Resolved: Play...

Last one of the series. Play.

Play is pretty normal for kids. We, the grown-ups of the world, have largely forgotten how to do it. We exercise. We are "active." But we don't "play" very well.

I just read Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and one whole section is devoted to play. This is a business book...learning to eliminate distraction and too much responsibility in order to do what you do well. Part of this healthy best practice is play. The author argues that in the relaxed energy of play you find a creativity that transfers back into the workplace. Our brains are wondrous things when treated well. Play (and sleep, BTW) often lead us to solutions that otherwise cannot be found.

Congregations who have forgotten how to play together are usually in trouble. Same holds true of families. The NPR series suggests that play exposes us to words that build our basis for literacy. I think it exposes us to the relationship and creativity it takes to live this life of discipleship. We adults take ourselves so seriously, we forget the joy of praise, the glorious freedom of grace, and the gift of faith community which nurtures us in so many ways.

Faith practice has been central in my family for generations. My mother tells stories of baptizing cats in the stream (not an easy practice), of taking turns "preaching" and taking up the "offering," of pretending to walk on water or feed five thousand. We did the same. "Playing" with faith words, with or without understanding, lays a foundation.

My cousin used to teach me the words to old hymns. There was one about "Gladly, the cross-eyed bear." We agreed we didn't understand why the cross-eyed bear was in the hymn, but we sang it with abandon now that we knew the words. We also sang the one about fishing... The old rugged cross...where the dearest and bass... (dearest and best if you want the grown up words). I insisted, again, it didn't make sense. She instructed me that it didn't have to make sense...that's what faith was. I was pretty impressed at the number of creatures included in the hymnody of the church.

I love that play is included in the list. It takes it from a to-do to a gift. Who would think in this era of experts and worriers that building faith foundations would be so easy.

I wish for you the most fun talk, sing, read, write, and play ever!