Laughing in the spirit

Quite innocently, I turned up for last night's weekly Charismatic Worship at the catholic church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (OMPH), even as it had been billed as a Healing Service a couple of weeks ago.

But instead of a lay preacher at the mike, it began much like a regular Mass with Fr Joseph Steven in full regalia, Bible readings and responsorial readings, accompanied by the most able choir.

The priest delivered a homily based on the tale of Jonah who was swallowed by a whale and which threw him out later. Apparently this is an allegory about resurfacing out of 'sin' that parishioners are encouraged to do, especially since it's a week since Ash Wednesday (22 Feb that marks the beginning of the Lenten season.

"Lent is a Christian celebration that is not marked by sales, such as those offered by malls at Christmas," he reminded us. "It is a period for introspection and to renew oneself with a view to purification. Those who have gone through the RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults) also begin their preparation over the next few weeks for baptism at Easter."

After Holy Communion at the end of Mass, Fr Jo - as he is affectionately addressed by his flock - sallied into the raison d'etre for the special service.

"Healing oneself of perceived hurts allows the penitent to begin life anew, just as they agreed to do so upon their baptism."

I was right at the back of the worship hall, but did not join the long queue of my 'brothers and sisters in Christ' milling at the front pew. But I soon found myself laughing and giggling almost continuously for some five minutes, when the hilarious mood suddenly lifted.

Only to have it go on again for another five minutes after a quiet period of perhaps ten minutes.

How strange, I thought, as I checked the time on my cellphone: the laughing fits took place almost symmetrically upon 9.00 pm. And I recall the two previous occasions when I collapsed helplessly with laughter at Alex Woo's charismatic sessions.

When cousin Peggy SMSed this morning, she told me that I had been "laughing in the spirit", and suggested that I read 1 John 4:1, which had me trawling the internet for more information.

Along the way I uncoverd that curious event dubbed the Toronto Blessing when in January 1994 there began at a church service a series of phenomena when "holy laughter" was a hallmark manifestation, including many other unusual physical displays.

Here's a  video that should offer an idea of what I went through, though in that short excerpt, the participant was supported by his friends, while I had fun all by myself, seated on a back pew!

At lunch a little while ago and intending to write about last night, I began giggling again at the thought. But I seem to be my everyday contented, detached self now.

When I told Alex about what happened, she suggested that I might take part in a laughter yoga session. I suppose I could buy Abhi's set of laughter therapy materials. He believes that laughter was the one ingredient that led to his lack of success, despite deploying the arsenal of techniques at his disposal.

I now understand Alex's astonishingly high rate of production NTM the large number of admirers she has attracted: she's so full of life, laughing and giggling easily at the slightest provocation.

More power to her then and I wonder if I got out of my dour old persona I might begin to write as effortlessly as she does.

edited 9 December 2013:
I have since learned from new friends who are promoting 'complementary' health practices that I may have clairsentient abilities. If that is so, I could have picked up feelings that my catholic friends expressed in song and testimonies. Perhaps those laughing fits of mine were no more than inappropriate responses?

Marian's cortisol levels

Last Monday night 18 Dec, when I bumped into her at Sun Weng Fatt, Marian was apparently still hungry after polishing off Gurmit's curry rice, and bought deep-fried beehoon in gravy for the 2 of us. Ah Nam duly delivered the order plus the usual sets of small bowls, spoons and chopsticks, and we finished our respective portions in almost no time at all.

It was rather delicious, and Marion wholeheartedly agreed.

But what she did next was rather unusual, at least in this little village formerly known as Epau and / or Paloh.

She dug her chopsticks and spoon into the communal dish and dumped the remaining third into my little bowl, saying, "Hey Peter, why don't you finish it," or words to that effect. And since I hadn't had dinner, I duly complied: after all, it was quite a tasty offering.

Perhaps half a minute later, I suddenly felt disgusted for no apparent reason, and I'm not prone to such feelings, since I'm generally good-humored most times of almost any day. In fact, I break into a broad grin for no reason than feeling thankful for being in good health for my age. (Apart from my sniffling but that's another story)

I soon twigged: Marion's reported foul mood earlier in her day must have found its way into her saliva.

Now isn't that strange?

No, no stranger than picking up another person's depressed mood left on a plastic chair I sat upon in a Canning Garden eatery many months ago.

I wonder if I may profit in some way or another from this curious gift of mine.

Mdm Wintergreen and her friends

Wednesday 30 Nov at the cyber cafe, what seemed to be a woman's perfume suddenly manifested in the space between 2 rows of macho gamers, back of where I sat

The same fragrance turned up twice in perhaps an hour, with one occurrence rather more intense than the other; and I remind myself that the cyber cafe had no history of dispensing perfumes of the industrial sort.

How curious, and it was only last Friday 25 Nov that Mdm Wintergreen made her presence known in no uncertain manner in the same cyber cafe.

She had turned up twice that afternoon when I was then also online at no.108 console, but in contradistinction to previous encounters - when I was usually walking and collided into her - I found myself enveloped in her fragrance while seated.

I had asked Kevin the regular tech support guy if he'd smelled anything but he was too engrossed in his game a couple of meters away.