Humor and Humility

As a young pastor, fresh out of seminary, I asked my friend and colleague Roger Kunkel if he had any advice for a new pastor. He said, “Take your ministry seriously—but don’t take yourself too seriously. Cultivate a sense of humor and a sense of humility.”

A few years later, Roger actually gave me a lesson in humility. We were team-teaching a class for adults in our congregation, taking turns leading the lesson. Roger taught first and then handed it over to me. I had really prepared and thought I had an outstanding lesson. But when it was time to give the lead back to Roger, I noticed his head was down—and I think he might have been snoring. One of the young men in the front row said, “Joe, you put him to sleep, man!”

Roger and I laughed about that for years. It would have been easy for one or both of us to feel embarrassed or hurt, but it was much better for the soul to laugh.

One of Roger’s favorite proverbs was, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” How true it is!

Let us pray: Loving God, there are times in life when the whole world seems to conspire against us, when everything seems to be falling apart. Thank you for the ability to laugh, even in the face of life’s absurdities. Thank you especially for the ability to laugh at ourselves. Help us to always remember how much we have to be grateful for in any circumstance—and to remember that you are ultimately in charge. In humility and laughter, may we rediscover your presence and your joy. Amen.