"Hobbies"

 

“Hobbies”

 

In television’s early days a local station in New York City aired a children’s program called “The Small Fry Club”. By today’s standards it would have been considered trite but it taught values in ways preschoolers and early grade schoolers of that era could understand. One emphasis was on developing healthy hobbies using a jingle, part of which said, “Everyone should find yourself a hobby; it keeps you wide awake and happy too.” It’s still good advice seven decades later.

A hobby is a leisure activity which is fun to do in one’s spare time. The possibilities are virtually limitless—just take a stroll around Hobby Lobby or Michael’s and see what’s offered with arts and crafts. Other areas include collecting particular items, travel, sports, learning new skills and a host of other endeavors to help deal with life’s stressful situations.

Properly utilized, hobbies can have great value in bringing order to our lives. However, we mustn’t allow them to so control us that they negatively impact our family life, work performance or relationship with God. It’s always a good idea to periodically take personal inventory to be sure our priorities are in order (“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”—Lamentations 3:40).

A youth evangelist from years ago (his name escapes me after decades) observed that from His youth Jesus maintained a healthy balance in four key areas of His life summarized in Luke 2:52: “…Jesus grew in wisdom (mental) and stature (physical), and in favor with God (spiritual) and (people) (social).” He’s “…(left us) an example, that (we) should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21), one which is certainly worth imitating (“As children copy their fathers you, as God’s children, are to copy him.” (Ephesians 5:1, PH).

One more thought: Is reading, studying and meditating on and living out God’s Word a hobby or regular practice in my life? God told Joshua about 3500 years ago, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8). He says the same to me (and you) today. May we move from hobby to habit in this key area of our lives.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan