Here we go again!

Are you hanging your hat on FUN or are you hanging your hat on HOPE?

I choose both FUN and HOPE.

Look, we all have stress. We all have situations that bring us pain. We do however, have a choice. That choice is to allow the enemy’s attacks to stifle our state of being, or we can look towards God and know peace.

I am not saying this is easy to do. Here is the thing: We must separate ourselves from evil. It’s fun not so fun. Or as my son once put it – It’s Miserable Fun.

Story

Quite a few years ago, I went on a backpacking trip with my son and a group of Scouts. The place we typically hiked at that time of year had a history of rain, regardless of what the weather forecast said. And I’m not talking about a little rain. Often, it was relentless. The weekend had even been canceled or rescheduled at times because of monsoon-like rains that pushed the boundaries of safety.

This time, as usual, it rained. It was a long, soaking rain that lasted throughout the day.

When we finally reached the top of the mountain, we set up our tents in the rain. My legs were like Jell-O, and I was exhausted. I was in so much pain that I had to use my hiking sticks just to get around the campsite.

Some of the kids in our group were not prepared for the conditions and needed dry items to keep warm. My son and I helped one Scout by giving him some of our dry things, including a towel I had hauled all the way up the mountain in my pack.

For the most part, my son and I had managed to keep our things dry. We even had additional tarps that we set up to keep the rain off our tent.

But when I say for the most part, there was one important item I had failed to protect.

My sleeping bag was soaked!

I had given away some of my dry things to help another Scout, so I was left with only a couple of layers of clothing that, thankfully, were still dry.

It was a cold, miserable night.

The next morning, we broke camp and headed for home. It had been a tough three-day backpacking trip, but we did it!

We did it together.

Throughout the trip, we helped each other. In the rain, the pain, and the wet, we served one another, encouraging and guiding each other so we could all return home safely.

And we did!

We all made it. Blisters, limping, duct-taped shoes, wet and soggy items – we had it all.

But we did it together, like a band of brothers. And we were proud!

We had some thorns, but we definitely had roses.

Later, the opportunity came for my son to go to Philmont Scout Ranch. For those who don’t know, Philmont is the Super Bowl of hiking in Scouting.

When I asked him if he wanted to go, he didn’t hesitate.

“NO!”

Naturally, I had to ask him why.

His answer?

“Dad, I am not interested in having miserable fun!”

Fun Not So Fun

Sometimes we choose our own path to Fun Not So Fun and we didn’t even it plan it that way. Sometimes we are hit head on without warning and our pain is BIG. Sometimes our path is ambiguous. Fun Not So Fun.

Here is the deal.

I choose FUN.
I choose FUN as a method of distraction.
I choose FUN as a way to center myself.
I choose FUN which gives me HOPE.
I choose FUN as a path to peace.

Even when it’s not FUN I choose FUN!
Even if it’s Miserable FUN I choose FUN!

Fun Not So Fun

Have a FUN FRIDAY! Everyone even if it’s FUN NOT SO FUN – And have a great weekend!