joke

joke [jōk] verb, joked, jok·ing.
–noun

1. something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act.
2. something that is amusing or ridiculous, esp. because of being ludicrously inadequate or a sham; a thing, situation, or person laughed at rather than taken seriously; farce.

it's funny how a joke can instantly connect individuals; we often call them "inside jokes." phrases or actions that only a select few would ever understand or see as funny can, in a way that nothing else can, bring those individuals together and create this bond that (sometimes unintentionally) fastens and creates a wall between them and the outside world. outsiders can get only a glimpse over the wall; all they see are the select few making faces, dancing in confusing and alien ways, talking in alter voices and frantically shoving food in their mouths all while uncontrolablly laughing. what madness! yet this madness has the ability to create friendships that will eventually lead to a deeper and more meaningful place. this is where the beauty lies, this is where G-d is recognized, this is where relationship, community, etc. happens.
the jokes are great, the dancing and laughing is fun and i never want to stop having these times, but i always look forward to the point where we move beyond that. it doesn't always happen, sometimes the relationship stays at a jovial statues quo. but for those relationships that make it past the preliminary stages, something beautiful happens. long talks about the mystery of G-d. questions about society and how we deal with its/our downfalls. frustrations about ourselves and the world. desires and goals. loves and hates. it all comes up and it's all discussed. i love it even more when the relationship goes even further where i can bring up my fears and my problems. to get to a point where i know that if i bring something up, i know that they won't think of me any less. these kinds of relationship are even more rare, which makes them even more precious.
jokes have turned into discussion and discussion has lead to disclosure. what a journey! what an amazing system G-d has created! only He could turn this is so much fun or the pizza oven into a relationship that produces so much genuine care and love.
these relationships breed a sense of safety and comfort within the individuals. when G-d refers to himself as being The source of comfort and safety, perhaps he is using these terrestrial relationships to carry out this statement. He understands our inability to grasp the metaphysical, and He understands our desire for the tangible. with this understanding He then gives us terrestrial relationships to provide a physical comfort and safety. i love how G-d caters to our desires in the most subtle ways! i love how G-d chooses to manifest himself in ways that aren't showey, but are absolutly beautiful when looked at with a careful eye. G-d has provided me with such relationships and i am so grateful for the friends He has given me.

all this from a simple inside joke.

from quadragesima to pascha

the lent season has come and gone and here i am in a post fasting, easter, and holy week reflective state not too sure what to think of the past month+. fist off i said that i would do the following during this lent season:

1) i will refrain purchasing clothes of any-type.
2) i will have my mirror covered at all times.
3) i will only log into facebook once a week.
3 1/2) rather than virtual and impersonal messages, i will hand write and deliver a note each day to a different person encouraging them, etc. (except for kyle, i will write him an email :])
EDIT: 4) no more hot showers.

reflection:
1) i indeed did not purchase any clothes during this time. as lame as this may seem (especially for one who is not all that huge into fashion to begin with), this really did prove beneficial and lead to much needed thought directed towards issues of poverty v. wealth. and i still don't plan on buying a new pair of 527's, but rather using that thirty dollars for someone else- more on this soon, i'm excited to do something with this :)

2) i indeed have my mirror covered at all times. this had been the case (off and on) before the lent season as well. this has been one of the best disciplines i have done in a long time. by simply covering up my mirror i have greatly reduced the amount of importance i have put into my appearance. i highly recommend this.

3) i indeed only logged into facebook once a week with a handful of exceptions. truth be told i did send a couple messages and read a few on my off days; but i feel that the greater goal was accomplished: to not waste my life on the internet. i have barely been on my computer at all this lent season. it has been so great to loose the facebook addiction.

3 1/2) for this, i am upset-i did not follow through on this...i'm really mad at myself because this was the most selfless and love giving discipline this season. i got off about three notes and then stopped. so, if you didn't get a note, don't be offended, i just suck. i plan on giving this another shot in the very near future.

4) i indeed did not take any warm showers. this was a last minute decision that proved to be one of the best lent fasts i have ever done. cold showers are miserable. a huge percentage of the world lives without hot water- warm showers is a major luxury we (i) all too often take for granite. taking away this luxury was just what i needed to build an empathy for the cold water and poverty stricken individuals in the world. i had to alter an aspect of my luxurious world in order to get their perspective and see where they are coming from, which is what needs to happen to be able to help with an empathetic heart.


so yeah, that is a quick and very inelegant reflection on my lent season. i would much rather talk to you about it person than try to write all this out beautifully via blog.