Laughing with God

Regina Spektor has recently recorded the song "Laughing with God" that I think is beautiful music as well as existential poetry. If you'd like to hear her sing it, this link has a music video.

Her lyrics make me think of Voltaire's comment that God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh. And it reminds me of a line from one of Robert Fulghum's books that there is a vast difference between a lump in your oatmeal and a lump in your breast. The secret of life is knowing the difference, knowing when and how to laugh with God.

Here are the complete lyrics to Regina Spektor's song. Consider it my prayer or meditation of the day, offered for your consideration as well:

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor.

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late
And their kid's not back from the party yet
No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love
Hand in hand with someone else and they hope they're mistaken

No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news sir
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they're 'bout to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious Ha ha Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they've got
And they don't know what for
No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see
Is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God