Part I – A three part series on spirituality and humor

I don’t have much in common with Chris Rock. He is a rich, famous, African American comedian who is known for his laser-like wit and politically incorrect humor. I am not rich, famous, black, nor am I very funny. However, I get a lot of attention because we share the same name.

I like being associated with somebody who makes people laugh, even if his humor can be irreverent and crude. Humor is risky, precisely because it leans towards irreverence. That’s its nature. Perhaps that is why I trust it so much. It is really hard to be pretentious and funny at the same time. Pretentiousness leads to spiritual death. A good sense of humor signals a certain kind of humility, which is the basis of all good spirituality.

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A couple of years ago, my friend Penny loaned me a beautiful book called Imaging the Word, full of poetry and art to inspire prayers throughout the liturgical year. Of all the entries in the book, one that stood out for me is called “Beatitudes for Friends and Family,” by an unknown author with cerebral palsy. It reminded me so much of our dear friend Carolyn Finnell, who passed away a couple of years ago.

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