On Inside the Actors Studio, host James Lipton interviews actors about their craft. He finishes every episode with a survey from some French guy which includes questions like, “What is your favorite word?” “What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?” and “What sound or noise do you love?” If I somehow found my way into a seat next to Lipton, I could answer the last question without missing a beat. My favorite sound is my son laughing. He has a variety of laughs, the quiet giggle or the ear splitting squeal. When he gets going he’ll give you a low “heh heh heh” belly laugh. And when he really gets going you get the silent laugh, you can almost see the energy building beneath the surface until it explodes into hysterical, screaming laughter. There is nothing like it.
One of the innumerable things I love about my son is how little effort is required to get a laugh out of him. I can turn around in the car and say, “au reviour” (I suppose French can be funny). I can surprise him as he walks around the corner, or I can do a little jig. Some of his greatest amusement comes from the simplest things.
We took him on an airplane recently. I was chewing gum to keep my ears from popping, and I unconsciously snapped the gum in my mouth. Caiden thought this was the greatest thing in the world. He would turn around and far as he could and say, “Let’s watch it again!” I loved it. It was simple. It was silly, and I just kept popping that gum.
I love the simplicity of what amuses and entertains my son, and I wonder if God has a similar thought when he watches us. Caiden marveled and laughed with deep joy at the simple popping of my gum. I marvel at the intricacies of creation, and I wonder if God looks at me with the same delight with which I view Caiden and thinks, “You’re amazed by such simple things.”
Do you think God paints the sunset each night because he loves watching us marvel at the beauty? Do you think he set the stars in the sky to make us smile? Do you think he formed the intricacies of creation because the sound or noise he loves is his children saying, “Wow?”
