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It may not be an absolute necessity but it is a very considerable
advantage to have a sense of humour.
Life is such that the serious often dominates one's life
so much that the frivolous has little place in it. But strangely
there are many who live in conditions abhorrent to us and
they find pleasure where only poverty and pain is their certain
lot. Does that mean that the joyful spirit can overcome any
and every crisis that confronts us?
The essence of the Christian faith is that belief in God,
dependence on Christ, is itself the supreme happiness, for
it enables the believer to withstand even the most awful experiences.
It has enabled Christians to live, and sometimes to die, in
the most horrific circumstances.
Living as we do in a largely secular society the reality
is that many people, without obvious cause of complaint, find
it hard to enjoy their way of life. To them contentment is
elusive. There are always the little dissatisfactions that
prevent them having ease of mind much of the time.
It would appear that most people accept, somewhat reluctantly,
the position in which they find themselves and just make the
best of it. It is a reason why many find it essential to go
seeking entertainment that will make their lives happier and
more enjoyable. Even very temporary pleasure provides a necessitous
break from the ordinariness of their lives.
There are many causes of discontent. A main one is that people
find themselves in jobs that fail to give them job satisfaction.
It could be that a chosen occupation or profession, after
time, is no longer fulfilling the expectations of the early
exciting days. If the question were asked about work the answer
could well be, "I do not like what I have to do for a
living."
And for those who would say that it could be very difficult
to change jobs for reasons that are so apparent they need
no explanation.
Nowadays, though, with quite revolutionary changes in industry
and commerce, workers are being compelled to leave their trades
and to retrain for other jobs. This because long established
businesses have closed down and others have taken their businesses
to far away locations for economic reasons, like lower costs
and cheaper labour.
Necessity has dictated cases and there are those who have
found retraining, for a new and different job, to be of great
benefit to them.
When change is possible without pressure it can mean the
fulfilment of a dream. That is true of the ministry of the
Church where men and women have been allowed to satisfy a
sense of vocation which lay dormant for years. At once they
find that what they most need are commitment to Christ and
the church, and to be joyful.
These are necessities for Christian ministry. The work is
serious, touching as it does, the whole of people's lives.
The message is of peace, satisfaction and joy in Christ; and
the ease of mind, contentment of soul the gifts of God to
all who believe in Him.
It is very different to a Christianity, which we know of,
that is unfeeling, stiff and unapproachable the kind that
dissuades people from turning to Christ. The Christian minister
has the privilege of telling and reminding people that faith
in Christ draws "the poison from every grief, takes the
sting from every loss, and quenches the fire of every pain,
and only faith can do it" S.C. Holland, former Premier
of New Zealand.
Whatever our job, occupation or profession, whether we like
it or not, there is the onus on us to do the very best we
can with what abilities we have, for life is caring and sharing
with people all the time. We should strive to see the positive
in every negative, and to cultivate the joyous Christ-like
spirit for life is enhanced by humour. It is reduced by humourless
people who sour the atmosphere with their gloom and doom.
The Christian rejoices in the Lord always for he knows the
benefits of the Gospel and friendship with Christ.
A smile: The young mother was placing her baby in the
back seat of the car when I said, "I didn't know they
sold them in Sainsbury's." She replied, "If I'd
bought him in Sainsbury's I'd have taken him back for he cries
all night."
Rev. Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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