I was once introduced to a church congregation as the “Comedian for the Lord.” My wife thought I was much more, but I was flattered. I laughed out loud and have never forgotten that introduction. I have always believed that Jesus Christ was a person with a pleasant disposition and an ability to be cheerful in times of great trial. I also think that a sense of humor is essential in balancing our lives. No one likes to be around a person who is a “downer,” so to speak.

We all face obstacles daily. How we handle those obstacles dictates the mood in which we live. Religion is a serious subject, but we also live in a world that is constantly playing “pranks” on our lives. So, the way I see it, I can live a life of stress and seriousness, worrying about the eternal nature of everything under the sun, or I can enjoy the wonderful and often humorous things that happen to me in this incredible journey we call life.

I love having a wife who looks at life in much the same way. So, my advice to anyone who wonders if being a ‘comedian for the Lord’ is an appropriate title for a follower of Jesus Christ:

Two old men, Abe and Sol, sit on a park bench feeding pigeons and talking about baseball. Abe turns to Sol and asks, “Do you think there’s baseball in Heaven?” Sol thinks about it for a minute and replies, “I dunno. But let’s make a deal — if I die first, I’ll come back and tell you if there’s baseball in Heaven, and if you die first, you do the same.” They shake on it, and sadly, a few months later, poor Abe passes on. Soon afterward, Sol sits in the park feeding the pigeons by himself and hears a voice whisper, “Sol… Sol… .” Sol responds, “Abe! Is that you?” “Yes, it is, Sol,” whispers Abe’s ghost. Sol, still amazed, asks, “So, is there baseball in Heaven?” “Well,” says Abe, “I’ve got good news and bad news.” “Gimme the good news first,” says Sol. Abe says, “Well, there is baseball in Heaven.” Sol says, “That’s great! What news could be bad enough to ruin that?” Abe sighs and whispers, “You’re pitching on Friday.”

Never forget to laugh, it’s the best medicine for a sick heart!