The Buffoon Philosophy
Buffoonery and Philosophy is a strange name for a blog, I know, but I will try to explain why I changed the name and what it means to me. The first word, buffoonery, has roots in Latin, French, and Italian. It is a word that is used for odd jokes, tricks, gestures, and (my favorite) undignified joking; while philosophy has the meaning, here, of an investigation of the truths of being and knowledge. These words combined together are a strange juxtaposition indeed; however, I think it is a worthy paradox for a state of mind, for a state of living.
To be able to take oneself lightly is a gift indeed, in fact, too many people take themselves way too seriously. Now do not get me wrong because there are things in this world that need to be taken seriously, but too many of us have forgotten that levity floats on the air better than seriousness. That is the gist of the philosophy of the buffoon; that levity with oneself allows a person to be able to take things seriously that need to be taken seriously. If we are always focusing on how important we are then we can never take seriously other people, causes, loves, and the things most important. Buffoonery allows us to look at the mistakes we make and learn, it allows us to take hurts from other people and laugh them off, it allows us to join in community with others and not have to worry about our egos, it allows us to dream about silly and serious things all at once. We are not the most important thing in the world…and if we were it would be a sad and desperate world indeed, would it not? I mess up way too much to have a world look to me as its star.
To follow the philosophy of buffoonery allows us to take seriously the causes in life that affect other people the most. When that focus from self is gone then the want to help others is constantly on our hearts and minds. The Bible says it best in 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica) “19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” We are not our own…so why focus on ourselves, why think that we can do it alone, why try and try when God wants us to allow the Holy Spirit to move in us and change us.
When I talk of not focusing on oneself I do not mean that we give up on the struggle to become a better person, just that we realize that we cannot do it by focusing on ourselves. The ultimate focus of buffoon philosophy is turn our focus and our viewpoint from us to God and his ways and then to people (the two greatest commandments come to mind). God will work perfection through us (taking a lifetime and more!) and people will challenge us to become better, Godlier, and holier! A community of Christians who look outside themselves to God to find hope and worth would be a beautiful community indeed!
This philosophy of living is not easy, not always fun, and things do not always go our way…that is part of giving up our lives to God. The interesting thing about this philosophy is that it is full of joy, everlasting and always bubbling joy. Even in the hardest circumstances the love of Jesus coming through us seems to strike and move us to greater and better things, to joy everlasting. So take the journey away from self with me and move into a Christ filled life of fulfillment, purpose, joy, suffering, love, trials, and hope! It is funny because the buffoon philosophy is not something new but just another way of saying that Christ is all we need to survive and that He wants all of us to come to Him and find fulfillment in His everlasting love.
Interesting, but the poem was better. It is fun getting to know you through your writing.
I like it! i miss having you around all the time making me smile with your thoughts!! Love you!