Keeping the Sacred Flame

Comedy.  It’s often viewed as the opposite of what is serious, the opposite of what’s important.  But comedy is a critical part of what we are.

To laugh at our own follies is what gives us perspective and comfort when things are difficult.  We see the world differently when we can laugh at ourselves.  When we cling to what is serious, refusing to admit to laughter, we shut off a large part of what makes our lives tolerable.

That’s not to say that we should laugh at people in pain, or otherwise in need.  We should not punish those that are less fortunate with jeering.  No, I speak of laughing with, not laughing at.  Finding the comedy in our own situations and celebrating it, because without that comedy, life becomes thin and boring.

How can we find the humor in life when all seems dark and difficult?  It takes practice.  We have to look for it at first.  But when we grow accustomed to finding humor in the difficult times, that which is difficult becomes easier and less painful.

Questions:
How do you find humor in life?
Why does humor make such a difference?
Is there a way to make humor out of a bad situation?  How?

One of the prime duties of FlameKeeping is to improve the Universe.  Of course, at the moment we’re rather limited in what parts of the universe we can reach, so practically, it’s a call to improve our world.  Our society.  But what does that mean, practically?

It means we cannot disengage.  It’s easy to say “this is not my problem” and step away.  It’s easy to say that what we do doesn’t matter, because there are so many people that surely someone else will pick up the slack.  We are busy, after all.  We have so many things to do.  Surely it doesn’t matter that we don’t recycle/vote/turn off lights/take the bus/look out for our neighbors/whatever.

Only problem is, we’re ALL doing it.  If one or two people coast, it’s not a big deal.  But we all coast to some extent.  One person is adamant about voting issues, but doesn’t look to their own community to help solve problems.  Another cares for the people around them, but throws away an astounding amount of waste that they don’t need to.  Etc.  (and in no way am I excluding myself from this!)

So what can we do?  Clearly, none of us is perfect, and no one can do everything perfectly.  But we can do a little more than we do, and then maybe a little more than that.  We can stop assuming someone else will do things.  We can look at our heroes as people to emulate, not impossible saints that we simply admire from afar.

We can be heroes to those around us, if we reach out and try.  And if we try hard enough?  We can be heroes to ourselves.

Questions
What have you done that’s heroic?  What would you like to do?
How do you improve the world around you?  What don’t you do?
How can you view the people around you as potential heroes, and nurture their heroism as well?