Laughing Fits to Be Tied

"Laughing Fits to Be Tied"

Eugene O'Neill retelling, Lazarus Laughed:
Curtain rising, Lazarus rising, stumbling out of pitched dark, into bright light,
unbound, laughing, rejoicing, embracing all -- starting with Jesus!
Seeing whole world again like the first time, caressing Earth, relishing sky,
trees, people, chanting repeatedly, "yes, yes, yes!"

When asked what death is like, "There is no death, really. There is only life.
There is only God! There is only incredible joy!"

Death less an abyss than a portal:
"Grave is empty as doorway is empty. There is nothing to fear." WHAT?!
What good is death if not to fear it?

Everyone notices differences in him, gone back to daily routines, ecstasy, ease to his being. His home, "House of Laughter," recklessly rollicking, lifting life, raising work, of whole village, performing no longer by threat but enticement,
exalted by all -- save the Romans!

Death Dealers! Power Brokers! Union Busters! Emperor Caligula:
"Crosses and corpses are so educational!" Still clinging to death sentences, executions; alleged deterrents to violence in primed-time perpetuity.

Lazarus making us nothing but trouble, never stops laughing, partying, asserting: "There is nothing you can do to me! There is no death! There is only life!" Arrested, taken away before "Higher Powers," even to Rome, face-to-face with Emperor.

"Either stop this infernal laughter," his holiness pleads, "or I'll have you put to death!" Lazarus laughs. AND LAUGHS!

Who's the more powerful now? "Be not afraid." Perfect Love for This World,
easings out deadly violence and fear, Jesus living again to attest:
Most crushing sufferings, most strangling wailings, leading to death, serving Life! "What is" breaking out into "All That can be!" Glimpses of grace, rumors of resurrection, stone to stone, tomb to tomb -- from Peter alone, to twelve, to five hundred, to James, to all the apostles, even to you, even, even to me . . .