A re-run of my dad’s humor cards. They make me chuckle all over again – so I hope you enjoy them whether it’s the first time or second (first posted on 1/1/2023).

The backstory: My dad was a Presbyterian pastor for 40 years. He kept a well curated stack of humor cards – little stories he heard, found or saw and then typed onto 5×7 cards. Then he wrote in the margins when he used that particular item. His humor was often an easy way to settle in to something deeper – by laughing and thinking about the buried truth in these little nuggets, it paved the way to an open heart.

New Beginnings

The young preacher had just announced to his congregation that he was requesting the dissolution of the pastoral relationship in order to accept another call. he was standing at the door after the service and greeting people, as preachers are wont to do, when one of the elderly saints approached him, her eyes swimming with tears.

She sobbed, “Oh pastor, I’m so sorry you’ve decided to leave, things will never be the same again.”

The young man was flattered by was equal to the situation and took her hands in his and most benevolently replied, “Bless you, dear lady, but I’m sure that God will send you a new pastor even better than I.”

She choked back a sob and was heard to say, “That’s what they all say, but they keep getting worse and worse.”

(Parables, etc. Vol. 3 #3, May 1983)

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your new beginnings get better and better!