Embracing Joy: The Wisdom of Humility and Humor

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explore the profound wisdom encapsulated in "Rule Number 62: Don't take yourself too seriously." This principle, originating from the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, serves as a reminder to release the burdens of self-importance and grandiosity. The story of a leader who attempted to create the most elaborate AA group, only to fail spectacularly, illustrates the pitfalls of overcomplicating life and the importance of simplicity. His eventual realization, humorously summarized in a postcard, underscores the necessity of humility and the ability to laugh at oneself.

C.S. Lewis, Martin Luther, and Thomas More all highlight the power of humor in spiritual warfare, suggesting that the devil cannot endure being mocked. This idea is echoed by G.K. Chesterton, who humorously attributes Lucifer's fall to his own gravity of self-importance. The narrative of Pope John XXIII further exemplifies this lesson. Despite his significant responsibilities, he learned to sleep peacefully by embracing the advice of a guardian angel: "Don't take yourself so seriously."

The spiritual discipline of laughing at oneself is crucial for maintaining humanity, humility, and humor. These qualities, rooted in the word "humus," remind us of our creatureliness and the importance of not elevating ourselves above others. Joy, as commanded in the Bible, is not a selfish pursuit but a moral obligation that uplifts those around us. The story of Abraham and Sarah, who laughed at God's promise of a child in their old age, illustrates how divine joy can transform disbelief into laughter and fulfillment.

In embracing Rule Number 62, we are encouraged to celebrate imperfections, reject the pressure to be "cool," and find gratitude in the small, everyday moments. By doing so, we align ourselves with a God who delights in joy and laughter, reminding us that the weight of the world is not ours to bear. Instead, we are invited to live with lightness and gratitude, trusting in the ultimate triumph of God's love and goodness.

Key Takeaways:

- Embracing humility and simplicity is essential to spiritual growth. The story of the failed AA group leader teaches us that overcomplicating life with grandiose plans can lead to failure. Instead, we should focus on simplicity and humility, recognizing that our self-importance can be a barrier to true connection with God and others. [01:12]

- Humor is a powerful spiritual tool. C.S. Lewis and other thinkers highlight that the devil cannot stand to be mocked, suggesting that laughter can be a form of spiritual resistance. By not taking ourselves too seriously, we can disarm pride and embrace a more joyful, liberated life. [02:22]

- Joy is a moral obligation. The Bible commands us to rejoice, not as a selfish pursuit, but as a way to uplift those around us. When we are joyful, it positively impacts our families, workplaces, and communities, spreading God's love and goodness. [07:03]

- God's promises often come with unexpected joy. The story of Abraham and Sarah shows that even in disbelief, God's promises can bring laughter and fulfillment. This reminds us to trust in God's timing and to find joy in His plans, even when they seem improbable. [08:45]

- Celebrate imperfections and reject the pressure to be "cool." By acknowledging our flaws and finding gratitude in small moments, we align ourselves with God's love and grace. This perspective frees us from the burdens of self-importance and allows us to live with lightness and joy. [10:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Rule Number 62
- [00:38] - The Story of the AA Leader
- [01:23] - The Humorous Postcard
- [01:56] - Theological Insights on Humor
- [02:52] - Pope John XXIII's Wisdom
- [04:01] - The Discipline of Laughing at Yourself
- [05:06] - The Connection Between Humanity and Humor
- [05:57] - A Personal Story of Joy
- [06:30] - The Command to Rejoice
- [07:28] - God's Love for Joy
- [07:43] - Abraham and Sarah's Laughter
- [09:00] - The Lightness of Life
- [09:57] - Celebrating Imperfections
- [10:54] - Finding Gratitude in Small Moments

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 17:15-17
2. Genesis 18:10-15
3. Philippians 4:4

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the grand vision of the AA leader, and how did it lead to failure? ([00:38])
2. How does C.S. Lewis describe the power of humor in spiritual warfare? ([02:08])
3. What advice did Pope John XXIII receive from his guardian angel, and how did it impact his perspective on leadership? ([03:31])
4. How did Abraham and Sarah react to God's promise of a child, and what does their reaction reveal about their faith? ([08:18])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of the AA leader illustrate the dangers of self-importance and overcomplicating life? ([01:12])
2. In what ways can humor serve as a form of spiritual resistance, according to the sermon? ([02:22])
3. Why is joy considered a moral obligation in the Bible, and how does it affect those around us? ([07:03])
4. How does the story of Abraham and Sarah demonstrate the unexpected joy that can come from trusting in God's promises? ([08:45])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you took yourself too seriously. How did it affect your relationships and spiritual life? What can you do differently next time? ([01:39])
2. How can you incorporate more humor and lightness into your daily routine to combat pride and self-importance? ([04:01])
3. Identify a situation where you can choose joy over negativity this week. How might this choice impact your family or workplace? ([07:03])
4. Think of a promise from God that seems improbable in your life. How can you find joy and trust in His timing, like Abraham and Sarah? ([08:45])
5. What small imperfections in yourself or others can you celebrate this week, and how can this perspective bring you closer to God's love and grace? ([10:38])
6. Consider a moment today to express gratitude for something small. How can this practice help you live with more lightness and joy? ([10:54])
7. How can you remind yourself that the weight of the world is not yours to bear, and what practical steps can you take to live with more gratitude and trust in God's goodness? ([11:04])

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Simplicity and Humility
In a world that often values complexity and grandiosity, embracing simplicity and humility can be a profound spiritual practice. The story of the AA leader who failed in his attempt to create an elaborate group serves as a reminder that overcomplicating life can lead to failure. Instead, focusing on simplicity and humility allows us to connect more deeply with God and others. By releasing the burdens of self-importance, we open ourselves to genuine relationships and spiritual growth. [01:12]

"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" (Isaiah 57:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can simplify and practice humility today? How might this change your interactions with others?


Day 2: Laughter as Spiritual Resistance
Humor is not just a source of joy but a powerful tool in spiritual warfare. C.S. Lewis and other thinkers suggest that the devil cannot endure being mocked, highlighting the disarming power of laughter. By not taking ourselves too seriously, we can resist pride and embrace a more joyful, liberated life. This perspective allows us to face challenges with a light heart and a resilient spirit. [02:22]

"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you took yourself too seriously. How can you find humor in it and use laughter as a way to lighten your heart today?


Day 3: Joy as a Moral Obligation
Joy is not merely a personal pursuit but a moral obligation that uplifts those around us. The Bible commands us to rejoice, emphasizing that our joy can positively impact our families, workplaces, and communities. By choosing joy, we spread God's love and goodness, creating an environment where others can also experience His grace. [07:03]

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally choose joy in your daily interactions today? What impact might this have on those around you?


Day 4: Trust in God's Promises
The story of Abraham and Sarah illustrates that even in disbelief, God's promises can bring unexpected joy and fulfillment. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's timing and to find joy in His plans, even when they seem improbable. By embracing divine joy, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's promises. [08:45]

"And Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.'" (Genesis 21:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one promise from God that you find hard to believe? How can you open your heart to trust in His timing and find joy in His plans today?


Day 5: Celebrate Imperfections and Find Gratitude
By acknowledging our flaws and finding gratitude in small moments, we align ourselves with God's love and grace. This perspective frees us from the burdens of self-importance and allows us to live with lightness and joy. Celebrating imperfections helps us reject the pressure to be "cool" and embrace the beauty of our authentic selves. [10:38]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one imperfection you can celebrate today? How can you find gratitude in a small moment and experience God's grace in your life?

Quotes

"i'm so glad you're tuning into this video we're learning how to live one day at a time taking one thought that can be a great thought that can be an anchor thought that can be a swing thought that can guide us through the day keep us connected with god and give us a place to stand and today's thought i love it's all about rule number 62." [00:08:08]

"there was a group getting started and there was a guy a leader who was prone towards grandiosity and he was determined that he was going to begin the greatest aaa group of all time and he had visions for this education center and kind of lavish rehab facilities and incredibly complicated uh picture of what the future was going to look like in order to ensure that everything would be exactly the way that he wanted to that it would be in control and look like his vision he actually wrote down 61 separate rules that everybody who was a part of this vision was going to follow and of course that violated the whole notion of keep it simple stupid and it was a spectacular flop the thing just was a complete utter miserable failure and everybody knew it and he wrote a little summary of it in a single postcard and sent it into headquarters and uh it consisted of a single sentence rule number 62." [00:34:00]

"c.s lewis wrote a wonderful book called the screw tape letters and in the beginning he has these uh remarkable quotes martin luther says that if you cannot get the devil to flee through using text of scriptures the best way is to jeer him and flaunt him because he cannot stand to be laughed at and thomas moore another great thinker of the christian faith said the devil proud spirit cannot endure to be mocked g.k chesterton wrote that lucifer was originally an angel but he fell because of the force of gravity because of the weight of his own need for importance his own need to think that he was god today don't take yourself too seriously" [00:122:39]

"maybe the most influential pope of the 20th century was john the 23rd he's a remarkable man a remarkable intellect but especially an amazing spirit and a deeply humbly humble person and uh one time an archbishop came up to him guy who had just been made archbishop and he was filled with self-importance and self-preoccupation and he said to john the 23rd i'm just not able to sleep at night because the weight of all the responsibilities that i carry is so great because it's so important that i get everything right and john the 23rd looked at him and said with some compassion yes i used to have that problem also i used to not be able to sleep until a guardian angel came to me at night and said hey johnny boy don't take yourself so seriously and the thought of an angel saying that to a pope i just love and what he was saying with some humor was i am seeking to be liberated from the sin of taking myself my image my reputation my project what people think of me my self-importance i i'm seeking to be delivered from the sin of taking myself too seriously not god too seriously not life too seriously not other people me i take myself so seriously" [00:170:80]

"and john the 23rd was saying i'm now engaging in a spiritual discipline of laughing at myself now you might never have thought about laughing at yourself as a spiritual discipline before but it is and it's terribly important to being a fully human person when we are unable to laugh at ourselves anymore we are vulnerable to terrible problems i've been reading an amazing book called story by robert mckee and mckee says in it that the shortest book in human history is the book of human of german humor because uh when a society becomes unable to laugh at itself when its leaders become puffed up and authoritarian and narcissistic then we're headed for trouble and it's a fascinating thing if you think about four words that are all deeply connected to the same root human to have humanity humor humility a sense of my own creatureliness all come out of the root uh humus which is that dark material that comes from decaying plants and animals from which human beings rise and i want to live today with humanity and humility and humor so i remember 62 rule number 62 don't take yourself too seriously" [00:258:079]

"one of the pictures that i have that i most love is a picture of my dad uh towards the end of his life and uh he just has this unforced deeply felt smile on his face my dad was often kind of self-conscious if somebody was taking a picture and so he would do a smile where he's trying to smile for the camera here my mom told me the reason for this particular picture is my dad was uh drinking a diet coke my dad was a teetotaler from a long line of teethers but at the last second somebody swapped out the coke and put a can of beer in his hand so in the picture you can't see the can but you see my dad smiling and i was thinking about this and about the role of joy in our lives and why is it that the bible actually makes joy a command rejoice in the lord always i will say it again rejoice and i was thinking when i was a kid if dad came home and there was a smile like that on his face if my dad was deeply deeply happy it was good news for everybody in the house joy to my dad would just trickle down to everybody else you think about that when you were a kid when your dad was really happy or your mom was really happy or you're going to work and your boss is deeply joyful what a good thing that is for you it's odd because we'll often think of joy as a selfish pursuit but the truth is you have a moral obligation to be joyful when you and i are joyful it brings joy to the people around us and when we're not when we take ourselves too damn seriously it brings gravity and a loss of morale and a loss of human spirit and a loss of goodness to other people and our god is a god who loves joy or else he would not have commanded it and who actually loves it when we laugh" [00:350:88]

"one of the remarkable stories that reveals this part of god's character involves god's interactions with abraham and sarah these are the characters who are going to begin god's people and god first comes to abraham when he's quite an old guy 75 and says i'm going to start a new nation with you and then he waits 24 years the joke's on you he comes to abraham in genesis chapter 17 i think it is and says you're going to be a father through sarah and abraham secretly laughs is this going to happen at this age when i'm too old to become a father and then in the next chapter god comes back reiterates the promise and this time sarah hears and sarah falls down and sarah laughs well i have this pleasure at my age and i think she's using the word pleasure ironically and god actually says to sarah why did you laugh and sarah lies because she's afraid says i didn't laugh and god says yes you did laugh and then isaac is born they give him the name isaac and isaac means he laughs and uh sarah's wonderful comment on this is in in the book of genesis is that the lord has brought me laughter you think about that one the lord has brought me laughter the lord has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me see this need to receive our life with lightness and gratitude and not take ourselves too seriously is not something that is glib or casual it is deeply rooted in the person of god paul says we boast in the hope of the glory of god and i know what it is uh to be in the middle of a situation where you feel the pain and the hurt so deeply that you don't have words for it and laughter is needed then maybe as much as it's needed anytime else because it's only a passing thing the shadow it's only a passing thing sin and death and darkness it is god and the love and the hope and the goodness of god that will triumph through the cross and then the resurrection which is the great moment of laughter in all of human history so today remember rule number 62 don't take yourself too seriously look for opportunities at some points during the day to say i was wrong today just for today don't try to look perfect don't try to sound perfect don't try to be perfect actually celebrate imperfections today don't try to be too cool i was reading a fascinating author who was talking about what a uh destructive force the concept of cool has been how many students in school how many little kids feel shame for reasons they cannot articulate because they feel like they're not cool you know there is no commandment in the bible that says thou shalt be cool today don't try to be cool don't try today give grace to the imperfections of other people when you see them today look for very small things this breath the sound of a bird the smile of a friend the taste of a bite of food for which to be grateful today don't walk around like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders because you don't he does today remember rule number 62." [00:460:80]

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