Can we believe and trust the media? Government? Science? Religion? Anyone!?
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For some time now I've been telling myself I need to stop with the humor. Not with finding humor - certainly I need to take myself less serious - but with trying to be humorous. It gets me in trouble.
My default form of humor is sarcasm; being facetious. Both can be inappropriate and misunderstood. When the president of the USA said he was being sarcastic about using disenfectants to combat covid-19, the thought passed through my mind, "If the president shouldn't use sarcasm, maybe I shouldn't either" (and I don't think the president should).
Maybe that will be something good that comes out of this pandemic. Maybe the world will get tired of believing everything they read or hear on the news, everything we see on Facebook and misguided but well-intentioned advice and opinion from friends even. Maybe information and arguments will give way to... I don't know... wouldn't it be nice if it were mere... kindness?
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What if we don't need to know everything? What if we don't have to have all the answers? What if there are no solutions... Just life and death, love and forgiveness, beauty and reality... things like that?
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I posted a thing on Facebook last night about wearing masks during the pandemic. I hate that it has turned into a political thing. Like, only leftist liberals are wearing them, and conservative right-wingers don't. I admit, I fell for the hype.
My daughter commented that masks give her anxiety. I responded in my typical facetious way. I think/hope she understood I was not making fun of her, but as I re-read it this morning it hit me square in the face just how unkind it was (even as humor). I promptly wrote an apology, and meant it, but the damage had been done. Not just to her, but anyone who read it, as well as my own warped mental structure.
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Who can be trusted? Who can we believe? Are there any authority figures anymore? Should there be?
I read an article yesterday, 'Leaders Are Crying On the Job. Maybe That's A Good Thing.' It has long been accepted that crying is seen as a weakness (at least for the last century). The author points out that is changing. As she says, "...there are some subjects that are simply too heart-wrenching not to cry about, no matter one’s gender — and the current pandemic may be one of them."
Perhaps what we are seeing is the fallacy of a 'stiff upper lip.' Which is not to dismiss ultimate truth, but might be an admission that... none of us are God. We may long to know God, and we may believe we know Truth, but we must also be willing to admit... sometimes we are wrong. All of us.
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Maybe it's a humility thing. God knows I need some. I suppose everyone else is aware of this too (about me). Could it be, that, this desire to trust someone else needs to start with being able to trust... myself? Being honest with myself; being truthful; vulnerable, authentic, empathetic; being emotionally connected to others, and to Jesus himself... Maybe that's what I want. Maybe that's what I need. And you too.
Is that kind of a world possible? I honestly do not know. I want to hope it is. Anymore, though, I'm tempted to believe someone who is crying and weak more than I am apt to believe someone appearing self-assured and confident. Which then makes me fear becoming too emotionally controlled... (like that's a bad thing).
I don't know, friends (or "friend"). I just don't know. I truly hope Someone does though.
2 comments:
Humour is a funny thing, eh? (arf, arf!) It's when I'm trying to be funny that I'm usually a dud. But if I am in company with people who make me laugh, there's usually a point where we're all on a roll. It's almost like a group dance.
As for the mask thing, I think the issue is a tad more fraught out your way. Well, hold on ... if my FB feed is any indication there are people up here with similar convictions who also seem really angry about it. But I think most people understand this bug is shutting down other places and economies and cultures that are very different from ours, so it's not a masterful conspiracy set loose (those tend not to work too well, generally speaking).
I don't mind wearing the mask. Other cultures did it first thing, because they always do it first thing. It might help. It's not going to hurt, so ... I wear mine. The one I've Sharpied to look like a pair of gitch, 'cos we can all use whatever chuckles we can muster. BTW I've only received one chuckle over the mask so far. Maybe I'm trying too hard?
Haha... so your mask is like 'humour'?
I don't mind wearing the mask either. Though I prefer the homemade cloth ones to a proper N95. Sure, cloth is not as good, but it's much more comfortable and therefore I am more apt to keep it on.
I've yet to have to wear one for an extended period though. That could make it different, I'm sure.
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