If you see the world as a place of suffering or pain, sometimes the best you can do is to laugh at its absurdity. Ignoring the reality of tribulation could put you in danger of missing a true lesson. One of the Psalms says, The darkness is my closest friend, and although that sounds stark, it is liberating to recognize when all around you seems to feel like trouble. Sometimes that is when we are most ready for God’s work. As Thomas Merton, a well known monk has written,

We must be ready to cooperate not only with graces that console, but with graces that humiliate us. Not only with lights that exalt us, but with lights that blast our self-complacency.

To be cynical is to laugh from scarred point of view. But at least you are still able to laugh!

Gummy Bears and Poor Substitutes

I think that I have an addiction to gummy candies now. German gummy bears are the absolute best. This was not an issue before we got out here and I wouldn't say it is one now. I think. It may be under control only because gummy bears are hard to get here. Yet whenever I do open a bag of those little colorful guys it's fruit-bear carnage. Normally, I wouldn't be the guy with the sweet tooth but no more. I don't know, it has to be the wine thing. Usually, back in Germany, it is nothing to put away a European share of beer with guys or wine with the wife on any given night. Not so here, violation of orders--and yes for good reason. Okay, I am going to go try to bum or buy some candy and then get around to writing a sermon.