The Laughing Monk and the Fruit of Joy
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you.” — Isaiah 55:12
There is a Zen story about a monk who was known far and wide for his laughter. Not a giggle, not a chuckle—a full-bodied, from-the-belly, unstoppable kind of laughter. He would sit under a tree, eyes closed in meditation, and begin to laugh as if he had just heard the funniest thing in the world.
Other monks were baffled. “Doesn’t he know the world is full of suffering?” they whispered. “How can he laugh while everything falls apart?”
One day a traveler asked him directly, “How can you be joyful in a world like this?”
The monk smiled and said, “That’s precisely why I laugh. Because this world is broken—and beautiful. Because everything changes—and yet the birds still sing. Joy is not a denial of suffering. It is a refusal to let suffering have the final word.”
I think about this story often as I take in the state of things. The climate, the cruelty, the centering of human needs above all other living beings, the domination, the unraveling of so many systems we once thought were stable. There is so much to get us down. Yet, amid the grief and dismay, there is also this: a friend brings freshly baked bread, a neighbor’s dog stops in for a head scratch and visit, a child laughs so hard they fall over. Joy, like light, breaks through.
There is wisdom in refusing to surrender our joy. It’s not escapism—it’s spiritual resistance. The Buddhist teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh once said, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.” In other words, we can choose joy—not to ignore the pain of the world, but to remind ourselves what is still worth fighting for.
Joy reminds us that we are alive, that love still happens, that beauty still surprises, and that, in the midst of collapse, we are still capable of laughter, wonder, and delight. What an extraordinary thing! Today, let joy have a say.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
When was the last time you experienced pure, unexplainable joy? What were the conditions that allowed it?
What small joys can you cultivate or notice this week—even in the midst of chaos or sorrow?
A Prayer for the Day
Joy Like Rain
Let joy fall on us like soft rain,
Not because we have earned it,
Not because we understand it,
But because we need it.
When the world unravels,
Let joy stitch us back together.
When grief is heavy,
Let joy be a feather in our hand.
Teach us to laugh,
Even with tears in our eyes.
To dance, even when the ground shakes.
To remember, again and again,
That joy is a form of courage,
And we were made for this.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
The Joy Pause
Once today, take a few minutes to pause whatever you are doing. Set down your phone. Step outside if you can. Breathe deeply and slowly. Then, simply look around.
What is beautiful here? What brings a smile? A leaf tumbling in the wind? A warm cup of tea in your hand? A memory that stirs delight? Let yourself savor it—not rush past it. Let joy settle into your body.
And if you can, share that joy. Tell someone what you noticed. Laughter is contagious. Beauty multiplies when it’s named. Even in times of collapse, the joy we carry can become someone else’s reminder that all is not lost.
In this way, joy becomes not only a gift—but a thread we offer to mend the world.
Upcoming Events That Might Be of Interest…
March 25, 2025, 7-8:30pm - Dr. Matthew Fox and I are hosting a Lenten series that we are calling “From Darkness to Dawn: Spiritual Courage and Political Action in the Age of MAGA.” Our first session was with modern mystic, Mirabai Starr. Andrew Harvey was our second guest. The amazing Bishop Yvette Flunder was on March 18! Father Adam Bucko on March 25! REGISTER HERE! (recordings are available)
May 19-22, 2025 - Preaching and Worship FREE Online Summit: From war to genocide to a global climate crisis to a nation that perpetuates racism, misogyny, transphobia, and more from the highest office in the land, how do we prepare a sermon, a liturgy, a song, a prayer? Learn from some of our best preachers. REGISTER HERE.
June 4, 2025, 12pm ET - Jeff Chu has written a new book on a topic close to my heart: Soil! The title is “Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand.” I am so pleased to be interviewing him. Together, we’ll explore what it means to cultivate “good soil” in our lives, our communities, and our spiritual practices. I hope you will register. Your registration includes a copy of his new book.
July 20-25, 2025 - The Art of Wilding: A 5-Day Expedition in Wyoming for Women Leaders. Click here to learn more. Only one spot left!
August 11, 2025, 2pm ET - Dr. Andrew Root and I will be hosting a 6 part series on Spirituality in the Secular Age based on his research. The dates are August 11, 18, September 8, 15, and October 6, 13. Mark your calendars! More on this soon.
September 4, 4:30pm ET - I will be collaborating with the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology to host a conversation with Thomas Jay Oord on Open and Relational theology. It’s a FREE event. Register here.
October 15-18, 2025 - Converging 2025: Sing Truth Conference (all musicians invited!) at Northwest Christian Church in Columbus, OH. Register here!
I drafted a Strategic Framework for Congregations as we move into the coming years of increased authoritarianism around the world. If interested, you can download it here.
Thank you Cameron. You keep me balanced
Amen again and again, Pilot/Pastor Cameron. You are investing in our future together by reflecting, writing and sharing every day from a pilot and pastor's heart, mind and soul.