Laughing in the Dirt

Today’s message was written by Guest Pastor, Rev. Andy Odom. 

Scripture: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

His name is Masosa. He is one of the villagers I met two years ago during the time I spent on a trip to the Sakata region of Malawi, Africa, one of the poorest countries on Earth. I suspect that Masosa is in his early 80s, but there’s no way to know for sure. He doesn’t remember. “How am I supposed to know how old I am? I stopped counting a long time ago,” he told us. Masosa was a character. Masosa would tell us about how he felt cold all the time now and how his family had to care for him because he couldn’t get around anymore, and then he would crack a joke or bust out with a big smile. He had us all in stitches with the things he said. It took the interpreter a long time to translate through his own giggles.

There we were with this man in some of the most deplorable circumstances you can find, and we were laughing. This was the dirt he lived on in the day and slept on through the night. This was the dirt that became mud during the rains and hard rock during the heat. This was the dirt that will one day do him in, and we were sitting in it laughing together, playfully thumbing our noses at the mortality of it all. As we did, I was convicted once more by the power of the human spirit to transcend the moment and entertain a conversation with God. 

I will not soon forget the time I had with Masosa. My prayer is that we each may gain some small piece of the holy laughter that God gave to him. May we be able to transcend the moments we have each day and find ourselves laughing – even in the dirt.

Prayer: Dearest Lord, life is messy and chaotic and unfair. We stop for a moment today to remember people like Masosa who live in the hardest of conditions, and yet we see them laughing and smiling and filled with joy for every little blessing that comes along. Give us that kind of heart, O God. Help us laugh in the dirt. Amen.