Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Cyndi Lauper famously proclaimed that “girls just wanna have fun”…well, this one does anyway! No matter what my future plans consist of, believe it or not, one of my greatest goals in life is to have fun! Now I imagine that statement will elicit several gut reactions. Perhaps you are thinking that seems pretty frivolous and short-sighted. Perhaps you feel the urge to lecture me about the merits of loftier objectives in life, such as being more career-oriented, helping the needy, political activism or, if you are a Christian, sharing the gospel. But the truth is, I believe there is fun to be found in just about everything I do!
As it is, we are at the mercy of a broken world. Many times the situations we find ourselves in are out of our control. In fact, the only thing we can control is how we react to it. Our outlook can even dictate the outcome, at least as far as how much we value the experience and grow from it. When you make the most of even an unpleasant situation it suddenly gives it a sense of purpose and makes one feel as though it doesn’t have to be in vain. You may even eventually look back on it with some fondness!
For example, when I was first married we were often flat broke. We lived in some strange places, among some strange people and no immediate lifeline to any help, financial or otherwise. Still, as one who is never content to sulk at home, this forced me to be creative…to think outside of the box. I became a pro at coming up with fun activities that were free or inexpensive. Not only did they make for some of my best memories, but it also helped me to become a person who is resourceful and to appreciate the beauty of simplicity. I don’t think back on those times as terrible and depressing, I look back at those times as adventurous, fun and exciting!
I know it’s easy to succumb to discouragement or simply grumble about the mundane. There are times when I just don’t have the energy or motivation to look on the bright side, and by no means am I suggesting we plaster fake smiles across our face, but perhaps just be open to what good can come of any given situation. While we’re going through it, we can look for opportunities to make it more pleasant. Not just for ourselves, but for other’s as well. What an incredible gift you can give those around you who are struggling. It could be something as simple as making someone laugh. I can’t tell you how many times people have unwittingly gotten me through some tough moments just by providing some much-needed levity!
The movie Life Is Beautiful comes to mind. If you’ve never seen it, it’s a film that takes place during WWII when a Jewish librarian and his son become victims in the Holocaust. They are taken to a concentration camp and in an effort to protect his son from the horrors of the camp, the father makes a game of their time there and the son is none of the wiser. It’s a dark subject matter, but there is so much to be learned about the merits of seizing the moment and using it for good. I’m sure it would have been easier for Paul and Silas to just give in to defeat after being stripped and flogged and thrown into prison, but somehow they still managed to sing songs of praise in the midst of a horrific circumstance! How is that possible?
As a believer, I find it is in those difficult moments that we really give God a chance to shine. There isn’t anything too terribly exciting about making things happen in our own strength, but there is nothing more exciting than to see God work against all odds (his specialty)! When we are forced to lean on Him it is amazing how He shows up and provides, which also results in some pretty incredible testimonies to encourage others with as well. Even His timing makes for some great suspense, as He often waits till the last hour to deliver us (think Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego). Oh, we don’t like to learn patience, but the payoff is all the sweeter!
So while it may seem as though my goals in life are not so lofty, I think you will find that most people are driven by a desire to experience joy…true joy. The problem is, they often put it off for another time; when they finish school, when that financial goal is met, when they get married, when they have children, when the children move out, after they retire etc. Why not begin now? Every day presents us with numerous opportunities to create memorable experiences from the drudgery of life. And for the record, boys can have fun too!
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
