Many of us have heard of, or perhaps even heard talk show host Jay Leno during the nearly twenty-two years he has occupied the late night hours of network television.  Ratings leader almost the entire time he's worked the slot, Leno has endeared himself to millions with his clever and disarming wit, and fascinated just as many with his extensive antique car and motorcycle collection housed in an enormous warehouse in Los Angeles.  He has made his mark.
     But in a few days, Leno will step down to make room for a younger host.  He doesn't really want to, but he is being a good team player and doing what his network is asking of him.  He will still have plenty to do, however:  he has regularly done one person comedy spots around the country, and will continue to do so.
     Although not all of us find Leno funny, and not all of us invest our time in watching late night comedy, we all can, I think, appreciate that humans are comedic beings.  Not only are we creatures who cry, we are creatures who like to laugh.  We like things that make us laugh, things that make us laugh so hard our stomach hurts.  We like levity, we like foolishness.  We like funny moments.
     Many of us will agree that life is difficult, yes, but we will also agree that life can be very, very funny.  It's a curious thing, this life, this life that produces such tremendous sorrow mingled with overwhelming mirth and joy.  We weep often, but we rejoice profusely.  Some people claim that God has a sense of humor.  Maybe he does.  Maybe that's why life is fun; maybe that's why life is for rejoicing.  On the other hand, maybe that's why life is complicated by pain.  There's no laughter without pain, and in a world with a point we cannot help but have both.  Otherwise, we'd never know which is most important.