I was recently introduced to the Christian satirical website The Babylon Bee. This site skewers our human foibles in categories of News, Christian Living, Celebs, Politics, Church, Lifestyle, Sports, and Entertainment.  After being pointed to the site by my son, I spent hours on New Years Day reading through the archives and laughing out loud. The writers on this site have the gift of cutting through all our pretensions, those of Christians and non-believers, alike.

Having spent a quarter century as a pastor’s wife, I laughed loudest at the spoofs about church life. I found myself thanking God for the talents of these writers to show us our foolishness in such an entertaining way. I confess that I laughed louder at those articles which were not pointed at my own opinions or practices, but even when I did feel their sting, I could see the humor and it made me pause and reflect.  That’s what the best humor, especially satire, does; it allows us to look at ourselves without defensiveness or resentment. We recognize ourselves and see how ridiculous we can be. It reminds us of all the things we share as flawed humans.

Much that we read and view is mean-spirited. Many comedians encourage their audiences to laugh at the “other”, not at themselves, and use their wit to wound, rather than heal.

How refreshing to find a place where everyone is mocked equally, in a spirit of love.

A cheerful heart is good medicine… Proverbs 17:22