Puns

29 June 2022

Watching the news today takes guts. Heat waves, war in Ukraine, controversial court rulings, gun violence, and record inflation.

I hope Jesus’ Good News music and message each Sunday at Christ Our Shepherd provides joy and hope as you face a sometimes super sober world. I also hope these weekly WFWs offer encouragement of different kinds.

So today, in light of the world’s current heaviness, how about some light puns?

Dad, are we pyromaniacs? Yes, we arson.
Writing my name in cursive is my signature move.
If you’re bad at haggling, you’ll end up paying the price.
Just so everyone’s clear, I’m going to put my glasses on.
A generous army general walked into a bar and ordered everyone around.
I lost my job as a stage designer. I left without making a scene.
How much did Long John Silver pay to get his ears pierced? A buccaneer.
Ron once worked at a Chicago pizza shop to get by. He kneaded the dough.
Dave lost his wife’s audiobook, and now he’ll never hear the end of it.
Why is ‘dark’ spelled with a k and not c? Because you can’t see in the dark.

One definition for a pun is “a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word.”

There’s a lady from the Bible who, I bet, would have loved the puns above! Gospel writers Matthew and Mark don’t share her name, but this non-Jewish Syro-Phonecian woman begging for help to cure her daughter was startingly told by Jesus, “Stand in line and take your turn. The children (Jews) get fed first. If there’s any left over, the dogs get it.” The lady replied not with a joke. But her bright mind and faithful heart certainly “exploited the different meaning a word.” So, she quickly responded, “Yes, master. But even the dogs eat the children’s scraps falling from the table.” Jesus loved it! Jesus praised her for her wit and faith, curing her daughter immediately.

I admire folks who can make puns. I admire that biblical mother who saw in a “no” the possibility of a “yes.” Likewise, I admire people LIKE YOU who can see multiple meanings in the life situations unfolding around us. What some people see as despair, other people see ALSO as opportunities to show love and hope.

Let us pray.

Dear God, thanks for the gift of humor. We need it all the time, but especially when days are tough. Give us minds, eyes and faith able to the different possibilities in any situation or relationship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trying to interpret well with you,

Pastor Fritz