A clip of a popular comedian’s show was top of one of my social media feeds. While I enjoy his humor at times, a question posed to his audience is one which has stayed with me.
“Where is the line for a comedian where the funny is no longer funny?” He went on to suggest that an audience’s response, laughter, was one way of knowing. When the response to a joke is silent, the joke may be funny, but it has crossed the line into also being offensive. When the level of offense reaches a tipping point, humor leaves while offensiveness remains.
A paraphrase of the question has stayed with me. “Where is the line where honesty between friends is too much?”
Life’s reminds me that conversations and relationships go hand in hand. It follows that when honesty blocks dialogue, then honesty has lost it power.
As I consider how candid others are with me, the level of honesty in our conversation is a barometer of the level of trust between us. Higher levels of trust will bring more honest words into the conversation. The conversations may not always be easy, but they will be helpful!
As I think of the history I share with others, there is able evidence of being “kicked in the teeth by complacent rich men, kicked when we’re down by arrogant brutes.” (Psalm 123.4) The candor in our conversations leads to a what is next question.
In the soft yellows of a new morning, let me suggest the following.
Bad, even evil, actions are never a reason to respond in kind. While defending one’s self, standing up for what is fair and equitable, is appropriate, doing to others what was done to you is a less than ideal answer.
History informs but does not dictate what happens next. I have a choice in each moment. We have options in where we take our conversation.
The need I had when I was kicked remains the need of the moment. Hope, compassion, and a willingness to help others are always in short supply.
