In talking about recent events, my mother and I couldn't help but come across something that has swept the Internet by storm. Here are some of her and my thoughts regarding the latest viral sensation:
Type in "Chewbacca" in Google right now. You won't find Chewbacca at the top of the list. You will find the Chewbacca Mask Lady (most people don't know her name, but it's Candace Payne). Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you probably know that Candace became an overnight sensation this past week remarkably by purchasing a clearance Star Wars Chewbacca mask from Kohl's for her 37th birthday, with a gift card no less. Posting on Facebook Live, she shared with her friends and ultimately the world how this mask was the best gift ever to herself and, though she would let her children play with it, at the end of the day it was hers. Her humor and personality were delightful. Once she put the mask on, the infectious laughter began. She got tickled, cracked herself up, and the ensuing global laughter epidemic ensued as did her immediate invitations to appear on Good Morning America, visit Facebook headquarters, be interviewed on NPR and Fox News, Karaoke with James Corbin, and the list goes on.
Now, I am quite confident that if I went to a store today, bought a Star Wars mask and video taped myself laughing uncontrollably, I would not become an overnight sensation. That is not the point. That is not the story. Nor is the story Kohl's free advertising and boom in profit on Chewbacca clearance masks or the success of the video option of Facebook Live.
So what then? What is the story? Why did this of all videos capture the hearts of America and the globe with millions of views? What's the secret behind the Chewbacca mask?
The real story is the true secret behind the mask. It's quite simply joy. Pure joy and our desperate need for it in a world full of ever increasing fear, evil, cynicism, wars, prejudices, terrorism threats, economic uncertainty, political strife and all-round bad news. Unadulterated joy in its simplest form. We are missing it all too much in our busyness, our non-stop pace, our stress.
The book of Proverbs says that, "A joyful heart is good medicine," (Proverbs 17:22) and science has indeed proven that laughter is good for your health. It relaxes the whole body, relieves physical tension and stress and even boosts the immune system. Paul, in the book of Galatians (5:22) proclaimed that joy is a fruit of Christ's spirit (Gal. 5:22). In this crazy, fear-filled world, "Laughter is a poison to fear" (George R. R. Martin). It is simply a much-needed refreshment to have our minds diverted by something silly, something that is contagiously hilarious — to just laugh, belly laugh so hard you cry.
I am reminded of Truvy's great line from the powerful 1989 movie Steel Magnolias, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." Our world needs more happy tears and positive emotions. We need more sincerely #happychewbaccas who can find the simple joys in life and be grateful, who can provide bright spots in a dark world. Candace Payne's ebullient joy and message of "no shame, it's all love" resonates to every human heart. It's a reminder of the kind of uninhibited love and joy we should be sharing with each other and paying forward every day, despite our differences. And if only for a brief moment our souls are lifted as we laugh through our tears, it is well worth it; for "a day without laughter is a day wasted" (Charlie Chaplin). Thank you, Chewbacca Mask lady, for sharing your secret and not wasting your day...or ours.
