Wanky

Humour (or 'humor' if you are in the US) is a funny thing! I have always marvelled that what is funny to one person is not at all funny to another. 

Last week I went to see the wonderful (and weepingly funny) Jimmy Carr at a gig he did here in Aylesbury. His style of comedy (a mix, I guess, of observational and semantic humour) is, to me, the funniest in the world. Mrs Acular isn't quite the same, though I could appreciate why some of the jokes may not appeal to a person in her line of work. There were times when I couldn't breathe for laughing while she sat there stony faced. 

Another person that makes me laugh a huge amount is Billy Connolly. His humour revolves around diatribes and stories, and his punch-lines are normally one level or another of invective, but cry I do. Bill Bailey is also very funny, but for different reasons. At the gig I once saw, he used music to comedy effect and it was hilarious. 

As I sat, a couple of lagers on board, suffocating in my full appreciation of Jimmy Carr, I did have a moment of conscience. You may have gathered that I am something of a Christian, a church-goer if you like. I do the whole God thing and I know a little bit of the Bible. Some of Jimmy's jokes were cruel and not suitable for this blog, but I still found them funny. There topics of humour in his performance that, were I sitting behind this computer, I would be upset by, and would be writing strong words - yet in a theatre with a comedian, they were the stuff of my laughter. (I ought to confess here and now, that Acts 20: 9 causes me to laugh out loud every time I hear it - it is about the funniest thing in print). I am not a bad person. In fact I think I am a good person. I think the same of Jimmy, Billy and Bill - nice people the lot of them. It is interesting what makes us laugh. What is appropriate for a Christian to laugh at?

I partly worry that a little of the Christian psyche is to shun humour. There are times when churches feel like the edifices of the Venerable Jorge of Burgos (he thought laughter to be a sin, a 'devilish wind'). If only Christians could laugh at themselves just a little more, I am sure that the church would live longer (note to Doc Richmond of press fame).

The world is a very funny place if you let that side of life in. No greater source of fun and laughter is to be found in our household than the children. Only yesterday, when looking at a napkin, one of the Twins Aculae comments that it was a "large wanky" (we knew what she meant, of course). The wife and I died thrice, and our laughter only fuelled the girls' mirth. That amused us all for an hour, with a little staged repetition from daddy to stoke that fire. The girls laughed at our amusement, we laughed at a funny word. Only the day before (and given the end of term), the same Acularic Twin tried to pronounce "certificate" - the best effort resulting in "squiffy fuck" (no, really). I nearly crashed the car. Indeed, if one of the cherubs is in mid tantrum, I need only say a Rowan Atkinson-esque "bottom" and the moment is neutralised unto smirks and giggle. 

For me, life would be nothing without humour. Life without near-400 children yelling "GOOD AFTERNOON FARVAH DAVID" at assembly is as naught. I understand that laughter induces a chemical release which does us good. Perhaps churches should add themselves to the comedy tour circuits, who knows. 

Christians and Jews

Once again, it has been my good fortune to be considering some work with an organisation that seeks to increase understanding between Christians and Jews. I am glad of the invite. 

Until my visit to Jerusalem last October (see my separate, contextual blog), I must confess that my working knowledge of Judaism was text-bookish and informed by some stories that were around 2000 years old. I have since learned a great deal.

Added to this is the fraught issue of Israel and Palestine where lines seem to me at times to be blurred between Jew (religious) and Jew (Israeli), and in some cases there are clear distinctions. I receive regular pieces of correspondence from a Christian Jerusalemite with much to say about the treatment of Christians in Jerusalem and indeed the whole of Palestine. One day I must respond to him, and to challenge much that he says that troubles me. 

I am trying hard to piece all of this together. In my heart, I recognise that Jews and Christians share the same root system. We have lots in common, not least of all the great slab of Scripture that we share. Of course, we are different, but so much is similar. Jesus Christ was himself a Jew - and although he taught away from that corpus of Law, was nonetheless, an observant. 

There is too, the anti-Semitism that permeated much early Christian thinking. I understand, even if I do not share, the emotions of those who sought to judge the 'murderers of Christ' - ever mindful that the Grand Plan of our salvation demanded that the Jews did exactly what they did. I want to work out how my Christian ancestry and its world-view affect me in my time.  

In essence, I am excited about the possibilities for Jewish-Christian relationships. I believe it is one that can be a strong voice against oppression for either community. I have enjoyed worshipping with a Jewish community in Jerusalem. We are, after all, using the same words, about the same God. It seems important to me to have a feel for, a sympathy and understanding for, and dialogue with the Jewish community. I regard them as nothing less than brother and sisters in faith. 

I'll keep you all posted!

A 'Guilty Verdict' on Guilt

It's heavy, it's large, it comes without charge:

It's guilt.

We pick it up, we hold it tight, we may not even sleep at night:

It's guilt.

We wear it, we pamper it, there is no real damper for it:

It's guilt. 

We are loved and forgiven, but yet we are riven 

With guilt. 

De dum de dum de dum. Guilt.

I read some blogs, you know. I know some lovely people, some of whom are Christian. Some of those nice people are exemplary in the way that they live their lives and in all that they say and do. Yes most of those people, and I am willing to bet even you, dear Reader, carry 200lbs of excess weight. You aren't carrying it because you have been asked to, or because anyone else wants you to. You aren't carrying it because you want to, or because it is desirable to do so. We carry it because we think that we should.

In my not inconsiderable time in Christian circles, I have become increasing frustrated with this paradox - the 'God has forgiven me' bit weighing against the 'But I feel so guilty about X Y Z'. 

What do we, as Christians, "have"?

1. Hope in the Resurrection, and the promise of eternal life

2. The sure knowledge that when repentant, God will forgive us every sin and rejoice at a lost sheep found.

3. The gifts of the sacraments - God's outward signs of His endless grace.

4. Comprehensive scriptures from which we can educate, edify and nourish our faith

5. The gift of faith in the first place - that we are surely saved. 

6. The Epiphany in which we share even this day.

7. The mightiest 'friend' in the highest of places.

8. The gift of love in such abundance that we will never know its absence

9. A sacrifice made for us that we may live

10. Quite a lot of guilt.

Why? We have so much, yet feel guilty that we, as mere mortals, could ever be this loved, saved and protected. We feel guilty about being Christians at times too - which is why our noble nation is one that apologises for it (are not 70% of us professed if not practising Christians?). We feel guilty if we do, and we feel guilty if we don't. We feel guilty when we pray because it is not enough, and when we pray more, we move our own goal-posts. Guilt, guilt, guilt.

When we cock it up, that is the time to feel some measure of guilt. When it is a resolved cock-up, the lesson learned, we should lay down that burden. When we feel guilty for being the recipients of the purest and most wonderful gifts ever known, that is when it is a problematic appetite. When we feel guilty about something, we can never fully let go and enjoy (life, the moment, the thing, the person) and guilt is slowly robbing us all of pure wonder and much of our life. 

It is alright to not feel guilty. It is not a source of growth, it is a source of inhibition and stifling. Put some of it down, it is dragging you backwards!