As a professional humor guy, who has made a living on laughter since way back in the 1900s, I get emails or actually-written-with-a-pen letters from listeners who are interested in knowing more about what I do.
Here's one from Zach in Manitoba: "Why would you tell a joke about staying in a nice hotel where the only complaint you had was that the towels were so fluffy you couldn't get your suitcase closed? What's next, funny jokes about robbing banks?"
Good question, Zach. The thing about humor is that what makes one person laugh just might make another person write letters to the humor guy, using sentences like, "What is your problem?" Which is why the humor guy is wise to have an unlisted address.
Seriously, I'm not entirely certain how to respond to such letters. I suppose I make assumptions in telling a joke. Assumption one is that most people agree on what is funny, and they like being around a person with a good sense of humor, providing he also uses deodorant.
Assumption two is that listeners know I am a law-abiding citizen who would not steal an extra toothpick from a restaurant nor a paper clip from the office, much less a fluffy towel from a hotel.
Ever since the Garden of Eden, researchers have been studying what causes people to laugh. They sit around and ask questions like, "What if we say, 'Is it true that after creating Adam, God said, "I think I can improve on that?"' Will Adam be offended? Will Eve laugh until she falls over?"
Humor is quite subjective. We don't all laugh at the same things. That's okay. But methinks we're far too easily offended.
Maladjusted people are far more likely to take jokes personally. Proverbs 15:13 says, "A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit."
How true. God has given us a safety valve to keep heartburn from bubbling over, to rid us of the worries and tensions of life. It's laughter. And the world needs to see it in us.
Someone said, "But the great old saints didn't laugh." This is balderdash wrapped up in thickly sliced baloney.
One of my favorite devotionals is My Utmost For His Highest. Oswald Chambers was no charter member of the frowning fraternity of the frosted. He had a marvelous sense of humor and always incorporated it into his messages.
In fact, one day a student said, "Ah I see. Your jokes and lightheartedness plough the soil, and then you put in the seed." Amen.
But what about Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers? Again and again, fellow preachers criticized his habit of introducing humor into his sermons. They would rather he were a somber saint who dragged the weight of sinful England around like a piano.
Spurgeon battled depression and anxiety and found laughter was a gift that could lighten his load and do the same for listeners.
That, really, is my desire and the heart of what I do on "Laugh Again" radio podcast.
Several have written, asking how they can get into comedy. I don't know. Pray that God will make you funny and teach you how to cheer people up.
We need it, don't we? Whatever we do, good cheer should be part of who we are. When a teacher has it, I want to be in his class. When a dentist has it, I want to be in his chair. Well, maybe not-ha, ha!
I heard of a Swede who was urged by friends to stay home rather than return to India as a missionary. One said, "It's so hot there. It's 120 degrees in the shade!"
"Well," said the Swede, "We don't always have to stay in the shade, do we?"
No, we don't. God bless you, my friend. Now, go make someone's day.
Phil Callaway is the author of 30 books and host of Laugh Again radio. Visit him at laughagain.org.
