September 4, 2010
Scoff
Excerpt from Psalm 1
“Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers…”
Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell
Is anybody else out there tired of sarcasm? Am I the only one sick of his own smug superiority, of earning cheap laughs while desperately trying to appear sophisticated or something?
I do try to avoid it, but it’s just so darn easy! You don’t actually have to know much to make yourself seem superior to somebody else (especially somebody else who’s both in earnest and not present: sitting ducks!). All you have to do is make it seem like you know more than the other guy. Simple, fun(ny), and, apparently, addictive. I find myself doing it all the time without even realizing it. Some might blame this on my generation, who grew up bathing in irony and sarcasm, but since the Psalmist commented on scoffers a zillion years ago, I suspect it might be an older and a deeper sin than just one generation could turn out.
Here’s where I would usually give you guys advice. But since I still haven’t found what works, this time I’m just going to tell you the next thing I plan to try: today, I’m going to go one whole day without sarcasm. Should I find myself getting my snark on, or glance in the mirror and notice even a hint of a sneer, I will stop and pray the Lord’s Prayer, slowly and intentionally. I will mean it.
I have no idea if this will work; I suppose the test will be whether I make fun of myself tomorrow for my earnestness today.
Prayer
Dear God: Help. Amen.
Dear God: Help. Amen.
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