A walk on the beach on a sunny, 80-degree day. A family wedding dance. Hanging out with my kids and belly laughing over their banter and hilarious sense of humor. Kayaking on the lake. Walking the trails with my honey and praying for each of our kids by name. A big bowl of popcorn and a meaningful, thought-provoking movie. Any time I get with my sisters and Mom.
How about you?
Why is fun so hard to come by these days? Is it because we believe it’s not spiritual? Or because we fear we’ll fall into an escapism mindset? Both of these are legitimate concerns. Sometimes Christians fall headlong into sin in the name of fun. Which causes others to avoid it altogether. But at what cost to our souls? Indeed there’s a healthy middle place for us. Right?
Recently on Susie Larson Live, I spoke with Annie Downs about her new book, “That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, The Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby.” She writes:
We undervalue and downplay fun and the place fun ought to have in our lives. We don’t prioritize the fun things, the simple things. Finding fun changes things. Fun is medicine for a sickness we all have. Searching for fun doesn’t mean you’re not responsible, and valuing fun doesn’t mean you’re not grown up! It just means you realize there’s something you’ve lost and are willing to go look for it.
Here’s the thing: Laughter and joy and celebration were all God’s idea! They originated in His heart. Every good gift comes from Him. If we get so serious about the times that we see no reason to sing or dance, or laugh, or plan something that makes our heart sing, well, we’ve lost something significant. And those deep desires will ooze from us another way—a not-so-healthy way. We’ll either become a Pharisee and judge the joyful, or we’ll hit a boiling point and choose a kind of fun we’ll surely regret later.
Yes, we must understand the times and know what to do. Yes, these are days for sober reflection and earnest prayer. But we’ll never live through them if we don’t make time for fun. So let me ask you again:
What sounds fun to you?
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.