Life Principles from Humor, Really?

Years ago, while a member of the US nuclear Navy, I first came upon a single page copy of engineering humor. It a sketch of a mid-level, middle aged engineer complete with all the statistical norms anyone in the technical field around large companies would recognize in a split second: pocket protector full of pens and pencils, dark pants, white shirt (slightly rounded near the middle), receding hairline, and, true to the 1960's, a drawing board in the background. The man had an extremely stressed look on his face, his hands holding both sides of his head and his mouth wide open in exclamation. The text read "Oh my God! They did exactly what I told them to!"

To any one in any leadership capacity, especially in technical fields, this was immediately, and simultaneously, chilling and very funny. Why funny, someone may ask?

It was what is called "situation humor." That means select others could immediately identify with the emotions and ramifications of the situation because they had most likely been in similar situations in their past.

Because many have shared in making near classic errors of judgment and/or direction, many of us are all too aware of the consequences our leading can have on a project, or even an entire organization’s, immediate future. If we survived the situation, it, eventually, becomes "funny." Obviously there are other possibilities that are not at all funny.

Unfortunately far too many people do not seem able move from newly acquired knowledge, even gained as a result of crisis, to wisdom. Even fewer seem able to apply things learned in one situation to new situations in apparently unrelated fields.

This lack of ability to project wisdom, or even common sense, cross the disciplines of life seems to be multiplying. It is an especially visible characteristic in the lives of those schooled under the influence of modern educational institutions. It appears that the modern educational motivations and goals fail to truly prepare one for the trials of reality. I cannot “prove” it is cause and effect, but then neither can I prove horse manure always makes a poor tasting sandwich… obvious likelihood is... rather obvious (unless one has vested interest in not “seeing” what is plainly before them).

Doing a little projecting of my own, what happens when in a family, or a community of families (says a congregation of followers of Christ) is given an incorrect implication or an outright false teaching dealing with critical life issues and urged to apply it? After all, we “pay” the pro to be… well, professional do we not?

In the ghetto-like, professional-speaker/follower-listener mentality the last thousand years has seen structured into and reinforced in the various groupings of mankind, especially the religious – including the so called academic and scientific – groupings, who is going to stand and question the professional teaching? The naive possibly, say a person who has no idea that the claims of openness and truth-seeking among leadership are merely that, claims. Or, possibly, an intent and concerned person, if brought up in an environment cherishing confidence and initiative, perhaps they would dare to ask the important questions. In any case, the person who wants an honest and well thought out answer for what is being held to and/or taught will quickly find him or herself being manipulated, intimidated, and closely inspected for “moral” qualifications, or outright bullied into submission. If none of the usually effective way of silencing the questioner produces the desired result, one can always be excluded emotionally, socially or even physically.

It is vital to note there is one other group of people who will question, but they do it for genuinely wicked reasons and only help muddy the water further. These are the genuinely rebellious and/or seditious people. The result of all of this is visible on every side.

The ordinary man or woman on the street, regardless of educational achievement, has been “trained” into never seriously and profoundly questioning the “professional.” I submit for your consideration that the result is the utterly incompetent and/or corrupt leadership structure the modern world is saddled with.

Injustice and incompetence at all levels of leadership is sucking the hope for a future out of the lives of our young. Where it cannot stop someone by robbing them of hope, it seeks to convince them they are powerless or incompetent themselves. Should the system fail in that, systemic manipulation, intimidation, character assassination and domination are the next tools to be employed. At the end physical violence will be routinely employed to silence the “troublemaker.” Mark this: this will soon be as openly visible in many congregations claiming Christ as Lord as it already is in the non-believing world around us.

Two things to think about: First, do you see any reality in what is written here? Second, what do you think can be done to help the situation? Going further, do you think there is an answer? Do you see yourself being or becoming a constructive piece of the healing answer?

However you answer the above questions, take a moment to consider why you answered the way you have. After a moment’s thinking, what led your mind along the paths it took? What prompted you say to yourself either “Yes!” or “No!”

You do not have to, but it would be helpful if you could take time to share some of your thinking here for me and others to read.

Have a great life,
Bill L.