My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my spouse. Prepare to . . .

Jesus is the greatest comic who ever lived. I make constant sweeps for His humor. But crocodile-infested waters are far from fun.

With a string of flared conflicts between Tim and me last week, I sobered over a financial talk that thrust us into bone-crunching contention. We entered into a yelling match. The whistling tea kettle steam that shot out my lid was aimed at Tim, but I got scalded too. I was mad at myself.

I spoke to Co-Co and said, “Hey, no nonsense! Time to get serious, right?”

Co-Co replied, “No. That’s where you’re wrong. This is when things get funny!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll help you,” He said, dimples popping. “Stay close to Me. I’ll show you how to break out of this.”

So the next afternoon, in the car as Tim and I drove to a business meeting, Co-Co said, “Listen to the Indiana Jones theme song.” I played the YouTube song on my phone via Bluetooth on the speakers overhead. I sang, “Dent de-dent-deh, dent-deh-deh . . .” and bounced along. Tim, who knows that my sanity flew out the window decades ago, amazingly entered into the spirit of the moment.

And then quantum humor leapt into play. Two movies were suddenly sharing the screen of my mind. Indiana Jones and now The Princess Bride.

In The Princess Bride, Spaniard Inigo Montoya’s father was killed by Count Rugen. When he finds Count Rugen, he delivers a threat of revenge he has rehearsed for years: “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!”

So I loudly shouted to Tim, (inches away), “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my spouse. Prepare to . . . ”

Tim said, “. . . get a reward of 60 pieces of silver!”

We roared with laughter. The heaviness was dispelled. We rejoiced in the moment. The authority of the fruit of joy restored our happiness.

We asked and extended forgiveness to each other. I took a brief moment to forgive myself. In an atmosphere of tenacious hilarity, I accepted Tim and myself. I suddenly refound a safe place.

There’s nothing you can do to separate yourself from the love of God. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor Inigo Montoya, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38 LHV).

 Friend, what silly act will shift you into Christ-joy today?

Imagine the possibilities!

Lynn

Tagged as Christian, devotional, Forgive Yourself, forgiveness, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Overcome