Riddikulus

Ridiculous, adjective: absurd ; preposterous ; laughable. 

Your sister’s boyfriend -- ridiculous. 

Any of your outfits in 2002 -- ridiculous. 

Those dance moves you pulled at your cousin’s wedding last year -- yes. ridiculous. 

This word is one that holds so much power, yet we give it so little thought. And we have so many uses of this seemingly small word …

“Man, that game was ridiculous!”

“Girl, don’t be ridiculous”

“Well now I feel ridiculous”

“She’s so beautiful, it’s ridiculous”

We let it fly off of our tongues as easily and elegantly as a simple “good morning”. But what if we used this word with the force that it actually has behind it? Imagine the ground we could take back! 

Let me be frank … I love Harry Potter. And yes, I also love Jesus. I am a firm believer I can love both. I adore the movies, the books, the imagination, all of it. It’s captivating to me. I mean, why can’t I live in a world where I attend a magical school and play a glorified version of lacrosse on a broom? I feel like that’s a fair question. 

There is a scene in the third movie where the Professor is teaching a lesson on fear. He explains to his students that there is something called a “boggart” dwelling in the wardrobe in the center of the room. A boggart is a shape-shifter. Meaning, it takes the form of whatever you fear the most. How do you defeat a boggart? LAUGHTER. Professor Lupin proceeds to teach his students that, once the boggart steps out and takes shape of your fear, you point at it and shout “riddikulus!!” and follow up with laughter. Your laughter changes the boggart into at item that, in turn, makes YOU laugh. And all the power is immediately taken from this once terrifying shape-shifter.

Y’all. Who would have thought we could glean such wisdom here??  Don’t you see? The enemy knows exactly what shapes to take to speak to your fears.

He knows what lies prick the center of your heart.

He knows what actions from your husband hurt the worst.

He knows the words spoken over you from your mother still have real estate in your mind.

HE. KNOWS. 

So how to we fight back? How do we reclaim the ground that was stolen? We point and shout “RIDICULOUS”!!! And laugh RIGHT. IN. HIS. FACE. Because we know who holds the power.