A Sense of Humor: A Laughing Matter? (Part 1)

November 24, 2011 at 4:39 pm (Devotional Thoughts., Grace, Guidance, laughter, Life, Lighter Burdens., Mercy, Resting, strengthening, When you are afraid, When You Feel Like Crying., Wisdom)

Scripture reference;

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22KJV
 ¹¹A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Proverbs 29:11 KJV

 ¹⁰And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

 ¹¹And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

 ¹²And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

 ¹³And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

 ¹⁴Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

 ¹⁵Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? 1Samuel 21:10:15 KJV

 ¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 KJV
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I had to write a definition essay for my composition class.  I enjoyed it so much that I decided to add some scriptures and post it here, as well.

A Sense of Humor:  A Laughing Matter?

“She had…the glimmerings of a sense of humor – which is simply another name for a sense of the fitness of things.”– L.M. Montgomery.

A sense of humor is the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous. It can be endearing or despicable. A good sense of humor is an attribute that people prize in each other and also like to claim as an inherent characteristic when they describe themselves. A sense of humor is often the underlying cause of countless antics in school, on the job, and in many other stations that people are obligated to occupy that would otherwise be dreary, tedious, and wearisome. It is versatile; can be both enabling and disabling at the same time. It might serve as the tool selected by a craftsman builder, or the weapon wielded by a fierce warrior, able to humiliate and annihilate even the most formidable foe.  In any case, it must be handled with the utmost care. A sense of humor cannot be overestimated.

When people are asked what qualities they like best in a person, a good sense of humor is almost always at the forefront of their lists.  Conversely, if they are asked what bothers them the most about a person they dislike, they will often complain that the person either lacks a sense of humor or possesses a type of sense of humor that is somehow unappealing; that it is dry, morbid, juvenile, corny, or perverse. Granted, these terms used to describe various kinds of sense of humor are relative, and therein lies the challenge in employing one’s sense of humor with any degree of success when the audience is made up of strangers.  If a person is told that they lack a good sense of humor he or she might become defensive. This is by and large, due to the fact that lacking a sense of humor often equates with poor sportsmanship, and even deficient coping skills.

In order to demonstrate the significance of a good sense of humor one might pose the following question at a gathering of family or friends:  “Who are Lucille Ball, Bill Cosby, and Robin Williams?”.  It is their appeal to the sense of humor of a multitude of viewers that has made them household names. If it were not for that characteristic referred to as “A Good Sense of Humor” those names would be forever lost in obscurity.  Each of those stars has appeared in television situation comedies and in movies where they often portrayed ordinary people. Although they occupied settings that were for the most part run-of-the-mill, such as at home, in school or the workplace, their outrageous antics had such a striking impact that those scenes are forever etched in the memories of all. Who can forget that famous scene from “I Love Lucy” where Lucy and Ethel were wrapping chocolates in a candy factory? People who have seen that episode will most likely be able to recall the humor it contained whenever they, too, find themselves in peculiar situations in which things run amok, and as a result, they find the humor needed to alleviate some of the stress that plagued those situations.

A bad sense of humor can be detrimental to a person’s reputation.  Crude, unkind, and ill-timed remarks are almost impossible to live down, and can change that person’s standing from famous to infamous.  Take Rosie O’Donnell, Joan Rivers, and David Letterman for examples. All three of them are bright and often generally amusing, but their wit has gotten them in trouble on a number of occasions, and they have had to either make apologies or repeatedly explain what they meant when they originally made certain remarks. Their poorly chosen words were costly. In fact, many years ago there was a phrase coined by Joan Rivers that was her trademark:  “Can We talk?”.

Just like those tools and appliances sold on infomercials, a sense of humor can serve many purposes.  When someone wants to cheer up a crestfallen friend who has suffered some form of humiliation,  a kind and light-hearted sense of humor can be used to comfort, soothe, and even to restore  much needed dignity so well that it might be called “The Quicker Picker Upper”. Then there are those times when the task at hand seems daunting. Like those wall hooks that are made for hanging the heaviest wall shelves, a good sense of humor will provide the support needed to bear up and get the job done no matter how weighty it may seem. Finally, there are those crucial moments when a weapon is the tool that is required to deal with a situation.  The battle of words can be one of the most exhausting battles that one will ever wage. An adversary will often pull out his or her weapon of choice, that self-guided missile, that seeks out every little thing a person has regretted and blows them way out of proportion.  When that happens, the targeted person can become immobilized, as they reel from its force. However, a healthy sense of humor can create a buffer zone that will ensure survival.

A good sense of humor is not merely functional; it is a resourceful, adaptable, and indispensable trait that is both appreciated and coveted by many. It is often used to alleviate the stress and boredom that is prone to accompany our routines.  It is also capable of diffusing many precarious situations.  If we can learn to use it with discretion and skill, it will serve us for a lifetime. A good sense of humor is no laughing matter.

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Works Cited

Dictionary.com  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sense+of+humor

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