A long while back (a very long while back), I had attempted to implement 12 Spiritual Disciplines into my life – one for each month – as identified and explained in the book Celebration of Discipline.  For some absurd reason, the author (whom I greatly admire in spite of this initial poor arrangement of chapters) wrote one of the preliminary chapters about fasting (along with meditation and prayer).  Fasting?  Really?  I mean, someone who is in need of incorporating more discipline into their lives is most likely going to be extremely discouraged if fasting is the first couple of steps on the road to “spiritual maturity”.  Even Jesus’ disciples were performing miracles alongside him before they ever even fasted (remember how John’s disciples asked Jesus why He didn’t have his disciples fast, and He said, “No one fasts while the bridegroom is still present?”).  Jesus had his guys ministering through feeding the poor and healing the sick before he ever required them to fast – the time for fasting would come, but Jesus knew that fasting wasn’t for beginners.

The author, Richard Foster, was certainly intentional in his chapter arrangement, which he explains in the book.  But I’d rather start where Jesus started, and where he had his disciples start.  Jesus’ life began with angels singing to shepherds, and with kings bringing him gifts.  And once Jesus had gathered some of his disciples, he attended a wedding where he performed his first miracle.  So considering that Jesus began his life and his ministry with a party, and the fact that the holidays are upon us, it only seems appropriate to begin this particular spiritual journey with a similar approach:  The discipline of Celebration.  Also, it helps to start any kind of journey with an “easy” baby step.  And even Richard Foster says in his chapter on celebration, “Celebration is central to all the Spiritual Disciplines.  Without a joyful spirit of festivity the Disciplines become dull, death-breathing tools in the hands of modern Pharisees.”

Why is celebration so important?  Amidst all of the suffering in the world and the sin in our own hearts, is it not more important to focus on what we can do now to alleviate the suffering of others and to work on being more like Jesus?  Does celebration not seem somewhat trite compared to the other disciplines of prayer, service and of course, fasting?  I like what Foster says, “Far and away the most important benefit of celebration is that it saves us from taking ourselves too seriously.  This is a desperately needed grace for all those who are earnest about the Spiritual Disciplines.  It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores.  This should not be.  Of all people, we should be the most free, alive, interesting.”

But I think there’s more still.  Enjoyment of life and all that is good is what we were made for.  It is our specific, eternal design.  We were created to live naked in lush gardens, in the continual presence of God.  He wanted us to have fun, to have the deepest sense of happiness and fulfillmen,t and deep communion with our fellow man.  Much of that was lost in the Fall; there’s work that must be done in order to survive, tragedies befall many, and “just getting through the day” is quite an achievement for many of us.  But God did not allow for all to be lost.  When we stop to celebrate, we get a glimpse of our eternal destiny, of our intended design, of His loving care and provision for us.  Celebration is not some insignificant reward for the work we’re supposed to do – Celebration is the work, it is the point of it all.

We’re often reminded during the holidays, whether through sermons, blogs, or even yet another viewing of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, to keep in mind what’s “truly important”, such as family and good friends.  Some people mean “perspective”, as in “keep in mind our blessings of a home and food on the table compared to so many others that are not as fortunate.”  And while these are certainly wonderful blessings for which to be appreciative, they are not the complete package.  We celebrate not for the things God has given us, but that He has given us Himself.

For the next five Mondays, I hope you’ll join me in discovering the spiritual joy of celebration.  I know I could use the opportunity to stay focused on what’s joyous and true during the upcoming holidays, and to discover how to celebrate with intention toward an eternal purpose.