Monkey business.
Sometimes people say they do not get my humor. I understand that. Because it's weird. When you come from a weird background, humor gets a little twisted. Yet it allows you some distance, a sort of respite or distraction from the pain. It also helps to view things from a different perspective - avoiding the pitfall of taking oneself too seriously amidst much confusion.
Watching a PBS story on Japanese Snow Monkeys helped me to understand this. Their human like behavior is what we find so endearing about them. A scene repeated in the ads for the documentary shows one monkey ambushing another, jumping on the back of the unsuspecting bather. I'm not sure if a fight ensued - but it reminded me of how we interact with one another - how we fight. In an earlier post I said I thought it was funny how one blogger takes down another. They fight and tear each other to pieces - using their blog and website. Though all the contenders are Catholic - they upset themselves and the entire 'blogosphere' with their issues. One sees that with discussions on the Synod. Though mostly speculation by a lot of people who know little to nothing about what is really going on - save from negative news sources or scandal 'journalists' they subscribe to . If you are able to step back, disengage for a few moments - or a few days - you get a glimpse of the behavior. I think it pretty closely resembles that of the Snow Monkeys.
Long story short - I playfully wondered if that is how God sees things. I can't imagine God is agitating Catholics into a panic over the Synod, nor that he stirs people up to lambaste fellow Catholics who have different points of view on all the clamor surrounding discussions by the Synod Fathers. The Synod is more or less closed - so who can know what the results will be? Hence my consideration - maybe God laughs at us - just a little. The way we say things? After all, those who do not hold back on condemnations seem to believe God will excuse them, saying, "you were a little hard in that battle but I forgive you because you did it for me and my little ones." I trust God is merciful.
I don't know - but I get a kick out of it. Catholic blogisticians online crack me up. One blogger says the Synod is demonic yet admits she doesn't know what is really going on. Another blogger who has a continuing campaign against Fr. Rosica says he's sacrificing everything else - hopefully not duties in his state of life - to blog breaking news reports on what is going on at the Synod - for the sake of those who have no voice. I don't know - but I think that is sitcom material. I'm not being sarcastic, nor am I mocking these folks. I'm not pretending to be above them, or better than them - I simply think it's funny. After all, how many people use the cliche, "sick back with popcorn to watch" the silliness unfold?
I totally cracked up over this line from
When we take ourselves so seriously, and imagine that we are indispensable - it's funny. Especially when you jump on another monkey's back while he's totally unaware, and the two of you wrestle each other in the pool. It's very childlike.
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices. - St. Teresa of Avila
This pretty much says it all.
Ahem...I coined "Gnostic pools of crackpottery." Though I bet you said Fr Z just to yank my chain...because you have a twisted sense of humor, no doubt. :-)
ReplyDeleteI honestly thought Z said it?
DeleteFixed it. I really thought Z used it in a post last week as he was complaining of Synod fatigue even before the Synod began.
DeleteNo biggie, but thanks for the credit.
DeleteI had it in this post: 10 Things to Do Instead Of Reading About The Synod.
You linked to it in an earlier post.
That's how I got it mixed up then. Doh!
DeleteMeh ... I read the "one who throws bombs" post on New Advent. I read his stuff with a grain of salt since I have yet to read him asking folks to trust and to pray with regards to the Synod or anything else regarding the Church. I thought of this man while reading your post about these playful snow monkeys. Ambushing from behind like those furry guys do is something that seems to have been done. What do I know?
ReplyDeleteFYI: It seems he has had to change "the list" since the initial post - four of the reported twelve deny signing it.
I've followed the 'headlines' for these things - or they come up in a Google search. They seem to be so on the fringe that I can't see them having the effect they believe they have on Church affairs. It really was brought home to me at Mass this weekend - normal people with families do not even know these online discussions are taking place. This part of the net is pretty much like the void network.
DeleteI've followed the 'headlines' for these things - or they come up in a Google search. They seem to be so on the fringe that I can't see them having the effect they believe they have on Church affairs. It really was brought home to me at Mass this weekend - normal people with families do not even know these online discussions are taking place. This part of the net is pretty much like the void network.
DeleteI agree Terry. I am praying for all to go well for the sake of marriage and family and for all of us to benefit from prayer and faith and trust.
DeleteThe Lord and His Bride are so much more, so much bigger than anything we can imagine. I want to be a part of the faithful who pray for all rather than be online "scandalized into believing" these self-important folks who seem to thrive on it.
Just my poor opinion but that's the vibe I get from them.
I've been watching this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWKUeV5B4mI
ReplyDeleteDawn French is one of my favorites. Actually, my humor pretty much goes along the lines of her's and Catherine Tate's stuff. Tate had a perfect video - the backhander woman - which reminded me of several Catholic bloggers. And that's pretty much how I learned to laugh at much of the stuff online. ;)
DeleteThis one is perfect:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atP0od7vFjM
LOL
ReplyDelete