The Irreverent Reverend

Last night, hubby and I went to hear Michael Riley, the Irreverent Reverend, speak at the Middletown Township Public Library. The title of his talk was Scars, Tattoos, and the Funny Bone. It was sponsored by the Widows Helping Widows Group.  There were four other men in the audience besides hubby. He counted them.

Both hubby and I have read Michael Riley's column in The Asbury Park Press. Much of what he said, I had already read in his column and that's okay. After all, I will read a book for the second--or third time. It was quite interesting to hear him, because he sounds exactly like the column he writes. But this was better because instead of reading his column and chuckling to myself, I got to listen to a room full of people join in and laugh with me. 

He spoke of his heart attack, growing up in a trailer park, being raised by his grandmother, and losing the man he considered his father at the age of eighteen. Those were all difficult issues, but he made it funny--and that was the point of his talk. You've got to laugh. It helps--and it heals. 

Yes, usually when bad things happen I don't laugh during the incident, but later on something about it will tickle my funny bone. A positive attitude helps in the worst of times. 

Michael Riley has written a book, Only Human,  a collection of his columns. Those of you who don't read the Asbury Park Press should go right out and buy book. :-)