I arrive for the “Laughter” Spa Day at around 8:20 a.m. with Elaine Kitchell who is a staff chef at Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens. Since I am early, I offer to assist in the kitchen until the workshop portion of the day starts at 10:00 a.m. I love working in this kitchen because the teams they choose for special events always produce fun and laughter, and I learn something new to use in this very creative art of cooking.
We get down to serious food preparation business without being serious. It’s very professional, and we keep things clean as we go and have lots of help for that. There is a lot of joy and loving that goes into the food that is prepared here. So I grab an apron, and we sip on coffee and tea, waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. When we are all assembled, we have a team meeting and get our assignments. Joining Elaine and me are: Allan Bradley, George Scott, and Arissa Bright. Yes, Arissa is the daughter of Laren and Penelope Bright, the couple who are facilitating today’s event, “Laughter, the Best Meditation.” Well, it’s getting close to 10:00 a.m. and I must do a quick change into my participant outfit and join the others in the Large Seminar Room for the workshop.
Kevin McMillan (Residents Program Administrator and today’s host) welcomes everyone by hailing us forward in a manner much like an airport announcer. “Flight number 457 now boarding — please take your seats.” Kevin always manages to surprise us with his spontaneous and fun sense of humor. Kevin welcomes newcomers, of which there are more than usual today, and also welcomes those who may be from out of town. One participant yells out “What about Burbank?” Yes, Burbank is here too.
Next, Kevin introduces Laren and Penelope Bright. Laren moves into the Light invocation to begin the workshop. Laren speaks about his own journey in finding the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) and its founder, John-Roger. Laren also talks about having our own awareness and experience of awakening to who we are and where we would like life to take us.
The theme today is awakening to the one who laughs in our heart and brings the joy into our lives. Penelope reads to us about principles of laughter; two of which are “healing and inner jogging.” I can testify to both. Penelope goes on with interesting facts on laughter, reading some statistics recorded on test subjects regarding the effects of laughter.
So, keeping in mind we are going to the one who laughs in our heart, Laren opens the floor to the workshop participants who are asked to state what their intention is for the day — what they want to come away with. Following intentions, we move into a breathing meditation with Laren guiding us. Penelope reads some interesting finds from the dictionary on laughter. I think I can speak for most of us when I say that the last description read about “when a fowl lays an egg” got us going.
Next on the bill is rare video footage of John-Roger in several clips I have never seen. I am quite familiar with most of the videos J-R has done through the years that are funny, however these are hilarious. These clips had us all going with lots of laughter. Then we watch a video of John Morton in New York. This one I don’t remember seeing before, however it is similar to some of the funniest moments I have experienced with John Morton in his brand of humor and just letting go and letting God.
The grand finale of laughs is produced by Penelope reading of Noah and the Arc according to the gospel of Barb O’ Que. There is no way to write about this, translate, or do otherwise except to say, “I wish you could have been there.” Well done Penelope!
Kevin informs us that lunch is ready and boy am I hungry. Even though I was in the kitchen earlier, I had no idea what I was about to lay eyes on. God help me, I never go for seconds just because I’m not used to eating that much, but today I will. Before us is a scrumptious buffet of homemade/handmade turkey sausage with the perfect amount of spices and herbs deliciously made and grilled by Allan Bradley. There is a wonderful egg souffl
