Growing up as a kid and teenager, I spent a lot of time in my basement. There was a pool table and a ping pong table in the basement. In addition, there was a pool in the back yard. My house is where my friends and I always ended up. The basement is where I built train layouts on both the pool table and the ping pong table. I spent countless hours in the basement working on remote control cars, building and repairing them. Music was always part of the atmosphere. The basement was my favorite place in the house.
As I aged and moved out on my own and got married and had a family, my interests morphed and changed. I bought a motorcycle at age 19 and changed my focus to fishing and racing which was always favorite pass times. When I met my wife, skiing and motorcycle riding was one of our favorite activities. When I got married and kids started to enter the picture it was time to make choices on what I could and couldn’t do. I figured out that my body didn’t like the cold, so I gave up skiing and hunting. Financial constraints and time constraints gave way to departure of the motorcycles. While others were expanding their hobbies and the things they liked to do, I was narrowing my focus. People would ask me why I was reducing my hobbies and things I liked to do. My answer was always time and money. I somehow managed to keep a boat so I could go fishing, but the rest of my choices were made in the best interest of my family.
The past brings many fond memories of joy. As a parent, I have been able to relive my childhood vicariously through my children. Trains, remote control cars, 4 wheelers, swimming and even ping pong are still on my list of likes. I got a lot of joy out the things I used to do over the years and still could. However, my focus shifted towards my marriage and my family and their activities. The trains sit in a closet untouched for the most part, the kids are into the remote-control cars, but today I mostly just enjoy watching my kids run them. The 4 wheelers are for the kids too, but I enjoy it also. Fishing by far, is my favorite activity. Unfortunately, fishing is a missed satisfaction for the last many years. Of course, I get out fishing with my kids from time to time and even for myself. I am definitely not fishing to any level of satisfaction these days. About 8 years ago, I recall talking to a man who is retired. He can go out on the lake anytime he wants. I said something to him about how lucky he is to be able to just go fishing whenever he wants. His reply? “It wasn’t always like that.” He continued. “I would have loved to go fishing whenever I wanted.” “However, like you, I had a family I was focused on.” “Fishing was not a priority.”
Today, I chose to focus on Jesus. I spend 10-14 hours a week focusing on Jesus and the Word. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, I do count the time I spend writing here. A decent amount of research (scripture study, thought, music and prayer) goes into what I write. I get such joy out of doing God’s work so that I can share it with others.
In other words, this is a supernatural, wonderful, out-of-this-world kind of joy. Not only will we receive supernatural joy but also supernatural peace. Reference Philippians 4:7 And the peace which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Reference Tommy Higle)
Romans 15: 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the Holy Spirit.
That is what I seek when I am focused on Jesus. I write here to show you what I see. What I see is just that—what I see. I share it not to impose on you, but rather to share my excitement with you. My hope is that my excitement will reach you, so that you, too, can experience the joy. If you are already experiencing the joy, then great! I hope you experience even more!
How about you? What brings you joy?