When Your Husband Still Pops Wheelies…(Is Having FUN Really in the Bible?)

“What is he doing???”

“Did he just do what I think he did?”

“Don’t say anything, just keep going.” I told myself … John and I were on a bike ride while on vacation. (We’ll return to his antics in a moment…)

Trying to reconnect with cycling, staying on the bike, balancing, breaking, etc., began as somewhat challenging for this Miss-Not-So-Agile.

Our hotel was most gracious to loan us a couple of bikes with awesome fat tires and ultra cushy seats. Bikes like these are akin to a two-wheeled Cadillac.

The wide bike paths were beautifully landscaped all over Kiawah Island. Spanish moss hung over the palm and pine trees making green, heaven-like archways, complete with a backdrop of bright blue skies.

Leaving the island, our path dissected wide spanses of marshes filled with fascinating varieties of birds. A birdwatcher could’ve camped out on the bridge over these marshes for hours.

Reaching our destination, a lovely shopping area called Fresh Fields Village, we hopped off our bikes to explore.

John’s Strava app on his phone showed we’d ridden a whopping 4.6 miles. For you avid cyclists out there, I regret to report we completed said trek in a mere forty-five minutes.

John said we could’ve walked faster! Oh, but the fantastic photo ops we stopped for surely chewed up those minutes. Our return trip only took twenty-four minutes, less snail-like, thank you very much.

Always staying on the path, and navigating with great caution, I was enjoying our little excursion. I began to notice John was not staying on the path, but riding in the mulch and pine needles.

“Gives you a better workout.” He informed me. Alrighty then.

Never mind this same Hubster of mine, who recently turned fifty-five years of age, indeed popped wheelies at every ramp from the street back onto our bike path. This occurred numerous times.

(While this photo is a slightly exaggerated version of my real hubster, just wanted you to have the visual.)

But who, do you think, was having more fun???

I was so focused on staying on the path, I was missin’ the fun in the dirt…

Let’s look at what God, in His Word, thru’ King Solomon, teaches us about FUN…

Ecclesiastes 8:15 says, “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” (NLT)

Eugene Peterson must be a distant relative of John’s…look at his rendition in The Message: “So, I’m all for just going ahead and having a good time—the best possible…” Optimists unite!!!

The Living Bible says, “Then I decided to spend my time having fun…Other translations commend enjoyment of life, praising joy, even mirth—one of my favorite words, which translates into “amusement, especially expressed in laughter”. (My husband poppin’ wheelies was highly amusing.)

The synonyms for mirth get better: merriment, high spirits, hilarity, glee, laughter, buoyancy!!! So fun!!!

In the above photo, and with magnanimous mirth, the Butter Babes enjoyed a crazy game called Origin.

Let’s not forget Proverbs 17:22 which says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”(ESV)

My Life Application Study Bible opens our eyes further to Ecclesiastes 8:15: “Solomon recalls the remedy for life’s unanswered questions:

He recommends we embrace joy and contentment to lighten our journey thru’ life.

We must accept each day with its daily measure of work, food, and pleasure.

Let us learn to enjoy what God has given to refresh and strengthen us and…

…refuse to spend our energy looking for more than He intends for us.”

My prayer for us all this week is we’ll pop some wheelies, jump in the pool, skip along the road, dance, sing, whatever slice of fun you can find, GO FOR IT!!!

Don’t forget: If God put “fun” in the Bible, He surely instructs us about any topic you can drum up. Last September, about the time of Dove Season (as in hunting), I wrote a post about “Laundry” being in the Bible. Click on “Is Laundry in the Bible” from 9/13/13 and have “fun” with “laundry”.

As I type, my wheely-poppin’ husband is pulling out of the driveway to go hunt some doves. It’s Opening Day and he couldn’t be more excited. Dear.

‘Til next time!

1 John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God.” (NIV) Amen and amen.