"Can you remember when life was joyful? Even funny? When did everything get so serious? Why did our sense of humor get sacrificed on the altar of adulthood? Who says becoming a “responsible adult” means a long face and serious attitude toward life?
To remain perpetually super-serious and fill one’s mind with only the harsh and painful realities of life keeps the radius of our perspective too tight and the tunnel of our hope too long. Every day I try to find at least one thing to laugh about, something to prompt a chuckle.
A very precocious ten-year old asked, “How old are you, Grandma?” “Well, honey, when you’re my age, you don’t share your age with anybody.” While Grandma fixed supper, the girl came across the contents of her grandmother’s purse and dumped them on the bed. Finding Grandma’s driver’s license, the child announced, “Grandma, you’re seventy-six.” “Why, yes, I am. How did you know that?” “I found the date of your birthday here on your driver’s license and subtracted that year from this year.” Looking down at the license, she added, “You’re seventy-six and you also made an F in sex.”
Needs are enormous, endless, and heartrending. It’s easy to become grim. I know of no greater need in our world today than the need for joy. Unexplainable, contagious joy.
What is the secret of joy? The centrality of Jesus. The pursuit of happiness is the cultivation of a Christ-centered, Christ-controlled life.
