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When the lifting of spirits is seen as immaterial to the serious business of surviving, humour may be considered a frivolous pursuit. When consciousness is suppressed in the darkness, people forget that the lifting of spirits – pursued to its natural conclusion – may carry them up and out of a harsh and unyielding life into the happy realm of life celebrated. In darkness, the telling of jokes is a slightly disreputable pastime. But at the time of celestial dawn, inspired jokes may vitally assist the passage of persons and a people from misery to bliss. Laughter is a sound of fulfilment, and whatever makes someone laugh from his belly is bound to aid his triumph... Joking is a serious practice because a funny joke tells the truth. Even more than those who live by the truth may jokes benefit those who feel they can't afford to. In darkness, jokes link what is false to what is true, so that people can identify the deceptions in their lives and consider their alternatives. Where a naked statement of the truth might provoke someone to anger or dismissal, the same truth in a joke can make her shake with laughter, and nod vigorously as tears stream down her cheeks. For instance, I once I told an old school friend straight out that at his essence he was God. He frowned and shook his head and wondered how much of an embarrassment our friendship was likely to become. So when I saw him some time later, I made up this little joke about St. Peter at the gates of heaven...
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