First Things First; Forgiveness is the New "F" Word

So that was the week that was, a week on board the MS Westerdam in the Caribbean with workshops with Gary Renard - the Happy Dream Cruise. In part it was familiar material, and in part a look ahead to the new book, which I already knew somewhat, since I'm translating it, and had seen about half of it beforehand. Any time left over was filled with endless jokes. Besides the fact that Gary definitely delivers his material in everyday language, or vernacular as he likes to call it, he also definitely is a constant reminder that laughing about ourselves is the best medicine, à la the well-known joke that seriousness causes reincarnation. I identify with it, because he picks up jokes wherever he goes, as a matter of course with his workshops; I myself used to be in a trading business, where we spent days on the phone, and telling jokes was part of the routine. So you go through these phases that you know a lot of them, but it's only now that I'm starting to realize how seriously important it is to not be too damn serious, for that is exactly what the ego wants that we take all this completely seriously. If we start laughing about it, soon the game is up! It is not for nothing that Jesus says in the Course:

In gentle laughter does the Holy Spirit perceive the cause, and looks not to effects. How else could He correct your error, who have overlooked the cause entirely? He bids you bring each terrible effect to Him that you may look together on its foolish cause and laugh with Him a while. You judge effects, but He has judged their cause. And by His judgment are effects removed. Perhaps you come in tears. But hear Him say, "My brother, holy Son of God, behold your idle dream, in which this could occur." And you will leave the holy instant with your laughter and your brother's joined with His. (ACIM:T-27.VIII.9)

In short, once we realize that it's our own stupid little mistake, the Course's "tiny, mad idea" of the separation thought which is the cause, and is reflected in the hellish experiences we go through from time to time, we can never take them as seriously ever again. And so Jesus in the Course asks us to laugh at it all with him, which lets the air out of the ego's balloon very quickly. And in that spirit Gary's jokes are completely an integral part of his delivery, lest we start taking ourselves too seriously.

Funnily enough, the piano player on the ship, Bob, who our whole group enjoyed, and who joined two of the workshops, ended up being "suspended," because some passenger felt that he'd said something untoward. So just when he started to learn about forgiveness, he had one huge forgiveness opportunity show up for himself, and he took it in good spirit, and when we found out, we got him to join us for our farewell gathering after our last supper on this trip. I hope the management saw that some of the passengers did appreciate him. In any case, while Gary's style is certainly unique to him, even in the Course there are numerous word plays, and certainly if you read the biography of Helen Schucman, it is quite evident how Jesus has a marvelous sense of humor. Some of us are fortunate to realize that in our own life as well from time to time. So more humor is definitely a good thing, even more so in the difficult times we are experiencing. God forbid we take it seriously, that would really make it unbearable.

The pun on forgiveness as the new "f" word is in Disappearance of the Universe.