Best time of your life?

As a college student, I am constantly bombarded with the culture and media's idea that the college years are the "best time of your life", etc. The spark for this particular post was a conversation I recently had with one of my professors who I believe is disillusioned with his impending mid-life crisis. He told me after class that I'd better live it up, because this the most fun I'll ever have..." I think we've all heard this before.

I had to contain my passions to his face, but the instant I left the room, my wheels were turning. To me, life is a book. An epic novel with an over-arching plot, countless subplots, main character, minor characters, chapters, ebb and flows, etc. Every single chapter in our lives has its own flavor, its own activities, characters, struggles, etc. The one constant is the life is almost always a matter of perspective. Even in the midst of struggle, there is plenty of good to be found. Just ask Paul, that man spent more time in prison than the rats, but he still found joy and satisfaction in his surroundings.

I got to thinking about life as a whole, and the "fun" that we get to have along the way. I couldn't agree any less with the professor that this is the most fun I'll ever have. Fun is not a concrete entity that you can sit on the shelf. Fun is not defined and immobile. Fun is a fluid, ever-changing, adapting, chameleon that follows us through life. Fun is what you make it.

Fun is playing with the big wooden blocks with your friends.
Fun is fingerpainting and making a big mess.
Fun is building a Lincoln log house that falls over every time.
Fun is creating universes and adventure for G.I. Joe and all of his friends.
Fun is making silly noises into the Teddy Ruxpin and making your friends laugh.
Fun is getting scrapes and bruises playing "American Gladiator" with your friends.
Fun is rolling around on the ground, play-fighting with your little brother.
Fun is running the riding mower into the house, while your Dad records the whole thing.
Fun is climbing a tree, just because you can.
Fun is riding a bike, while your dad runs beside you.
Fun is building sandcastles out of nasty dirt in your backyard.
Fun is playing with the puppy and letting him lick your face.

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Fun is learning all about stuff and things you used to be ignorant of.
Fun is making new friends and loving old ones.
Fun is learning to play basketball or that other amazing sport that inspires you.
Fun is discovering the opposite sex, and becoming completely awkward around them.
Fun is throwing a frisbee, football, or whatever with your friends on a damp summer evening.
Fun is the dances, proms, homecomings, football games, etc.
Fun is seeing another country for the first time.
Fun is doing something kind for someone, just because you can.
Fun is stepping behind the wheel, alone, for the first time.
Fun is getting up the nerve to try to kiss her for the first time.
Fun is that first piece of plastic with your name and picture on it.
Fun is learning how to cherish a moment in time and never forget it.

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Fun is learning who you really are inside.
Fun is discovering your reason for being alive.
Fun is studying hard for a test and making an A.
Fun is dunking a basketball.
Fun is dunking a basketball, again.
Fun is talking to Jesus as your Savior, and not the Savior of your parents.
Fun is when your Dad treats you like a man, and not just his son.
Fun is when you discover just how deep your faith really goes.
Fun is buying your first suit.
Fun is the first real job interview.
Fun is walking a stage, shaking a hand and posing in front of a flag.
Fun is a piece of paper on your wall that represents 16+ years of education.

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Fun is looking in her eyes and finding love there.
Fun is peace that you are where you're supposed to be.
Fun is spending two months salary on a little shiny thing society tells you is important.
Fun is agonizing over the details of the perfect proposal.
Fun is when she says "yes".
Fun is the day she's been planning since forever ago.
Fun is experiencing what all that stuff was really made for.
Fun is when you get your first "real" paycheck and fall down from laughing so hard.
Fun is having a mailbox with your name on it.
Fun is having a community of like-minded people who genuinely love and care for you.
Fun is ministering to God's people.
Fun is impacting lives and creating change that effects eternity.
Fun is spending a lifetime getting to know your "other half".

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Fun is finding out you're going to be a father.
Fun is finding out it's a boy. (ok, girls wouldn't be that bad either...)
Fun is planning, building, buying and then waiting.
Fun is the day you get a new title.
Fun is looking into the eyes of God's product of your love for your wife.
Fun is 3am feedings.
Fun is backrubs, apologies, late night ice cream runs, and loving the mother of your kiddo.
Fun is watching your little munchkin figure out stuff.
Fun is the first _____ .
Fun is finding your wife buried beneath all the "Mom" she's developing inside.
Fun is remaining true to your God and your self in the midst of total chaos.

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Fun is that big promotion at work.
Fun is going to the homecoming game and marveling at how much the campus has changed.
Fun is talking to college friends you haven't seen in 10 years.
Fun is discovering, developing, creating something that changes humanity.
Fun is building meaningful relationships at church, work and the kid's school.
Fun is ministering to people and living out Jesus' love.
Fun is becoming a master of God's Word.
Fun is acquiring small pieces of wisdom over the years and getting to share them.
Fun is rediscovering each and every day how amazing your wife is.
Fun is teaching your son/daughter how to love Jesus and how to do life well.
Fun is playing basketball with your son, and totally dominating him.
Fun is being a Dad...oh, how I long for that.
Fun is watching your children become their own people, and crying about it.

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Fun is watching the dances, proms, homecoming, football games, etc. from the other side.
Fun is protecting, defending, nurturing, building, teaching how to be an adult.
Fun is making your daughter's prospective boyfriend pee...his...pants. In front of you. :)
Fun is having faith and trust that God will protect them as they go out and come back.
Fun is playing golf with the boys on Saturday morning.
Fun is sponsoring an orphan.
Fun is doing completely random kind things, just because you can.
Fun is loving your wife more each day and knowing the story behind every wrinkle on her face.
Fun is helping your kiddo pick a school...while secretly wishing they would pick yours.

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Fun is having the freedom to do whatever you want again.
Fun is reaping the benefits of a wisely invested financial life.
Fun is discipling young men and women towards a lifetime of significance.
Fun is being able to richly bless God's people from your abundances.
Fun is owning an RV and exploring God's creation.
Fun is seeing all those travel brochure places with your own eyes.
Fun is watching your children become parents.
Fun is playing dominos with the boys on Saturday morning.
Fun is playing BINGO on Wednesday night.
Fun is shuffleboard.
Fun is spoiling grandkids rotten, then sending them home to Mom and Dad.
Fun is huge holiday meals with the whole family.

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Fun is a legacy of love and lasting impact.
Fun is a life well lived.
Fun is what you make it.

Above all else, remember this...

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

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Have you had fun today?
You can still fix that...

Fun is now.








and now...






and now...







and now...





Be blessed.