Finding Bugs Bunny in a Broken World

The other day, I was browsing YouTube, searching for videos to help me learn about one of the latest software updates in the writing world. Because I'd been searching the topic a lot lately, many related videos were popping up. But it wasn't the educational content that ultimately captured my attention. No, it was an hour-long compilation of Looney Tunes.

Yes, the original Looney Tunes that I grew up on. Those classic cartoons featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and the whole gang. Despite my busy schedule and the educational videos I had previously been searching for, I decided to indulge in "just a few minutes" of nostalgic animation.

Those few minutes quickly turned into half an hour as I sat at my desk, giggling like a schoolgirl. There was Bugs, munching his carrot and delivering his iconic "What's up, Doc?" There was Daffy, spitting through his frustration as he shouted, "You're dethpicable!" And there was Wile E. Coyote, plummeting from yet another cliff in his never-ending pursuit of the Road Runner.

The cartoons were pointless and ridiculous, but I laughed so hard my sides hurt. I hadn't realized how desperately I needed that laughter until the tears of mirth were streaming down my face.

It struck me then: we often take life far too seriously. We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders as if everything depends on us. We push ourselves to exhaustion, forgetting that our bodies and minds need respite.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

How true that is! Laughter truly is medicinal. It reduces stress hormones, triggers the release of endorphins, and even boosts our immune system. God, in His infinite wisdom, created laughter as a gift, a healing balm for our weary souls.

Jesus Himself surely laughed. Can you imagine Him with the children, never cracking a smile? Or with His disciples during their travels, never sharing a moment of levity? The Savior who turned water into wine at a wedding celebration certainly understood the importance of joy.

Yes, there's a lot of bad stuff in this world. There are wars and famines, earthquakes and floods. There are bills to pay and deadlines to meet. The news is filled with heartbreak, and sometimes our personal lives echo that pain. But that's precisely why we sometimes need to come apart from all the chaos and stress and just take time to laugh.

Perhaps that's part of what Jesus meant when He said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Rest isn't always about sleep. Sometimes, it's about setting down our burdens long enough to remember the simple joys God has provided.

So the next time you're feeling overwhelmed, maybe what you need isn't another productivity app or self-help book. Maybe what you need is a good laugh. It might just be the medicine your soul requires.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear Bugs Bunny calling.