“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.” (Zechariah 8:4-5 NLT)
As I age one thing to which I’m committed is to make time to play. Even though I walk and exercise, I’m still winded more quickly when I play basketball than when I was younger, but it’s a “good tired.” Oddly enough, I don’t bemoan the fact I’m not able to run and jump like I could 30-40 years ago, I’m grateful I can still play at all. But I also play a couple old Xbox 360 games – golf and boxing, which I believe are not only fun, but they also keep my mind more alert and active.
The downside is that these are not things that my wife enjoys, so we also work puzzles, and play marble and card games with family and just the two of us. There’s an adage that says: “The family that prays together stays together.” I’ve adapted that a little to say: “The family that sweats together sticks together.” So, we also enjoy working in the yard and around the house that sometimes involves some sweat. 😊
In the verses above Zechariah is sharing with the captive Jews that God has given him a word to share with them. These encouraging words were nearly impossible to believe given their current captivity, but they remind me that doing enjoyable things together as children of God is critical to our spiritual health. But, unfortunately, in our lives today, especially for young people, it’s important that we don’t get too much of a “good” thing.
John Stonestreet wrote in a BreakPoint article: “Screens have also contributed heavily to today’s mental health crisis among young people, as well as to what sociologist Jonathan Haidt has called ‘the loss of a “play-based childhood.”’ Haidt points to Boston College psychologist Peter Gray, who has argued for the significance of play: Free play is the means by which children learn to make friends, overcome their fears, solve their own problems and generally take control of their own lives. … Nothing we do, no amount of toys we buy or ‘quality time’ or special training we give our children, can compensate for the freedom we take away. The things that children learn through their own initiatives, in free play, cannot be taught in other ways.”
What’s the takeaway for us as Jesus followers? Our lives demand variety: otherwise, they get boring and bored people get into trouble. Another observation is that there can be a vast difference between joy and fun. I have fun playing my golf game, but I experience joy in worship. This isn’t to say that joy can’t be fun, but they’re not one and the same and we can’t mistake one for the other.
There are times, especially in a season of loss when joy is painful, yet healing. When I lost my precious sister to cancer, I was grieved and heartbroken, but my spirit had joy to know she was with Jesus. We can laugh so much we cry, but we can also cry so much it can bring laughter, realizing what our loved one has gained and what we have to look forward to.
Christianity is serious business, but it should also be enjoyable and sometimes, especially when we’re with brothers and sisters in Christ, downright fun!
So, we’re back to our original question – “Are you playing enough?” Please, for your soul’s sake, have some fun. I believe the most fun person to ever live is Jesus. I believe heaven is going to be an absolute blast!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 