A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JOHN 

     

 PLAY

 The final quadrant of our balanced life discussion revolves around “play”. 

 The most accessible example of play is children.  Parents and care-givers use different activities and toys to give expression to a child’s play.  It is through this play that infants, toddlers and school age children are able to frame their world and experience.  Some of this play orders to the brain to work in creative ways.  Other play builds trust and relationships.  Some activities challenge us physically, from learning to crawl and walk to running and jumping and climbing. 

 At different points in their development, many children learn to play various sports or athletic endeavors.  This is currently much more organized than in previous generations.  It can become quite competitive at very early stages.  While this is unfortunate, athletics does provide a child with the opportunity to mature physically and to learn many “life lessons”.

 Play is not just for children or those pursuing some elite athletic status, it is for all who would enjoy a balanced life.  For that, play is an activity that gives life a deeper color and appreciation on the basis that it is fun and rejuvenating.  At the bottom line, play has no other purpose than to experience fun and joy. 

 Other outcomes can be part of play, including becoming proficient at an activity or building and strengthening relationships.  But this is secondary to the joy of the activity.  Many people enjoy activities until they become overly compulsive or competitive, or the reason for the activity changes. 

 Many people enjoy crossword puzzles.  When they do the puzzle only to exercise their brains or they are going to “beat” the puzzle, the playful nature has evaporated  and the activity has become work. 

 Play involves the physical and mental of our lives and it enhances our emotional and spiritual well being.  With Spring, come the wonderful opportunity to go out and play.

In Christ,

Pastor John