There was a Pastor, a Poor Person, a Prophet, and a Mary Kay Consultant who move into…
Knock, knock. Who’s there? There was person a, person b, and person c, who walk into a bar… And well you know the rest, right?
These popular catchphrases with their “plug and play” characters and punch lines make up some of the funniest jokes whether you’re seven or seventy. Who doesn’t like a good knock, knock joke!
And of course among the line-up of favorite characters of comedy are politicians, pastors, priests and the scorned attorneys! With my profession making the list, trust me I’ve been audience to more than a few of these funnies.
Wikipedia dates this type of humor back to the 1920’s and 30’s and one attribute of this style of humor is bringing to light by laughter some more serious situation. You’ve perhaps heard someone say, “If I didn’t laugh I think I’d have to cry.”
Humor can be my default when I feel a sense of uneasiness about some situation. Humor sometimes helps me “laugh so I won’t cry”.
Such is the case of recent events in our neighborhood. Being a current eight year resident I’ve watched as groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings are paving the way for some new arrivals — corporate entities, churches and citizens of rich ethnicity.
So don’t laugh — or maybe not just yet — but here’s the questions I, and I believe others, are asking:
- What will this mean for our community?
- Will these new neighbors be good neighbors?
- Will their combined approximately $150 million in facility development enrich and make the fabric of our community stronger?
- Will they help meet the many needs represented in our community?
At this point, I’m just not sure and so this is my attempt at infusing a little humor to diffuse some of my uncertainty.
There was a Pastor, a Poor Person, a Prophet, and a Mary Kay Consultant who move into a neighborhood…and the poor person says welcome to the neighborhood and why have you come?
And the Mary Kay Consultant speaks first and says, “We’ve come to help others, and especially women to succeed in life and have a better future. We hold to the principles of our founder Mary Kay Ash who founded her Company on the Golden Rule and emphasized the importance of giving back to others. Oh, and one more thing. I hope you like the color pink!” (Mary Kay Cosmetics recently broke ground on a $125 million research and development facility)
And then the Pastor speaks next and says, “We too have come to help others to succeed in life and have a better future. We hold to the principles of our founder Jesus who founded His Kingdom on — well HIS own Golden Rule that emphasizes the importance of giving back to others. Oh, and one more thing. I hope you like marketing because we’re going to blitz the community, let them know we’ve come, and most of all we want them to come — to our new location. (Three mega — video venue, “church in a box” types are building or renovating space to the tune of about $25 million.)
Next the Prophet(s) speak — one old and one new. The older prophet (Jeremiah) says, “I have come to seek the welfare and good of the neighborhood. And we hold to the principle that in seeking the welfare and the best for others, that’s when we’re at the top of our game. I hope you’re open to hanging out, we want to listen, find out how we can help, roll up our sleeves and together make our community a better place.” Oh, and one more thing. We’re not building anything. We’ll just work out of our homes.
And finally, the younger prophet (Jesus) adds, I’m like Jeremiah in this. I want to move into the neighborhood (incarnation) not just visit from time to time or simply build a building to meet in. I want to get up close and personal and let you see and experience and taste the glory of my Father. In fact, you’ll see as you get to know me, you’ll get to know my Father who is generous and giving. Oh, and one more thing. I hope you like felafel because we’re going to be eating a lot of it together!
And with all of this the poor person is amazed at what he hears! This sounds to good to be true. This is not a joke, is it?
He says, “I love my community and yet we have many needs. We are a community of refugees. Children often don’t have enough to eat. Senior adults are lonely. Our schools need volunteers. Pay day lenders prey upon the needy. Human traffickers enslave the vulnerable. Many homes are in dis-repair.”
Is it TRUE? Are you coming to help?
And I guess that’s the “million(s) of dollars” question — are you coming to help?
I like the color pink! And though I don’t use Mary Kay products myself :), I do believe MK shows time and time again their investment and reinvestment back into the communities in which they work and play. Welcome!
And yes, I 110% agree with the prophets! I’m a “move into the neighborhood” kind of guy. I believe when we look out for the needs of others, God will look out for us. I’ve experienced this first hand as a missionary practitioner in our neighborhood.
And so I guess that leaves us with the church. — What kind of a neighbor will you be? How will you use the $25 million dollars spent on buildings? Will you invest an additional $25 million in relationships with the needs of the least, the lost, and the lonely in our neighborhoods. WILL YOU FOLLOW JESUS AND MOVE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
I suppose only time will tell. I have always respected the wisdom in this axiom that says, “time and truth walk hand in hand”. My prayer is that we will see many, dressed in pink or not, living out the words of the Prophets — and seeking the good of our community!
Loving Community,
Jim
John 1:14
