Many devotionals begin with a particular National Day Calendar celebration, typically started by adults. However, let’s not underestimate the creative whims of a child because they can also have a hand in creating a special celebration. Just ask Monica (Moeller) Dufour.
At the age of 10, this Davidson, Michigan kid was tired of every moment of every day being scheduled. School. Homework. Chores. Extracurricular practices. It was enough to make you snap! In her own words, Monica describes how a special day was created.
“My Grandfather, William D. Chase, created Chases’ Calendar. When I was 10, (1976) I was listening to him speaking on a radio station encouraging people to call with ideas. I disguised my voice and called with Goof-Off Day (since I was goofing off by calling in). He said there wasn’t such a day, but he thought it was a great idea. The next day, I confessed to him I called in about Goof-Off Day. He smiled and showed me a local newspaper that said there was a need for a Goof-Off Day. I guess the reporter got wind of the interview. Anyway, that is how the holiday began….”1
In 1976, National Goof Off Day became official and it is to be observed every March 22. In 1983, this became an international celebration. It’s a day to lay aside the schedule, routine, and obligations and just goof off. Some suggestions of how to spend the day are:
- Take the time to have some extra fun
- Spend some extra time daydreaming
- The top goof off activity is playing video games
- Surf the Net for some comic relief. A hearty belly laugh can be just what the doctor ordered if you’re stuck in the land of humdrum. Grab your smartphone or get on your laptop and search out your favorite comedian or sitcom and indulge in some well-deserved silliness.
- Play an innocent prank.
- Wear something funky.
- Let any goofy idea pop into your head.
- Make paper airplanes from seed packets.
- Doodle pictures of poodles in puddles in Peru.
- Play a game of Jenga with randomly stacked spice jars.
- Or do the obvious and spend the day in your pajamas doing nothing.2
I love the idea of a goof off day. In school, we had them on occasion, but you had to earn them. I remember in Algebra class that if we gave 30 good days of paying attention, being ready when the bell rang, and having our homework finished, we would get a goof off day. That was quite remarkable if you knew who my algebra teacher was!
My only problem with goof off day is that today is goof off day. And there are far too many Christians who treat the Lord’s Day as a goof off day. Rather than being faithful to the house of the Lord, they are more faithful to whatever whim strikes their fancy. Shopping, traveling, playing ball, boating, golfing, taking a bike ride, visiting or entertaining company – there are a host of excuses people will use for missing church that would never, never, NEVER be used to miss work.
Though the Lord’s parable in Luke 14:16-20 is about the invitation to the Lord’s table, a metaphor for salvation, the parallel’s are similar. “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (17) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. (18) And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. (19) And another said, I 
have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. (20) And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”
I really like the idea of a goof off day, and I encourage you to celebrate it – just not today! Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
1https://www.holidayinsights.com/other/goofoffday.htm#google_vignette
2https://southfloridareporter.com/goof-off-day-was-created-by-a-10-year-old-44-years-ago/
Images are taken from https://pixabay.com/, https://www.pexels.com/, or https://unsplash.com/images or created in Windows Copilot. According to the websites, they are Royalty Free and free to be used for our purposes.
