I have had the most amazing “God winks” in the last few days. Last Thursday I attended the Love Wins luncheon with guest speaker Annie F. Downs. Sunday’s sermon by Dave Graybeal reiterated what Annie said—in more biblical terms. And today I read a beautiful post by a dear friend of mine about her latest stage in life entitled Between two Kingdoms. When God speaks my friends, I try to listen.

In my opinion our lives are one long balancing act of “both and”. Perhaps this is why I have a difficult time with absolutes. Life is “both and” at the same time all the time. One can experience joy and sorrow at the same time. One can hold grief and delight at the same time. One can experience hate and love at the same time. For believers, the tension of the kingdom here and now and the kingdom yet to come is palpable and mysterious—at the same time.

Annie Downs is a fantastic speaker, podcaster, and author. I am reading her book, “That Sounds Fun” which is all about, wait for it, having fun. The whys and hows of having fun in life are essential to our wellbeing. Having fun does not mean the absence of pain, or guilt, or sadness, or grief, or sorrow, or frustration. Annie proposes that having fun fills those voids and gaps in our lives where we want “something” WITHOUT ignoring what is causing the need for filling those holes in the first place. Fun can be vulnerable, liberating, connecting, and joyous. Fun can help us hold space for the difficult things in our lives. Instead of running from difficulty, let’s embrace it with a little fun. It sounds counterintuitive, but I promise you, she’s on to something.

Pastor Dave’s sermon grounded in Luke 19:29-44, was about the juxtaposition of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with his knowledge of the coming days and eventual destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Even in this moment of joy with his followers, Jesus is suffering in his knowledge of the future. Perhaps the Hosannas helped him bear the coming betrayals? I don’t know. The Bible is full of “both and” moments. Jesus was both divine and human. He experienced joy and sorrow at the same time over and over and over again.

My beautiful friend, blogging about her life, describes her current place in the world as being between two kingdoms. This is actually the title of a book she is reading! The title alone makes me smile. Yes! I said as I read today’s post. She was sharing about her new found love, renewed energy, and small but might everyday miracles, while also being very real about her health challenges and blended family challenges. Both And. Between Two Kingdoms. My friend is a living example of grace under trial and finding hope in the ashes. She is the strongest person I know.

As a believer, I am encouraged and strengthened by the tension of my life between trying to bring the kingdom now and looking forward to the kingdom coming. This gap isn’t a perfect place. It isn’t even a comfortable place alot of the time. But it is essential to live in that gap if we are going to be fully human, full of joy and sorrow.

Life isn’t perfect. It hasn’t been perfect since Adam and Eve and it won’t be perfect again until we are all united in the afterlife. Until then, I’m going to chase joy by having fun. I will hold space for the grief and pain of myself and others by expanding my capacity for joy. And I will continue to make connections with others to share both the burdens of life and the brightness of fun! Chasing Joy. Between two Kingdoms. Both And.

Love Y’all, Marla