"It's one thing to say this is how it should be — to find joy, laughter, and humor in our daily life — but it is another thing to know that this is what we are called and challenged to do. We are called to be radical people — to live a radical lifestyle in a starving, hungry world filled with materialism, violence, and injustices. If we want to be radical we must do just that — 'go back to the root.' The word radical comes from the Latin word radix, which means 'more of the root.' The root of our very existence is our God.

"The scriptures document the call to live fundamentally active, positive lives. As Christians, we must hear that call. In the Old Testament there are fifty-seven references to laughter and twenty-seven recognized forms of humor; in the New Testament there are 287 references to such terms as joy, delight, gladness, laughter, and rejoicing.

"The word 'laugh' appears in the Bible for the first time in Genesis 17:17. God told Abraham, who was 100 years old, that his ninety-year-old wife Sarah would give birth to a son. 'Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?" '

"In Matthew 5, Jesus' first sermon, the Beatitudes, spoke of the joy and delight that is promised to all who live this radical challenge. The word blessed also means 'blissfully happy or contented.' The Beatitudes end on a high note of joy: 'Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven' (Matthew 5:12).

"Jesus spoke of celebration, joy, gladness, and rejoicing over and over again. He used everyday examples to teach people: that they might learn from him, hear his message, and know that joy and celebration must be part of our everyday life.

"The parable of the prodigal son, illustrating the father's joy at seeing his 'lost son' still a long way off, is quite poignant. 'He ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.' (Luke 15:20b) The father immediately made plans to celebrate: 'And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:23-24). Again, we are challenged to commemorate the fragile moments of our humanity. We need to pause, take notice of, and delight in everyday moments that offer opportunities to find joy and to celebrate our common humanity.

"Jesus reminded us, in the parable of the lost sheep, that we must take time to celebrate and rejoice in our precious, yet fragile, human nature: 'Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance' (Luke 15:7).

"Jesus laughs. Jesus celebrates and rejoices. Jesus delights in all things. Shouldn't the people? The Bible is a blueprint of how to find joy in our daily life. All we need to do is follow it."