Sister Natalie Rossi: Let yourself be tickled by God's humor


I don't think God tickled them yet.

Beloved -- hurry.

St. Teresa of Avila


I remember listening to symphonies and enjoying the tuba -- a funny, obscure instrument that tickles my soul. In the symphony of life, do we go around missing the tickles -- the joys, the laughs?

Do we forget what it means to be tickled, and go around masquerading in a shell of boredom?

In the Navajo tradition, the first laugh of a child is celebrated with a feast given by the person who caused the laugh. The Navajos are a people of peace and harmony. Even with all of the tragedies in their lives, they laugh at themselves and others. They have stories about a trickster, the Coyote, who goes around making people laugh with his antics. They enjoy a hearty laugh even at your expense, but they try to live peaceful lives.

Laughter bellows forth from children who survived the typhoon in Cebu in the Philippines, just by seeing themselves on a picture. All of the people I passed in the Philippines smiled and were so welcoming, even as they waited for water to wash their clothes or lay their children down on blankets on the sidewalk to sleep.

The Philippine people have been through so much: wars, floods, typhoons, volcanos, etc. How can people have so much inner hope and peace? Has God tickled them?

What do we need in our society, our culture to be tickled? Can we become aware of the touch of God in all living and nonliving things? Can we see in all creation and all of the universe, silly happenings? Do we just keep our heads buried in the mundane things of life?

God is a God of fun, laughter. Look! He created so many funny animals -- anteaters, monkeys -- you and I.

God does have a sense of humor. Somehow we forgot that we are created in God's image. So where is our joy? Perhaps, we need to go through the world and let ourselves be tickled.

Reflections is a column by religious leaders in the region. Sister Natalie Rossi is a member of the Sisters of Mercy and a leadership team councilor for their New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community.