On Stepping in Kung-Fu-Fu

Courtesy J. Schuler

I'm usually so careful. I counsel others about their 'snark quotient'. I don't post political articles or cartoons. I know I'm going to get on at least 50% of the population's last nerve one way or the other. I don't write social commentaries on abortion or gay rights issues even if I have an opinion. I'm a fraidy cat, and you know us. We play it safe.

Or, at least I thought I did until I hit the share button and stepped in a big ole pile of Kung-fu-fu. From the time the cartoon popped up on my Facebook wall until I had read and hit 'share' was maybe 2.6 seconds.

Courtesy B. Creasy

I was belly-laughing. It had to do with the economy and how it had gotten so tight that a certain segment of the business population had laid off some senators. What's not to laugh at? I even posted, “This is funny. I don't care who you are.” 

 I forgot that the 'who' in “who you are” might just be a hard-working family employed by that very industry – for over forty years as a matter-of-fact. My friend spoke up and chastened me. I deserved it. I offered sincere mea culpa as I gulped my heart back down into my chest. I deleted the post faster than I would have let go of a hot horse shoe.

In the intervening days since, I have thought about how one fella's light-hearted chuckle is another person's pain. When we moved to a house near a place called Strange Road, my friends got a huge chuckle out of the coincidence. We all laughed at my expense. It was safe to do so because I have it on the good authority of several medical professionals that I'm not strange at all.

Me - on dental drugs

So, what's not to laugh about when I post a comic postcard or cartoon about being crazy. After that pile of Kung-fu-fu was cleaned up as best I could, I realized I have friends who are dealing with diagnosed mental illness among close family members.

I'm thinking my echoing laughter rings kinda hollow when my tongue-in-cheek jokes bounce over to their walls. Maybe on a good day they belly-laugh right along with me. On a bad day, not so much. I'm hitting the share button a little bit slower these days, lemme tell ya. If Jay Leno and his peers have a 3 second delay, mine is more like ten times that. Oh, sure. I'll post another funny. I'll just be more mindful.

Political cartoons and discussions are all the rage as the election approaches. I'm an equal opportunity chuckler. I guess that happens when you vote a split ticket every chance you get. I laugh behind the privacy of this screen. That's as far as it goes.

Courtesy Mad Penguin Creative

As the political fall out of the Chick-Fil-A furor continued rising to a fevered frenzy, I thought about my pile of Kung-fu-fu. I thought about the election cycle and the endless snarky posts that circulate from both sides of the political spectrum. I thought about my silence and how that silence may echo or go unnoticed. I wondered what God required of me and knew it did not involve political cartoons on Facebook nor social media commentary.

Then, it hit me. I had been given my marching orders centuries ago:

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well, so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. (1 Timothy 2: 1-3 The Message)

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously— take God seriously. (Micah 6: 8 The Message)

It's easy to get caught up in the furor of the moment in this fraidy cat world. Before we know it, we've shared a little bit of hurtful humor or a whole lot of snark because we failed to activate our three, or thirty, second delay. We've forgotten that God, in his mercy, told us to be merciful and to pray. 

 

Courtesy Mad Penguin Creative

God didn't invent social media as the avenue to perfect political and social commentary. His avenue existed long before the rotary dial phone, but it was always a hot wire to Heaven. It's called prayer.

So, in this politically charged season in a politically charged and fraidy cat world, join me and take a deep breath. Decide that we will not practice road rage via the avenue of social media. Let's remember the marching orders we received centuries ago. Take God more seriously. If our prayers are outnumbered by our social media rants, cartoons, and posters, we have failed in that directive.

Lord, help us live up to your high calling. God bless our leaders. Convict and direct them. Minister to and nourish them. You establish rulers. You chasten your people. May the name of the Lord be praised.

Courtesy B. Creasy 2010

2 Chronicles 2 Chronicles 7: 14 (Amplified Bible)

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.