“Kings!”

We call it “Kings!” 

For decades now my three brothers and I have gone away annually to a cottage for a few days to hang out, eat, drink and be merry. Or as one once put it: “To live like kings.” 

We’ve done this through all the seasons of life: the birth of our children, the work years, retirement, the death of our parents, and the births of our grandchildren. 

No matter what happens in our lives, or in the world, we go to Kings. 

And as men are prone to do in such situations, we share deeply and ask each other probing questions when we are not playing music or golf or taking a nap. 

“Can you remember the words to Gilligan’s Island?” 

“Oh yeah, uh ‘Sit right back and hear a tale, a tale of something hum hum trip.’” 

“Fateful trip!” 

“Yeah, ‘tale of a fateful trip. … dah, dah, dah… three-hour tour.’” 

“Are those Crocs?” 

“No, knockoffs. I got ‘em for ten bucks. I have wide feet.” 

“I’ve got a bunion on my right foot.” 

“Me too, same foot.” 

“Are we talking about bunions now?” 

“Okay boys, I gotta go to the bathroom.” 

“You don’t need to tell us that.” 

“Hey, what’s the difference between a saxophone and a chainsaw… vibrato.” 

“Oh yeah, how do you stop a guitar player from playing… put music in front of him.” 

“Oh man, Rory just lost the U.S. Open because he choked on a three-foot putt.” 

We do occasionally rise above this to waxing philosophic. I was standing with one of them watching steaks grill on the barbecue when he said suddenly, “You know, these are good days. No one knows what might happen tomorrow or how long we’ve got. But today is a good day.” 

I agreed. “I think there is something like that in the Bible,” I said. I fished around on my phone’s Bible app and came up with Ecclesiastes 7:14. I looked at some different translations and found the one used by The Message: “On a good day, enjoy yourself; on a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won’t take anything for granted.” 

Ecclesiastes is the book you’ll remember that has that famous passage in chapter 3. “[1] For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (ESV) 

What struck me about the passage I quoted to my brother was that whether you were having a good day or a bad day, God was involved in all the details of your life, interested in you specifically. He is thinking about you, regardless of whether you are thinking about Him. 

You’ll be familiar with Ps 139:16, 

“[16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (ESV) 

But it’s the opening verses of Psalm 139 that strike me: 

[1] O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 

[2] You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 

you discern my thoughts from afar. 

[3] You search out my path and my lying down 

and are acquainted with all my ways. 

[4] Even before a word is on my tongue, 

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 

[5] You hem me in, behind and before, 

and lay your hand upon me. (ESV) 

Whatever season of life you are in, whether you are having a good day or a bad day, know that God is with you, guiding, supporting, comforting, strengthening, and even carrying you when needed. 

Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. [13] You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (ESV) 

Every June, no matter what happens in our lives or in the world, my brothers and I go to “Kings.” And no matter what happens in my life or yours, the scriptures tell us to go to the King. So do so and it will be a good day, and you can enjoy yourself.