March 2000 Volume 81 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
SA Police Chaplains
By Bob George

It’s a funny old world

umour is a wonderful gift. People often think I’m funny. The problem is, they never think I’m funny when I think I’m funny. My family often roars with laughter at my ineptitude in practical matters. When I carry on like a pork chop at not being able to fix something and they laugh, I don’t ever think it funny at the time.

In the context of what I reckon I do best - being an Anglican cleric - someone once gave me some good advice: “Thou shalt remember the sacredness and dignity of thy calling, but thou shalt not take thyself too damned seriously.”

I heard recently of a colleague who visited an elderly parishioner. The old man’s health was deteriorating. He lived frugally and alone. The pastor found him in a shabby reclining chair near the window with a tray of peanuts nearby. As they chatted the pastor found himself munching on the peanuts. The pleasant visit eventually concluded with the pastor praying for the elderly gentleman.

As the pastor stood to leave, he realized that he had consumed most of the peanuts so he apologized.

“It’s all right,” said the old bloke. “Now that I ain’t got no teeth no more, all I can do is suck the chocolate off.”

Humour is a wonderful gift from God. The ability to laugh at ourselves and to have others laugh with us is a sign of emotional and spiritual health. Humour helps us see ourselves as others see us. It helps us accept the dumb things we often do which others can feel good about, even if we don’t see the funny side at the time.

Religion is sometimes thought of as a serious topic, but the Bible is far from humourless. The Bible writers were quick to perceive the anomalies of life. The Jesus who cried and laughed was crucified. Unfortunately the church has reflected much on the Jesus who wept, but only rarely on the Jesus who laughed.

When life gets too serious for you, remember this: we are the children of a compassionate God who weeps and hurts with us. We are children of an angry God who struggles with us for justice. We are also children of a fun-loving God who laughs with us, and not at us. Try and appreciate the funny side of life more. There is always humour in any situation, if you are prepared to see it.

Welfare Section 58	David Marr	8364 3567
	Senior Police Chaplain.
Academy 8	Mark Thomas	8296 9616
Adelaide: Angas Street 158	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide: Hindley Street 62	Bruce Grindlay	8295 2220
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Adrian Stephens	8398 2510
	Office:	8398 2517
Berri 212	Vacant
Ceduna 214	Bob Borgas	086 253 503
Christies Beach 20	Vacant
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke	088 423 681
Communications 172	David Hand	8295 6992
Elizabeth 52	Stephen Brooks	041 884 0739
Far North 210	Tony Redden	08 8672 5011
Focus 21	Richard Lawton	08 8362 4936
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke	085 222 288
Glenelg 22	Malcolm Thomas	8377 0772
Henley Beach 18	Brenton Daulby	8443 8286
Holden Hill 44	Rod Dyson	8365 1170
Kadina 71	Vacant
Kingston 208
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth (w)	087 231 353
	(h)	087 252 537
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill	085 325 536
Naracoorte 208	Bruce Cliff	8737 2457
		0417 811 702
Norwood 60	Lynton Wade	8362 2227
		0418 831 703
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald	085 621 011
Plympton 14	Ian Dempsey	8210 8108
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake	8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Steve Ardill	8632 3977
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Vacant
Port Lincoln 214	Vacant
Salisbury 53	Vacant
South East	Terry Natt	8571 1114
Sturt 12	Chris Beal	8278 9578
Tea Tree Gully 48	Bob George	8395 9363
Thebarton Barracks 32	Joe Grealy	8338 3225
Transit Division	Wayne Shepherd	8443 4895
Unley 28	Max Bowers	8272 8324
Whyalla 218	John Dunkley	0886 452 500

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