tonight's sunset from my deck
I enjoy playing with photography too :)
I have been following "Little Lights" since they began posting. There are several reasons:
- they are uplifting, encouraging, and insightful
- Steve Harper and his wife post these uplifting, encouraging, and insightful posts
This morning I read a post that really resonated with me:
"We must keep playfulness alive in the spiritual life. In his book, 'Meditations,' Thomas Moore said, “We know we are moving more deeply in the spirit, when we notice the presence in us holy foolishness.” St. Francis personified it. John Wesley made happiness a sign of holiness. There is a close connection between praying and playing."
Play IS a spiritual practice. I need reminders of that. Play and playfulness are part of my true self, my core being. Yet, life often gets me off track from being the me I was created to be. I need reminders that it IS okay to "keep playfulness alive in the spiritual life." Thank you Steve Harper and Little Lights for this reminder today.
How have I lived into play in the past?
- Bubbles-- one is never too old for bubbles, in my humble opinion. I often keep them on my person, in a backpack, in the car. Blowing bubbles is a fun and playful thing.
- Playgrounds-- swinging on the swings or sliding on the slides
- Running through sprinklers-- yes, even as an adult I've done it. There was a retreat with FUMSDRL in Buffalo, Minnesota one year that the sprinklers caught my attention on the way to lunch. I put down all my stuff and ran through them. Then I went over to my stuff, picked it all up, and walked on to lunch. I felt much better. :)
- "fly" during the song "I'll Fly Away"-- as a colleague posted on Facebook, I have been known to "fly" during this song. How can you NOT "fly" with arms spread out wide while the song is being sung?!?! Well, that has backfired a couple of times. :) As she noted, Annual Conference one year I was "flying" and I "ran" or "flew" into the Bishop. OOPS. :) Another time I was doing it at the local church and I ran into the District Superintendent-- on the day the congregation was voting for me to become a candidate for ordination. OOPS. :)
- riding my bicycle is good play
- riding my motorcycle is also good play
- board games are good play
- playfulness can include being silly, laughing, telling jokes-- though I'm told my jokes are pretty corny :)
Somehow, even when I KNOW, really know, that play is part of my deepest core and being, I still struggle to engage in it. I get caught up in the busyness and business of life. That's likely normal.
So, how do I move more deeply into "holy foolishness" as the quote from Thomas Moore mentioned? What does it look like to "keep playfulness alive in the spiritual life"?
A colleague reminded me: "Play is one aspect of sabbath-- so it's essential."
An article on "Play as a Spiritual Practice" by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat on the Spirituality & Practice website offers good information. One quote: "Play is the exuberant expression of our being. It is at the heart of our creativity, our sexuality, and our most carefree moments of devotion. It helps us live with absurdity, paradox, and mystery. It feeds our joy and wonder. It keeps our search for meaning down to earth."
An article on "Play as a Contemplative Practice" by Shelly Johnson on the In Search of a New Eden website offers some great insight and perspective on play. Here are a few thoughts that caught my attention:
"But in the world of play, there is all the time in the world, and so it becomes the world of infinite exploration and understanding."
"Any play activity you do can become a contemplative practice when you practice it with awareness and presence and with the intention of cultivating gratitude, peace, freedom, and a connection with the Divine."
There is more to check out in that article. It made me realize that maybe I am actively doing more play currently as I am pursuing a creative activity several times a month. Though it takes concentration to learn it, I find myself enjoying the creative process.
As I read the article, I also realized there have been several times that I have mowed leaf or grass labyrinths in my yard. Who knew that I was practicing play as a contemplative practice in those moments?!?! :)
Today I rode my motorcycle around the property at work before heading home. It's supposed to be raining later in the week and I wanted to get some ride time in, some wind beneath my wings. As I rode around the property, I took deep breaths and couldn't help but smile. It calms me to ride, to feel the wind in my face.
Though I may not have been to a playground lately, I have taken time to be in and play in nature as we hiked this past Sunday afternoon. There is one place we hike that I like to skip flat stones across the still water. That is play. There is another place I like to go hang my hammock and then play around on the large rocks and boulders for a while.
It's been a while, but I have a mindful coloring book and have enjoyed coloring in it in the past. It's calming and peaceful.
It's there. My playful self is still alive and well. Maybe it takes reflection to remember.
And, maybe, just maybe, I will be more intentional about play and playfulness in the future.
What about you?
What do you do for play? Or, what will you begin to do?
Here's to play and playfulness!
Deb
Additional articles on play and spirituality:
