Dec 16th - Fun

I was watching Anne Widdicome's Strictly Come Dancing performances last night.  And was laughing out loud at how ridiculous she was - but also had a huge sense of respect for a woman of a certain age who was willing to throw herself into the whole show with such abandon.  She genuinely didn't care that she couldn't dance for toffee.  She was prepared to lay aside her political reputation
and be rather ridiculous to give people a laugh on a Saturday night.  She was so funny and I think the British public fell in love with her just a little bit because she was prepared to have fun.

The other thing I did yesterday was I went to a concert.  The Ulster Orchestra were doing a Christmas gig and I was taken along as by a good friend who wanted to bless me for Christmas.  The orchestra members were all dressed in Christmas costumes.    Most of the brass section were wearing santa suits or elf costumes.  The conductor was sporting a Darth Vader Christmas jumper.   A first violin was wearing a rather fetching christmas pudding dress.  It was really nice to see people who are usually dressed in black for a living being just a little bit crazy because it was Christmas.  ( The concert was a whole heap of festive fun with sing-along bits and lots of seasonal favourites)



It strikes me that if there's any time of the year when we have an excuse to have fun.... this is it!.   At Christmas you are allowed to tell bad jokes and play parlour games and watch corny films and belly laugh with family and friends.   You are actively encouraged to wear a garish Christmas jumper and give your best mate a really embarrassing present.   You are supposed to get down on your hands and knees with small children and play with trains.  And if you get the chance to go to a nativity play or a pantomime you have to join in and sing along and shout and cheer.   It's nice isnt it?  Having the excuse to just loosen up a little bit.  Being given permission to relax and embrace your inner seven year old ?

I know that for some people Christmas this year won't be a barrel of laughs.  But for those of us who can, let's resolve to have more fun.  Let's be a bit sillier, a bit louder and a bit more childlike than we usually are.  Because I genuinely think it's good for us and for those around us.    Jesus told us that we needed to be like little children - and if anyone knows how to have fun kids do.