My Rebecca came home  from her church service and held up the bulletin for me to see.  The cover had a image of Jesus laughing.  It was very simple, a drawing perhaps of the head and shoulders.  And why did it seem so unusual, so out of the ordinary?   I have been seeing depictions of Our Lord all my life but is this the first one that has him laughing?  It’s a good laugh too, a belly laugh with head back.  Thanks Rebecca, I needed that.

I think that it was Padre Tomas that sent me a video once about the colors that once covered the inside of the cathedrals in Europe.  Vivid colors in interesting intricate patterns covering the columns and other features.  What happened to all that?  Lack of interest?  No one kept them up?  Sort of a sad mystery.

Our local Father David who is a jolly type is new to us here on Vashon.  Not new new but his first year anyway.  He had a homily not too long ago that included the statement that our only real obligation was to be joyful.  I can remember Catherine and I looking at each other and saying something like, “You heard the man!”

What is all this saying?  Well, just what has happened to our vivid colors?  What has happened to the Jesus laughter?  Who stole our joy?  Right?  Are we all sombered out on this planet?  I want to go somewhere else maybe.

All just a thought here for Felipe on this rainy morn with a mid thirties temp and gray skies.   Seems like late winter is in my marrow.   I got to find my joy, geez, it’s around here somewhere.

Yea, anyway, “you heard the man” loves!, Felipe.