“Has anyone planted a vineyard & not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle & someone else enjoy it,” (Deuteronomy 20:6).
Friends think I am starting to get a bit silly. Our world is full of war & uncertainty, leaving many feeling weary & heavily burdened with concern & fear. Even the television refuses to allow us to escape, as dramas of crimes & gore are written for “our viewing pleasure.”
In rebellion against this evil, I’ve decided to start seeing things through the eyes of a child. I’ve put aside my conservative, rational, boring self & am focusing on creating my own moments of joy, regardless of how silly they seem. I decorate with red pillows year-round (to the horror of one shopper, who said red was for Christmas!) I bought a faux-fur-covered notepad for my purse & found a pen that looks like a miniature doll fixed on an ink cartridge. I want more moments of instantaneous laughter in my life & more reasons to smile. I want “pockets of parties” to surround me to keep me focused on the joy that God provides, no matter how small. I need a bit of silliness to stay sane.
There will be moments of hurt & confusion; we may doubt that we will ever experience joy again. But during these moments, we may still numbly plant our vineyards— & then never enjoy them! Illness isn’t fun. Unless we seek to create pockets of parties, there won’t be laughs during the longings or pleasures while getting through the pain.
So the next time you smile at something & think, “No, that’s way too silly. . .” say yes! Play with your kid’s putty in the waiting room. Get crayons. Buy a fun hat. Wear the hot-pink scarf that someone gave you as a gag gift. Live a little.
Teach me how to enjoy the vineyard, God, that You have blessed me with this season.
Lisa Copen
