“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:19-20

Yesterday I came so close to posting the elusive, less than once in a lifetime brag: “Derek got a hole-in-one!!!!!!”

I know, “close” doesn’t hack it; the ball is either in the hole or it’s not. But here’s the situation. The hole was a long, very long, par-three. Hitting not just over the water but all carry until a very narrow, fast green with the pin all the way to the very back. For me this was a full six iron, a club that for some reason typically pulls a little to the left. So I lined up at the right edge of the green, launched my shot, and watched it land exactly where I wanted it to. From there the ball made its way slowly down the slope and directly toward the hole, tracking the exact center of the cup. Then it stopped, just a few rotations short.

Believe me, the excitement on the tee box was palpable. We were all gearing up to make some noise, even the guy we didn’t know who had tagged along so he wouldn’t have to play alone. So we made some noise anyway!

I don’t want to make this all about golf, or bore you with my personal love for the game, but I stood there next to the hole, halfway disappointed that I hadn’t made the hole-in-one and halfway ecstatic that I had made such a spectacular shot, and I thought about how important celebration and enthusiasm are to our experience of life, and more particularly of faith.

Here is the truth about a life well lived: celebration makes it better, so does gratitude. When are hearts are full enough to spill over it makes everything better. So why not show a little enthusiasm?

Why not go over the top in terms of how we express our deep appreciation for life? Hole-in-one – or the fun of just being there. Making our last mortgage payment – or simply successfully making the next one, a month at a time. Presenting that rare cut of fillet-mignon with roasted asparagus for dinner – or serving a small hamburger with some shoestring fries. Flashing that photo of the new grandchild – or a regular conversation with a friend over a cup of coffee.

It is all good. It is all celebration worthy. It is all a precious gift. It is all something to make some noise over.

So “WOOHOO!!!!” Life is good!!!! Let’s make some noise!! Whoop it up! “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything…”

– DEREK