“That’s funny as a crutch!”. The first time I heard that phrase, it really caught me off guard. I tried to correct the person who had said it, by pointing out that crutches aren’t funny! Since she had made the comment following what she considered a humorous joke, it wasn’t a proper response. Her response to my correction? “Oh well, I’ve said it for too many years to change now”.
Over the years I’ve caught her using this oxymoron along with another of her favorites; “Funny as a heart attack”. I usually get as far as holding up my hand and opening my mouth before she says; “I know!”. I’ve come to the conclusion that knowing and willingness to change are two different things. Choosing my battles means sometimes smiling and letting it go.
Sadly her attitude regarding change applies to too many people when it comes to important matters. One tremendously under thought and over used phrase is; “Oh my god!”. People exclaim this at the most inappropriate times and when questioned about it, they usually shrug it off. Most have mindlessly used the phrase so long and so often, that they don’t even realize that they have said it. That pretty much boils down to regarding God as being trite.
Another example of this is the number of people whose only use of “God” is to precede a “dammit”. I’ve questioned a number of them and found that they don’t believe in God. I’ve also raised a few hackles by further questioning with; “If you don’t believe in God, how do you expect Him to damn anything?”. It’s amazing how many other inappropriately used phrases sometimes follow that question.
Many of the aforementioned folks are kids being raised without knowing that these exclamations are inappropriate. Unless corrected, they will go through life with the attitude of; “Oh well, I’ve said it for too many years to change now”. So, I will continue my “crusade” and look for openings to tell them the Truth. Faith in Christ is neither funny, nor a crutch. I want them to know that without faith in Jesus, they are damned – not by God – but by their own negligent responses to God’s desire for our salvation. I want them to know the love which God has for each of us and then in all sincerity call out; “Oh, my God!”. It’s never too late to change!