Finding laughter.

I read an interesting article recently in which ace Nigerian comedian Basket Mouth was largely critiqued for not including the godfather of Nigerian comedy Alibaba in his list of top five favourite comedians of all time.

BasketMouth 

You know how people jump on a case without getting the whole gist, well they jumped on this case because who doesn't know that Alibaba  is the king of them all-twale baba.! Nuff respect.

Alibaba

In response to the furore over his "controversial" list, BasketMouth got to defend his claim during an interview with Olisa  on "The Truth". His explanation blew my mind and inspired this post. His explanation "for me I don't like putting Alibaba on the same level. When he was grooming me, we went for a burial and Ali said, " look around, crack 5 jokes with everything you  have seen. I tried but could only cracking one. Ali baba then told me to listen. He cracked jokes with everything....so that is something  else".

Talk about being put on the spot!! An initial response to such an absurd  request would be "there is nothing to laugh about in that setting". Mind you the request was not to find something to joke about the corpse but to find  things to joke about IN that environment!
The Israelites  found themselves in such a situation ages ago. Captive in a foreign land, far from home and everything familiar. To make matters worse their captors expected them to make a merry song in their situation. Psalm 137:4 " how can we sing the songs of the lord while in a foreign land". They did not have to make up a song, the song of zion was in them already  just as it is in  us but they had a problem with singing  in a foreign land!! Don't we all sometimes.
No matter how careful  we are, we will find ourselves in a "foreign land" sometimes. A foreign land could be a divorce, sickness, bankruptcy etc. It is an adverse and contrary situation. Who laughs in that kind of situation? How do you laugh in the midst of adversity?
Truths to note

• Anybody can laugh in good times but It takes a heart that is grounded, matured and trusts in God to rejoice in the midst of trial. Paul and Silas sang and prayed the prison doors down. Act 16:25
• Looking eyes see.You have to look beyond the pain to really see.
• Even  the small things count If you consider them closely.
• 1 Thessalonian 5:18- give thanks in all circumstances.  In the midst of the storm be thankful
• laughter makes trying situations a bit more tolerable .I. e  it smoothen's the rough edges.
• You are alive, there is hope and " hope maketh not ashamed". Hope fuels faith.
• its a show of strength.
  

 I must say it was a hard thing to ask but not impossible; if it were the request would not have been made. Alibaba had seen possible joke materials at the  event that's why he made the seemingly difficult demand on his protégée. The request was to enable his intern push the envelope and expand his mind; take him from the level of mediocrity to excellence. Basketmouth is better off with the "hardline training he got. God expects his children to find joy in every situation. IT GROWS YOU. Your ability to find elements of joy in dreary situations stands you out on a different level and that my friend is something else.

Photo credit. Www.hack writers. Com