Saint Paul’s!
There’s a few songs that I know are total cheese and I yet I still love them. I’m a sucker for Neil Diamond. Katie hates him. She just pictures bedazzled denim everywhere. I guess that might be true. But “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” is worth the price of the denim admission. Also covered in denim and feathered hair is Eddie Rabbit. I don’t have much use for him, but I have his “I love a rainy night” on repeat. (I’ve listened to it 3x’s writing this.)
But can we take life with utmost seriousness, and yet still be happy? Can we smile and be happy while people get sick and die? Or when there is war, pollution, racism, poverty? Can we enjoy life while that stuff is happening or if we are too happy do we become airheads? Rude? Dense? Stupid?
When a child has cancer and they bring in people to visit, have you ever seen them bring in someone dressed like the Grim Reaper? Of course not. It is always someone who will make the child smile and find joy in life. It’s a sports hero or musician or actor. And they all find a way to love life for just a little longer.
Listen, all this is going to end very soon. We don’t have a lot of time. I don’t say that to make us depressed. I say it to remind you to have the wisdom of children, who keep finding ways to enjoy this world, despite the problems and the pain. Enjoy church while there’s time. Enjoy the sun while you can see it. Enjoy your friends and your family while they are still close. And when it all comes to an end, even then, look back and say, “That was good. I had a good run. I’m glad I got to hold it and see it and live in it for as long as I did. It’s a good world. And I’m glad I got to live in it.”
Enjoy your life.
Sincerely,
Tom Smith