And yet , when the two resurfaced a short time later , they were seen laughing & hugging & dancing — carrying on even more joyously than before .
Unsettled at first by this behavior , the villagers eventually asked the two why they were profaning the death of their friend in this manner . Upon hearing this question , both men paused , and the one nearest the questioner turned with a smile and said , “ We have laughed with him our entire lives . How can we give him his final farewell with anything else ? Don ’ t you see ? In order to truly honor another ’ s passing , we MUST dance … we MUST sing … we MUST laugh . For this is the only remembrance that is fitting for a friend with whom we were blessed to walk and live .”
A few days later , the villagers offered to bathe & prepare the body of the dead Saint for the funeral pyre , and yet his two friends gently refused their offer , saying “ Our friend told us clearly on his deathbed that we were not to perform any ritual or even remove his clothes , but were to place his body upon the fire exactly as he was when he died … and this is what we will do .”
And that is exactly what they did … The fire was lit and the body was reverently placed upon it … and then the most wonderful thing happened . For just before his death , the Laughing Saint had stuffed hundreds of fireworks into his clothes , so that as his body burned , his funeral suddenly became a festival .
And everyone couldn ’ t help but start to shout , and to dance … and to laugh . The night no longer was about one man ’ s death ,
… but had rather become an entire town ’ s new life .
( inspired by anonymous )
“ I have said & done these things that my Joy might reside within you , and that your Joy might be complete .”
~ Jesus Christ ( John 15:11 )
21