90: When All We Can Do Is Laugh

"....The Stage which was not for low Farce design'd,
But to divert, instruct, and mend Mankind."

This week, I’m reading from the play The Modern Husband by Henry Fielding, published in 1732.

Reflection Question:

There are times when stress is only relieved with a bit of dark humor.  How will you gather with your community of friends and colleagues to laugh in the face of the absurdities we face in our fund development work?

Reflection on the Recorded Quote:

There are days that if we are not laughing, we are crying. Those are the times for a bit of dark humor.

When our work feels like a dark comedy or a nightmare, we can remind ourselves that past generations faced similar challenges.  They too saw folly perceived as brilliance.  This is why in 1732 Fielding wrote, “a rich man without charity is a rogue, and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool.” 

This work has entered the public domain.

To explore fundraising coaching deeper and to schedule an exploratory session, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop

Transcript

Welcome back. This podcast explores the wisdom of generosity, from ancient to modern, and the beautiful space where generosity occurs.

There are days that if we are not laughing, we are crying.Those are the times for a bit of dark humor.  So, this week, I’m reading from the play The Modern Husband by Henry Fielding, published in 1732.

To quote the prologue:

In early Youth, our Author first begun,
To Combat with the Follies of the Town;
Her want of Art, his unskill'd Muse bewail'd,
And where his Fancy pleas'd, his Judgment fail'd.
Hence, your nice Tastes he strove to entertain,
With unshap'd Monsters of a wanton Brain!
He taught Tom Thumb strange Victories to boast,
Slew Heaps of Giants, and then kill'd a Ghost!
To Rules, or Reason, scorn'd the dull Pretence,
And fought your Champion, 'gainst the Cause of Sense!
At length, repenting Frolick Flights of Youth,
Once more he flies to Nature, and to Truth:
In Virtue's just Defence, aspires to Fame,
And courts Applause without the Applauder's Shame!
Impartial let your Praise, or Censure flow,
For, as he brings no Friend, he hopes to find no Foe.
His Muse in Schools too unpolite was bred,

To apprehend each Critick that can Read:
For, sure, no Man's Capacity's loss ample
Because he's been at Oxford or the Temple!
He shews but little Judgment, or discerning,
Who thinks Taste banish'd from the Seats of Learning.
Nor is less false, or scandalous th' Aspersion,
That such will ever damn their own Diversion.
But, Poets damn'd, like Thieves convicted, act,
Rail at their Jury, and deny the Fact!
To Night (yet Strangers to the Scene) you'll view,
A Pair of Monsters most entirely new!
Two Characters scarce ever found in Life.
A willing Cuckold sells his willing Wife!
But, from whatever Clime the Creatures come,
Condemn 'em not because not found at home:
If then, true Nature in his Scenes you trace,
Not Scenes, that Comedy to Farce debase;
If Modern Vice detestable be shewn,
And vicious, as it is, he draws the Town;
Tho' no loud Laugh applaud the serious Page,
Restore the sinking Honour of the Stage!
The Stage which was not for low Farce design'd,
But to divert, instruct, and mend Mankind.

Unquote

And to this play by Henry Fielding, the subtitle reads:

Quote

A rich man without charity is a rogue; and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool.

Unquote.

When our work feels like a dark comedy or a nightmare, we can remind ourselves that past generations faced similar challenges.  They too saw folly perceived as brilliance.  This is why in 1732 Fielding wrote, “a rich man without charity is a rogue, and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool.” 

Let’s reflect on one question this week:

There are times when stress is only relieved with a bit of dark humor.  How will you gather with your community of friends and colleagues to laugh in the face of the absurdities we face in our fund development work?

Share this podcast if you enjoy these five-minute reflections and subscribe to receive these reflections released every Monday. To explore fundraising coaching deeper, visit Serving Nonprofits dot com. See you next week.