Keep the Celebration Going

My family and I just returned from what some people consider the Happiest Place on Earth (a.k.a. Walt Disney World). Others may disagree, but my family regarded this trip one of the best we have taken in quite some time. I am pretty sure this had a lot to do with feeling the need to celebrate and having the right place to do it!   

As my wife described it so well on Facebook, 

 

Finally on our intended 2020 Disney 25th Anniversary trip that turned into a “Celebrate 2020 graduations from high school and college, 25 + 1 wedding anniversary, 26 years in ministry, 20 years teaching in a school classroom, completed first professional animation movie contract, completed 1st year at School of the Art Institute Chicago, almost have my driver’s license, and beginning of senior year in high school” vacation!

 

Quaker Richard Foster believes celebration should be at the core of our life and at the heart of the way of Christ. He says, 

 

Celebration brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong. Scripture tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10).  We cannot continue long in anything without it.

 

After this prolonged pandemic, my family needed again to embrace a carefree spirit of joyous festivity! Just being together, singing songs, laughing, dancing [yes, I may have been caught a couple of times dancing], and enjoying each other’s company without the pressures of the world, ministry, work, and school felt so freeing and way overdue.   

On Thursday night, as we stood with thousands of people from around the world to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks in front of Cinderella’s Castle, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and even had tears rolling down my checks. I have so much to celebrate – a wonderful wife, a beautiful family, and an exciting community of faith at First Friends just to name a few. My heart is so full.

 

Richard Foster said, that even though singing, dancing, and noise-making (a.k.a fireworks) are not required forms of celebration. 

 

They are examples only, to impress upon us that the earth indeed is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Like Peter, we need to learn that nothing that comes from the gracious hand of God is inherently unclean (Acts 10).  We are free to celebrate the goodness of God with all our viscera! 

 

This week, I hope you can find a reason to celebrate! Sing, dance, make noise and celebrate the goodness of God with all your viscera! 

 

Keep the Celebration Going!