Sparkle in the Water of Life
Thurman Quote: “There is always in every human relationship and in every private life some place for humor, for the sparkle in the water of life.”
Citation: “Thank God for Humor!,” in Meditations of the Heart, p. 72.
Description: Thurman’s image of a sparkle in the water conjures humor as an experience we humans cannot often live without. To compare humor to water would be profound enough. For water is something we need to refresh and sustain our spirits even in those times when we do not feel up to laughter. That he calls humor the sparkle in the water of life is telling. Humor is a prop in the water of life with us. But, it is not alone. Something else joins humor in sustaining us–that is our relationships with others. But Thurman is clear: we should not discount the power and work of levity. For humor is what catches our eyes, draws us in, and keeps us coming back again and again.
Reflect on: The ways that humor informs our interpretations. Where might we fail to recognize humor? Could we rely too heavily on humor and neglect other sustaining qualities of our relationships?
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