Nov 09 2005
Laugh in the Face of Evil
Each year during Lent through Easter, a celebration called “rara” takes place in Haiti. This high holy voodoo season includes singing, wild dancing and playing homemade instruments. Women often form groups under the supervision of a whip-and-whistle wielding leader.
On this particular occasion when I was visiting Haiti, a witch doctor threw blood all over me in an attempt to scare me and I am afraid all I could do was get tickled. The witch doctor had the crowd all worked up swinging his whip, dancing and chanting.
When the witch doctor saw me, he approached and put a curse on me and then threw blood on me. The crowd got deathly quiet and stared at me and I stared at them. I thought, “You know, this poor man wants me to be afraid.” I just got tickled and started laughing. The crowd’s silence broke as they too began laughing. The witch doctor just got frustrated.
I wasn’t laughing because he threw blood all over me, but because he thought that the Lord of the universe would allow me to be afraid of a cup of chicken blood.
The next time you are staring evil in the face, just laugh. In Matthew 5:10-12 we are told that we are blessed when people insult and persecute us for standing with Christ. It states:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
No matter what kind of evil forces come against you today, stand firm in your belief of Jesus Christ and you shall inherit a kingdom in heaven.