One of my favorite writers is a columnist named Kathleen Parker. She has a sense of humor and an appreciation for the metaphor. Let me insert a few quotes from her recent column titled “Reality in wonderland” and printed in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle on January 2, 2015. Early on she states: “Life isn’t a comedy. It’s a joke”. I love that phrase. Incredibly, I have written a story titled “The Real Joke Book”. It starts off with:” Life is a series of jokes…”
The point being that reality is mirrored in jokes, and jokes are an easier way to understand life. She goes on to state that: “Life isn’t a comedy after all. It’s a comic book.” Again, I heartily concur. Included in stories I have written are references to cartoonists and their take on reality. Kathleen and I are on the same page.
But, most importantly, her later reference to a “superhero to restore truth, justice, and the American Way,” to my mind visits a different realm than the comic pages. These may be comic book times, but we need more than a comic book hero to rescue our world from its stupid headlong plunge into distress and conflict. You can take that one from there.
Until such a rescue happens, we must go on living our lives the best way we can and treat everyone with respect, help those in need, and forgive all. Fortunately, we have been given gifts sufficient to allow us to do all of that. Two of those gifts are found in what Kathleen alludes to when she proclaims life as a joke, and refers to a comic book world. Basically, they are a sense of humor and the grace of laughter.
While we are fundamentally powerless to change the crazy world at large, we can change the one in which we live on a daily basis. Relighting Us can put us on a path to spread the right messages, not only for those who have lost loved ones, but as a model for everyone. It restores laughter.
Laughter is contagious. Laughter is healing. Laughter opens many closed doors. We need more doors opened. Restoring joy is a step in that direction. It works its way into ones personality and sets a tone that when shared can change the world. One laugh at a time.