Her Royal Highness, Queen Victoria, who in her long widowhood was alleged to have said 'We Are Not Amused', and sometimes I too agree with those sentiments.
The Queen’s words express the idea of disdain and disapproval and, more than that, there is a sense in which a serious change in behaviour is expected.
Some recent incidents where I "have not been amused":
o ... I phoned an insurance company on the number printed on the letterhead, only to be informed that the matter did not relate to the officer who answered the phone. Six phone calls later, he found he had the correct number in the first instance!
o ... I gets an answering machine on the line which gives endless options, none of which relate to his enquiry, and finally the operator just sends him back into the same system!
o ... the car's windscreen washer fails, and it takes two visits to the mechanic (involving the vehicle being left for the day) to get it fixed, only to find it works once and fails again. The third time is lucky the mechanic eventually fixes it - but it is never as good as it was originally!
o ... professional colleagues do the most insipid things to gain political advantage (even though they may eventually fall, they have gained the accolades and benefits of their office)!
o ... an athlete cheats to win (for example by using performance-enhancing drugs); and although they are eventually found out and stripped of their medal, they are the ones who have taken the limelight of the victory: the new first place-getter never gets the same trimmings and sponsorships!
o ... Governments will come after individuals for a minor situation, using might and power and resources; yet when their systems fail there is no compensation or recompense for the 'little battler' with limited resources!
o ... someone applies for a job or promotion, putting together a curriculum vitae with the right credentials and expending effort and time into supporting the application, only to find that the decision has already been made and the company was only 'going through the motions' of having an open selection process!
The List is endless
The list is endless for these situations in which "We are not amused".
There are numerous passages in the Scriptures where the words "We are not amused" could be paraphrased into the story line.
A few of many Old Testament examples include: God confronting Adam after he sinned; God confronting Cain after he killed Abel; Joseph being sold off as a slave by his jealous brothers; Moses coming down from Mt Sinai with the 10 Commandments only to find a golden calf idol.
New Testament examples include: Jesus confronting the Pharisees as white washed tombs; Jesus and Pilot discussing what is truth; Stephen being stoned; Paul's letters admonishing the congregation's he'd visited; The seven churches from The Revelation that were each found wanting.
Yet, the words "We are not amused" also carry with them 'hope'; that there is something of an expectation that correction will be involved.
It is here, that these words carry their real influence. It is my hope whenever this idea is expressed, I at least can identify areas for improvement in my own journey in life towards my loved ones, those he ministers too and as he conducts his own comings and goings.
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Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand. Dr Mark Tronson’s Press Service International in 2019 was awarded the Australasian Religious Press Association’s premier award, The Gutenberg.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html
Dr Mark Tronson - a 4 min video
Chairman – Well-Being Australia
Baptist Minister 45 years
- 1984 - Australian cricket team chaplain 17 years (Ret)
- 2001 - Life After Cricket (18 years Ret)
- 2009 - Olympic Ministry Medal – presented by Carl Lewis
- 2019 - The Gutenberg - (ARPA Christian Media premier award)
Gutenberg video - 2min 14sec
Married to Delma for 45 years with 4 children and 6 grand children