Want Some Priceless Humor
11/18/08
For centuries stories have been told and retold throughout the world. How come? Because they are entertaining, for one thing. Another reason is that they deal with the human condition, one way or another. Even animal characters in stories act out the situations of our own humanity.
For centuries as well, life has been a struggle. Wars. Pestilence. Thorny relationships. Struggles that implore some understanding, some support. Some kind of resolution.
At the same time, nobody likes to be preached to. We prefer to take our medicine with a bit of sweetener. Enter laughter. It is the honey in the brew. Witty humor is priceless humor. A unique combination.
As you know, laughter lightens the heart. Laughter enlivens the spirit. And as long as we are laughing at the foibles of others (and not ourselves) we find those situations funny. This is priceless humor.
Look at the great humorists around us. Dave Barry. Mark Russell. Russell Baker. Look at history and the humorists that litter the pages. Moliere. Ogden Nash. All of them were storytellers. Painting scenes with priceless humor.
Priceless humor... what makes it priceless? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor involves situations which most of us have experienced. The missed appointment. The comic situation. The laughable consequences generally follow in quick succession.
You will find lots of priceless humor in urban folktales. My CD Parking in Manhattan illustrates many humorous circumstances. These hilarious comedies involve characters everybody can relate to and empathasize with. Priceless situations create priceless humor.
World stories also capitalize on priceless humor. The retelling of such stories never ceases to bring gales of laughter to listeners. Two good examples from my CD Fables in Four Minutes are "Rock Soup" and "Herschel in the Woods" Listen to "The Egg Seller" or "Hickory Dock" from World Full of Stories. There are many similar examples of priceless humor from virtually every country on the planet. These stories will stick with you long after you heard them. You can find priceless humor and more at www.jaystetzer.com.
When I am out and about, I tune into conversations around me. They are laden with disasters and catastrophes. The conversants generally cannot see the life lesson they offer. It is my job as a storyteller to sort out the meaning from all the information I hear. Also, I need to inject a bit of humor to make the tale palatable. Making the story priceless with priceless humor!
There is priceless humor in virtually every genre. Why? Another simple answer. Laughter makes learning easier. A story with priceless humor often comes with a lesson attached. Priceless humor is... priceless!
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