I was in a meeting last week, and I got to tell my only joke. It’s not a superb joke but for whatever reason it’s the only joke I ever remember. In the meeting we were talking about a recent gathering we had at the church for recently graduated college students. The gathering was designed to talk about the tough issues of transition that hits people moving into the working world – issues of isolation, finances, careers, and relationships.
Of all the transitions I’ve been through so far – including marriage and having a child – the transition from college to working world was the toughest. I was in serious depression for eight months. I missed the friends I lived with and the life of ease I knew as normal. I had to work a job of necessity rather than fulfillment, and I was hopeless in the relationship category.
So anyways a few church staffers were meeting talking about the gathering and the need for us to refuse to over-spiritualize issues. Now, I know all things are spiritual to a spiritual person, but we were talking about how easy it is to give trite cliche answers to people needing some practical advice. For instance, say a guy needs help finding the right career path for him and I tell him to trust Jesus. Well, that’s true but, there is also some other resources and words that could really help him. This is the point in the meeting when I told my joke. I wasn’t Cosby or Seinfeld and I’m pretty sure the laughs were out of courtesy:
A little boy is in Sunday School. The Sunday School teacher asks, “What is little and brown, likes acorns, and crawls around in trees?”
The little boy thinks for a second and shoots up his hand, “Well, it sure sounds like a squirrel, but I know the answer is Jesus.”
I’m grateful to God that he doesn’t desire for us to be cliched thoughtless people, but rather people who want all things to come under his reign, while also seeing the world as it is.
Just found your site today and I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts. You are saying the same things I’ve been saying to people for years.
Anyway, I just want to say that I find that joke very funny. It is so true and so very frustrating that it is so true. But add a little kid to the mix and we can laugh about it. Thanks for the good chuckle.