Chaplain's Corner!

With the end of the racing season upon us, isn't there a bit of a void in our lives? Aren't we missing the fun of racing? The word "fun" means lively, playfulness, merriment, amusement, sport, recreation, joking. If that's what we let it be, our sport certainly fits that description in addition to other meaningful traits.

I believe that having fun brings a needed balance to life. Our lives are full of pressures, demands, complications and trials. Fun gives us some breathing room, a healthy escape to revive and keep us from cracking, a change in outlook and emotion. To keep racing be fun, of course, will always be a challenge. We could easily allow it to become another pressure.

Sometimes our need for fun can lead us in the wrong direction. For example, the expression "let's get wasted." To "get wasted" can result in just that - destruction and a waste of time. Fun can either serve God or the devil.

The question might be "is God fun loving?" From what I've been told, evolutionists can't explain why animals play. Deer, cats and my dog, Daisy (a Doberman) love to play. The Bible says God created all living things and we see some playful characteristics in animals and children. Children love to play. Another definition of fun is to act foolishly. As parents, it is a challenge to guide children's fun. As adults, let's not lose the quality of having good, clean fun. It's a gift from God.

In conclusion, to be honest with you, as I searched the Scriptures I couldn't find the word "fun" used anywhere. I can only point to creation and I think God must have had a good laugh when he thought of us. On the serious side, having fun must not be our goal in life. Proverbs 21:17 says, "He who loves pleasure will become poor." Timothy 3 describes the last days as people being the lovers of pleasure rather than the lovers of God. The right direction for life should be this (Matthew 6:33) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." So put God first and fun will follow as a natural balance to life. To see the kingdom (John 3:3) you must be born again by believing God sent Jesus into the world that through His death and resurrection, we have forgiveness of our sin, which is the same message as John 3:16.

Chaplain Ken