The Friday Funnies – Hit the Pause Button.

In light of past events, I’m taking a moment away from my usual Friday silliness. I wondered why last Friday’s Funnies (which I thought was very funny) got so few hits. Then it dawned on me that the times were not so funny. Ida was brewing, and it was apparent that wherever she went ashore, apocalyptic destruction would follow. Then there was the debacle in Afghanistan. Hundreds of people–families, those of other faiths, and those who’d helped the US over the past 20 years–were standing in long lines in the sweltering heat with one desire: to get out of Afghanistan. Alas, Ida was a horror. Unfortunately, we left so many behind.

Amid all the bad news, I remembered a story that I read years ago about an Auschwitz survivor. Of all the horrors in that place, the morning and evening roll calls were some of the worst. Hundreds of inmates had to stand at attention for hours as they sounded off their tattooed numbers. If the tally was off in any way, the entire process began again. In searing heat or winter’s blast, they stood until the count tallied. It was agony.

The man stated that in order to escape the gut-wrenching misery and boredom of the count, he learned early on to look up into the bright sunshine of day or the starlit night. He amused himself by looking for mythical creatures or people’s faces in the billowy clouds. At night, he counted the stars in the velvet sky and looked for the constellations. During the day, he worked backbreaking jobs. He recalled humming songs, reciting poetry, and the Psalms over and over. And he survived.

Sometimes, when life is hard and dark, when it blows away everything that means anything to you, you must somehow, someway CHOOSE to survive. Choose to be happy. Contented. At peace. And most of all, looking for simple things that bring simple pleasures, happiness, and hopefully…a smile. When you’re trying to make sense of it all, don’t forget to take along your sense of humor.

Please pray for those affected by Ida and those we left behind. I am.

(Originally posted September 3, 2021)