Some might say that spirituality is measured by hours spent in prayer or in the Bible. But, the ability to have fun can be a telltale indicator of good faith health.
When I was a twenty-something, struggling to figure out what God wanted to do with my life, I got some really good advice — the kind that still sticks with me today, and I imagine is evergreen.
I had just returned from a very traumatic stint as an overseas missionary in Asia. I was shell shocked, with no idea what to do next. I had sold everything I owned before going off to missions and my bank account was very lean and mean. No car and just a mailing address.
The beauty of the situation was that a previous Vice President I worked for happened to call me long distance from California, to just say hello and check-in with me. In less than a 30 minute phone call, I went from being unemployed to employed with a salary that put my money worries to bed. A month from landing back in the good ol' USA.
Not only that, the very Sunday afternoon before my first day on the job, a stranger I sat next to in church offered me the keys to her used Volvo, once she found out I was a returning missionary.
Now, you'd think with two miracles like that, my faith would be as indestructible as diamonds.
But, aaahhhh. I was a diamond in the rough.
A Diamond In The Rough
You see, I worried much more about what God's will was in my life, rather than trusting my life was already in His will.
I was jolted into this reality as I sat in my pastor's office, re-counting all the questions I had about where God was leading me. I was obsessed with worrying whether I was wasting my time as a "civilian", working in high tech here in Silicon Valley.
I want to be out there, serving God full-time, was my whine.
I still remember the pastor's response crystal clear, sitting across from him in that old steel-framed church folding chair. Pastor Rich Carlson looked me squarely in the eye. And paused.
What is he gonna tell me?
I need a prayer, dear Lord. Will you have him lay hands on me and pray for discernment? And oh, yes, I definitely need wisdom.
"So, Bonnie. Let me ask you a question." Pastor Rich begins with a smile.
"Yes. Anything."
"What have you done lately that's been fun?"
"Uh… What?.. !" Is this a trick question?
"I said, Miss Bonnie. When's the last time you did something FUN."
Now, I'm really confused.
I stumbled and stammered, "I don't need to have fun. I need to figure out what God wants me to do. This is more important to me than having fun."
"Well, first of all, you're already where God wants you. Right where you are. Your life is full-time ministry. Second of all, young lady, you need to go have some fun. Don't worry about what God wants you to do. Don't you think He'd let you know? Why don't you leave that up to Him? Trust Him, go and have some fun."
I wish I could say I left his office, blaring to party it up. In fact, many moons had to pass, sleepless nights and worry filled days, before I could learn to let go and have fun.
A Telltale Indicator
God used this wise pastor's words to give me permission to trust God, even when I doubted myself. Laughter was the indicator in my ability to do so.
Although I am still very much a diamond in the rough, fun is now one of my top indicators of my faith health. I treasure friends who can help polish off some of the dirt and keep me fun-filled and faith-filled.
If you haven't tried it lately, I'd suggest you go and have yourself a good laugh. Have fun.
And while you're at it, you'll be practicing putting the list of worries on God's shoulders.
You'll be walking by faith.
~~~~~
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Philippians 4:6
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Hebrews 11:1~~~~~
What do you think about fun and it's role in your spiritual walk?
Would love to know: what do you like to do to have fun?
*** BOOK GIVEAWAY! ***
Today's post is a scene from my life when I hit one of my Plan Bs. I recently had an opportunity to review a new book by Pete Wilson titled Plan B, and I'm happy to host a giveaway at my place at Faith Barista!
Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com
I loved this, Bonnie! I never thought about laughter like this before. Brilliant.
Smiling at you now,
Kristen
Yes.
Overly responsible, that’s me! It looks so mature, so sound. It isn’t. For me, the roots go deep. I’m KEENLY aware of my inability to have fun. Those times in my life when I find myself in the midst of it, it takes me by surprise. Thanks for bringing forth this rarely talked about sign of spiritual need.
oh bonnie. i love this. love it. thank you for it; i needed it today, very much.
Keep on praying….keep on believing!
Great post!
Bonnie, I so agree! Generally I love going for the fun and when I don’t make the time or effort for it, it’s my clue that I’m overthinking. Thanks so much for sharing : )
Beautiful and so true. Man/woman is that he/she might have joy! Worry, stress and working all the time get in the way of that. Having fun is very important to me at 62. I didn’t always live this but now I cannot get enough. It is a form of faith to let go and let God.
thank you so much bonnie. I’m in my early twenties and I’ve been so stressed about the life I should be living that I haven’t been living or trusting at all. I really needed to read this post. What a gift!
Bonnie. First off, I love your Blogs! About this one…my husband is always telling me to “relax”, but I can’t. I am always trying to find meaning and purpose in ALL that I do! And, I spend days thinking…is this it…is this it… is this it… like a child. But, when I relax, or simply have fun, I hear Him. And, His answers to my “is this it” question are always soooo meaningful and just AMAZING. These days my way of having fun is sitting around, relaxing,laughing and playing with my 8 month old son, and every time… I hear Him, “YES, THIS IS IT!” And, at that moment…I feel peace and reassuarnce that yes “MY LIFE IS ALREADY HIS WILL”. Thank You so much for sharing your stories, I love them and have identified with many!
I love this post! My favorite thing to do when I just need some fun is to to get a bunch of friends together (couples, mostly) and play games. We LOVE the games of Pit, Balderdash, Apples to Apples, and Boxers or Briefs. That last one is for married couples only! LOL! We have so much fun playing and laughing our heads off!
Bonnie – as usual, just what I needed to hear/read! I’ve been out of work for four months, and have realized that being down and depressed doesn’t help my job hunt – or me. Also a great reminder that God puts us where He wants us, even when we can’t see how we’re helping the cause.
This was an amazing post. Thanks for sharing it. It really made my morning.
Love the reminder to “trust God, even when I doubt myself”. I needed that today!
I have always struggled with having fun. That sounds strange when I type it but it’s true. I have always needed a mission so to speak. I am now learning thru changes in my life that I must have fun in order to keep my faith strong! Laughter proves that God is good!
I was loving the story before the jump and love it even more now! This is so true and there was no greater wisdom you needed at that moment. That’s what I love about God: He totally gets it! 🙂
Bonnie, this is exactly what I needed to read this morning. I am so weary and tired and the fun has been long in coming lately. Due to many financial challenges, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to increase our income and it’s not been fun at all.
I remember a friend of mine who returned to the states from the mission field. She asked me to join her in praying for a job for her. But she added a caveat …let it be a fun job. And do you know what? She found the perfect job that was fun. She loves France and speaks the language. She now works in an antique French shop and her employers are Christians!
God is so amazing!!!
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Loved this. And crazy perfect timing. I was just telling a group I run that I aim to go someplace beautiful every day JUST FOR ME. Be it Starbucks, a beautiful park, a flower shop. I need to unwind and have fun. You are dead on. Well said!
@Kristen: Smiling back! 🙂
@Marilyn: I hope you get more surprised increasingly! 🙂
@Kelly: So happy you do… !
@Wanda: Thanks, Wanda!
@Denese: I know, me too. It’s a telltale clue, isn’t it?!
@Bonnie: That is SO awesome, Bonnie!! You’re a great encourager for us!
@Heidi: “I’ve been so stressed about the life I should be living that I haven’t been living or trusting at all.” I love how you just said that. Have some fun, Heidi — He will lead you, just as He led weak-kneed-me!
@Connie: Thanks, Connie! What a blessing to hear Him!
@Heathahlee: I will have to check out Boxers or Briefs!! Wahoo!! Thanks, Heather!
@Carol: Keep up the hard work, Carol! .. Like you said, you must take the load off by seeking out some fun, something to lift you — to walk that extra mile for the journey.
@Stacy: Yay! Thanks, Stacy!
@Mandy: It comforts me every time I look back, because God did lead me, even though I doubted it. He is bigger than doubts!
@Christi: EXACTLY. Couldn’t have said it better. Thanks, Christi!
@Jason: He TOTALLY gets it! 🙂
@Debbie: You are working so hard, Debbie. God must know how much you can handle. You gotta take care of your soul, for that extra mile job searching. Inject some smiles and laughter– and get energized, sweet friend!
@Andrea: “JUST FOR ME. Be it Starbucks, a beautiful park, a flower shop. I need to unwind and have fun.” I LOVE that, Andrea. If we started treating ourselves the same way God cherishes us… wow… ! sends shivers up my spine! 🙂
Bonnie, how right you are!! Loving ourselves and those around us the way our heavenly Daddy adores and cherishes us should equate to a dance of joy. We aren’t promised easy… I wouldn’t even want easy. But we are promised that He is oh so beautifully sufficient! Snuggling with a couple of giggly boys all wrapped up in real joy.
hmmmmm… This is the interpretation I needed to hear. Someone asked me once if I ever did anything spontanous in fun. I said no and did not understand why. I think I get it now. Thank you.
Bonnie,
Love this post…. there were quite a few things in it that spoke to my heart.
Thank you!
I never really thought about what role fun has in my spiritual walk. Hmmm…. So – I guess, if you allow yourself to have fun that means you are enjoying your life. If you are enjoying your life you must be letting God handle the problems. Sounds like a good way to live to me.
Debbie G.
I love laughing my ace of spades off! i love it! I love having fun! So interesting that we forget to associate fun with God’s will and plan for our lives. Like it has to be serious business following the Lord, concentration at all times. God is all about life to the full. I think that is what dreaming is, or thinking about a dream job. Also being in a job that he wants us to be in, well it won’t feel like work, but life!
this is exactly what i needed to hear….go off duty! trust God! and enjoy!
thanks!
So glad I clicked over here. : ) Fits so exactly with what God is reminding me of these days. I’ve been learning these last years more and more to trust Him and He keeps taking me deeper and deeper in the pool and asking me to keep trusting Him more… I love this idea of laughter (and I’ll add smiling) as being a measure of my faith’s health. SO TRUE. I’m grateful to be smiling today… even as I’m swimming deeper and deeper every day.
Thanks, Bonnie!
Laugher…it is good…and too often I’m just too serious…but I love to play. This winter, my husband and I went skiing for a week. As I swooshed down the slopes, my body remembered the joy of this sport. It had been a long time, and I was amazed how I made it to the bottom of the slope without a wipeout. It had been years since we’d played like this together. On Saturday, we will take off again for a week. This time for some canoeing, hiking and sight seeing in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. I love to be outside. Moving in and around nature makes me feel so alive. I always feel so blessed to be strong. Sore muscles just mean to me that I put my whole self into the game…and that’s fun for me.
I love this Bonnie 😀 I’d never thought of being able to laugh or enjoy life as an indicator of faith and trusting God’s provision but now that I think of it that makes a lot of sense.
Gosh, I probably laugh every single day. Then again, I’m easily amused. That pastor was very wise. In this life we will have troubles, take hold of the times when you can have fun and laugh. Great post, Bonnie.