Playing with Our Whole Being

True play requires our entire being. It demands that one be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually present.

Think about a child who imagines they are a professional athlete. As they run around the yard, simultaneously playing a game, being a TV commentator, and cheering like the crowd, they are wholly involved in the activity. If the child does not give themselves fully, the imaginary world disappears. To play, one must commit themselves fully to that act.

Much like the child pretending to be their favorite athlete, our faith calls us to fully commit to our beliefs. If we proclaim our faith in Jesus, but act against his teachings we do not live out our belief.

When speaking to the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:7-8).

Jesus calls us to live out our faith fully, acting on the beliefs we proclaim.

Playing with Complete Freedom

You can’t force anyone to play. When play is mandatory, it is not genuine.

In freely agreeing to play, we allow ourselves to experience the freedom of play. In opening ourselves to the world of play, we can see life in a different way. Where once we only observed a grassy field, a space is now present in which we can feel joy, love, and peace.

The freedom to play allows us the freedom to see the world as it can be.

There will always be those who do not want anything to do with the message of Jesus. However, just because some do not proclaim Christ as Lord does not make the message false. In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18).

While some may see belief as foolish, those who have freely chosen the Christian faith can speak to the freedom that is within the way of Jesus. What may look like a rigid system of do’s and don’ts is actually an encounter with the Savior’s love, forgiveness, and grace.

In freely choosing to follow Jesus, we experience the world as it is meant to be.

Can We Know God through Playing?

When we look at play in its most authentic form we see a free act that serves itself, requiring our whole being. What we may have considered childish is actually a way in which we can better understand our relationship with God.

While there are countless ways we can connect with the Creator, what if we simply played like we were young again?

This may be something that doesn’t match up with our understanding of faith, play, or the world, but I would urge you to consider how genuinely playing can lead to a deeper connection with God.

If you want to speak with me about this, I will be outside with a tennis ball…