Tickling Yourself

Did you know it is impossible to tickle yourself? Each of us has various degrees of ticklishness, but according to a Wired Magazine report from October 2022, we can't tickle ourselves. You see, our brain anticipates our actions, reducing the sensory impact. Therefore, because we anticipate the touch, it doesn’t tickle.

While the scientist can give a biological explanation for why we can’t tickle ourselves, allow me to hypothesize another explanation. I think it shows how God values community. It underlines the Bible's emphasis on communal joy - we need each other to experience full joy. Scriptures highlight humor's healing power, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22). But I think God, in His wisdom, created us for a shared merriment.

We often emphasize the importance of the community of believers. Let’s also embrace this Divine Design (although we may need to keep our hands to ourselves) and enjoy the laughter of God’s family together.

Duke Stone
After 40 years in full-time ministry, I try to see how the little things in life speak big things about God. This blog is an attempt to share with you the many ways I see the love of God in the ordinary things of life.