Laughing with God (revisited)
I don’t know what Regina Spektor has in mind when she closes her song “we’re all laughing with God.” But if I were closing my song with those words, here’s what I’d mean:
Is humor a product of creation or of the fall? Does it come from Genesis 1 or Genesis 3? Does it originate in God or with Lucifer? If the latter, then no Christ-follower should ever laugh (I know a few people who just might believe that!). If the former, then does God have a sense of humor (“the ability to perceive, enjoy or express what is funny”)? He must. A stream rises no higher than its source. No humor in God, no humor in us. I’m concluding that God “gets” humor. He made it. Or rather, it emanates from him. So every time I laugh, God laughs (assuming a “good” laugh as opposed to a “bad” laugh – everything gets touched by the fall, even laughter. Because we are fallen we sometimes laugh at things that should make us cry, or we laugh at things that are evil. God doesn’t laugh at these things). I am “laughing with God.” Thoughts?
PS – The pic above isn’t meant to personify God laughing. It’s meant to make you laugh at a man laughing.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Wow – you got like extra deep there! Now I feel like writing Regina to find out what her lovly song meant. Also, is that what the guy in the pic is doing – laughing? Maybe its me…maybe its because im reading this from my little cell phone screen that I missed it, and didnt think the dude was laughing.
My 1st impression looked like most children’s faces when feed vegies. “eat your greens son.” “UGH!” That sort of thing.
Good Post tho!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
You are not the first to comment on this song. Josh Harris posted this song and had a huge amount of comment on it (http://www.joshharris.com/2009/07/regina_spektor_no_one_laughs_a.php). Some thought it was sarcasm others applied some religious meaning to it regarding the joy we have when we are in Christ. I liked one persons thoughts that it made her think of the last day when God will wipe away every tear thus making it an appropriate last line.
Personally the line came as a surprise to me. Not sure what it means but I do think it shows poetic artistry. Art is meant to inspire and provoke and this song (including the last line) seems to accomplish both. The song as a whole is a compulsory rebuke to our culture’s careless attitude toward God.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Can the Maker of the porcupine, the anteater and Jimmy Durante be without a sense of humor?