Corona Devo 1086
Raise your hand if your days are managed by a schedule: An alarm clock feeding into a regimen of revolving tasks and people and responsibilities that cycle all day until it is once again...night.
We toil and we schedule and we rush and we hustle...for what?
Is this full-calendar and over-filled life the "dream" that God dreamt-up for us when He formed us in the womb and when He ordained our days that were written in His book? (Psalm 139).
~~~I forsook the schedule this weekend and walked-away from working-ahead. I slept-in and let-in people and moments that I usually "don't have time for", and...
It was wonderful. It was soul-filling and spirit-fueling, and it was not meaningless.
I had a wake-up call by sleeping in: It's okay to enjoy life.
~~~
I am NO genius (ask my kids!), but I know someone who was--King Solomon (son of David), in the Bible. He is credited with being the most wise person to ever have lived, and he actually ran some life-experiments to figure out the meaning (and fulfillment) of life. Solomon's results were very similar to my weekend (relaxed) realizations: It's okay to enjoy life.
First of all, Solomon realized that so much of what we pour our energy, money, time and selves into...is meaningless.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (3) What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? (4) Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. ~Ecclesiastes 1:2-4
Before coming to this conclusion, Solomon tried and applied many things in an effort to find the key-to-life. (We've tried a lot of things too, haven't we?)
Solomon tried wisdom...
I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens.... (14) I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ~Ecclesiastes 1:13-14
Solomon tried pleasure...
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless...
(3) I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom.
(4) I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. (5) I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them...
(8) I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces...I acquired...a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart.
(11) Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. ~Ecclesiastes 2:1, 3-5, 8, 11
~~~
How many of us are still running "life-experiments" trying to find happiness, joy, fulfillment or worth in any of these areas?
But what then, is meaning-full? What does bring satisfaction, and fulfillment to our lives?
We know, though, don't we?
We catch it in the embrace of a loved one, or a smile of recognition and belonging. We find it in a full night's sleep or in a meal genuinely enjoyed.
This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. (19) Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ~Ecclesiastes 5:18-19
Of course, we must engage-in-work to earn our living/our keep/our positions in life, but let's realize (with the help of Solomon's wisdom) that we do not have to work ourselves to (physical/emotional/intellectual/spiritual) death.
It's okay to enjoy life.
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? ~Ecclesiastes 3:22
And if we want to take this (short) life here on earth to the next level, then find and follow the Lord, and find others who have found and are following Him too. Navigating our lives-in-Christ alongside others seeking to do the same...is awesome...is fulfilling...is encouraging. And it is community and purpose as God intended us to experience.
- The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. (43) A sense of awe came over everyone... (44) All the believers were united... (46) Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. (47) They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. ~Acts 2:42-44, 46-47
- “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ~Hebrews 10:24-25
- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: (10) If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up... (12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 5:9-10, 12
~~~
The schedule has to stay in some respect--so that we have normalcy, productivity and provision, but open the door to enjoying life today. We pursue purpose in many ways, but the Lord has given us simplicity, gratitude, and people to enjoy-life-with...if only we will open the door to them.
It's okay to enjoy life.
Perhaps my daughter said it best. After both of us enjoyed a rare sleep-in the other day, we spent some (also rare) time together. I told her that it was like we had opened a door that we hardly ever open.
"Let's keep it open", she said.
I agree.
So does the Lord. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
It's okay to enjoy life today.
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com
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