The feeling of complete laughter filled my body as I tried to focus on something, anything besides the episode that was causing this tickle to exist. Try as I might, the elder lady sitting a few seats over would not allow me any reprieve as she continued her nervous or perhaps habitual repetition of crinkling the candy wrapper she held in her hands. I tried to doodle on the bulletin. I tried to think of the peaceful slumber I planned upon returning to my house after lunch. Most of all I tried LISTENING to the preacher who was in the middle of a meaningful, God filled sermon that, on most occasions, would not have had any trouble holding my attention.
It was at this moment, this moment of utter quiet in this enormous, echoing sanctuary, that "the crinkler" got carried away with her annoyingly hilarious habit. "KURPLUNK!" was the sound I heard as the candy dropped to the hardwood floor and rolled to its new but unknown destination. That was it! The moment I had been working so hard to prevent took place. The laughter I had semi-successfully subdued through the past ten to fifteen torturous minutes was out! I had no control over my body! I laugh even now as I am writing this blog! I could not even catch my breath. My shoulders were shaking as if I was having a emotional meltdown, as if the sermon was speaking to my soul and I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit was working on my tickle spot deep within my body and was not letting up.
I did FINALLY regain control of my body and was able to conduct myself in a suitable manner for the ending moments of the service. I will think of this hour as I am criticizing my children for such acts of disrespect in a sacred place as this one. Unbelievable!
It was at this moment, this moment of utter quiet in this enormous, echoing sanctuary, that "the crinkler" got carried away with her annoyingly hilarious habit. "KURPLUNK!" was the sound I heard as the candy dropped to the hardwood floor and rolled to its new but unknown destination. That was it! The moment I had been working so hard to prevent took place. The laughter I had semi-successfully subdued through the past ten to fifteen torturous minutes was out! I had no control over my body! I laugh even now as I am writing this blog! I could not even catch my breath. My shoulders were shaking as if I was having a emotional meltdown, as if the sermon was speaking to my soul and I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit was working on my tickle spot deep within my body and was not letting up.
I did FINALLY regain control of my body and was able to conduct myself in a suitable manner for the ending moments of the service. I will think of this hour as I am criticizing my children for such acts of disrespect in a sacred place as this one. Unbelievable!
2 comments:
I have had that happen to me so many times during church. I think the feeling of knowing you're not supposed to be laughing is what makes us laugh even more.
If God didn't want us to laugh, she wouldn't have given us the gift! Even in church, if something funny happens, you've just got to laugh at it!
K. Smith
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