can start enjoying your life and taking more risks. Instead of criticizing yourself when something goes wrong, you can laugh it off, provided you vow to improve your behavior in the future. When all is said and done, a sense of humor is an important element to developing self-esteem, taking risks, and succeeding in life. So give yourself something to smile about, and never pass up an opportunity to laugh at yourself and the world around you.

As Jeremiah acknowledged God says, "...I will turn their mourning into joy . . ." (Jeremiah 31:13b)

1998 can be a great year of joy for all of us.