Laughter in the Midst of Pain

What a gorgeous night it was. Not too hot and the mosquitoes were being kept at bay with Off. Friends had gathered for the last game of the season. His sweet face beamed with excitement as he ran out into left field. Tonight was all about having fun.

The camera man was taking pictures left and right and then suddenly - he stopped in his tracks. Out in left field was a flying ball looking like it was destined to go over the fence. Running to try to catch it was the sweet face young man - one of his best friends. And just like that....... it happened. He was mangled against the fence like a fly on the front windshield of a van that was going 75 in a 35 zone. SPLAT!

Everyone sat in disbelief over what they were seeing. Then, went into panic mode. There he was now laying on the ground and from the bleachers - blood was more than evident. His teammates ran out to see just how bad the damage was. His dad and the coach checking him over more than once or twice. He finally decided to try to walk... He was helped back to the dugout.

Then it started... catching all who heard it by surprise. The young man, now in so much pain having fought with a fence and lost, was now cracking jokes and making fun of himself. His laughter was obvious in the pictures the camera man started taking covering the events that had left his friend more than battered and bruised. The game continued on...... men.... boys....

As his teammates filed into the dugout... he was lying down on the bench. Still cracking jokes and laughing like a little girl with a secret. "Way to take one for the team!" was heard over and over again. The story of the ball, the fence, and the now mangled body was retold 20 times at least.
He still kept laughing.

We all joined him in laughing in the midst of pain. That's what real friends do because they don't want you to be alone. So they join you... wishing they could take your pain away.... if even for a moment.