Avoiding Joy (and Other Bad Strategies)

So, what’s on my mind?

This week, I’ve been enjoying a few days of Spring Break at the lake. It’s a few days of slower mornings, a little sunshine, and just enough time to remember what it feels like to not be in a hurry all the time. One of the highlights of the week was trying something for the very first time: pickleball.

Now, I know… some of you just smiled because you’ve been telling me, “You’ve got to try it!” And it’s not that I was completely avoiding it. But it did make me think about how often we as humans intentionally avoid something just because everyone else says it’s enjoyable. Why do we do that?

There seems to be something in us that resists what everyone else enjoys. Maybe it’s stubbornness. Maybe it’s skepticism. Maybe it’s that deep-down desire to not be told what to do, even if what we’re being told is, “Hey, this is really fun.” Like I said, I wasn’t necessarily avoiding pickleball. But I have to admit… they were right. It is fun. I laughed, I missed easy shots, I celebrated the rare good ones like I had just won a championship, and I walked off the court thinking, “Why did I wait so long?”

I wonder how often we approach faith the same way. Jesus talks about the kingdom of God like it’s something good. Really good. Like treasure hidden in a field, or a pearl of great value. Something worth discovering. Something worth embracing with joy. And yet, sometimes we hesitate.

We hear others talk about peace, grace, forgiveness, community… and instead of leaning in, we hold back. Maybe because we’ve heard it too many times. Maybe because we’re not sure we trust it. Maybe because we don’t want to look like we’re just going along with the crowd.

But what if, every now and then, the crowd is onto something? What if the invitation of Jesus isn’t something to resist, but something to experience? Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Not “analyze and debate,” not “observe from a distance,” but taste and see. In other words, try it. Step onto the court. Pick up the paddle. See for yourself.

Because faith, like pickleball (and stay with me here), isn’t meant to be appreciated from the sidelines. It’s something you step into. Something you experience. Something that, yes, might feel a little awkward at first, but can surprise you with joy along the way.

So maybe this week, wherever you find yourself, you take a small step toward something good, especially if it’s something you’ve been quietly resisting. You might just discover that what you’ve been avoiding… is exactly what you needed.

May God hold you,
Rev Chris Hester