I’m convinced that one of the besetting sins of our era is that we take ourselves too seriously. When we see every concern or setback in life as a crisis, when we look at the world through a pessimistic or skeptical lens, then we begin to see life in terms of anger and frustration rather than joy. Read enough history, and the realization quickly comes that the very real struggles and trials of our own times are no less or more than what previous generations faced. Similarly, I’ve often seen parallels between the early church and our own – which is all the more striking when you read constantly about joy in the Scriptures, even in the midst of trial and hardship.
All of these thoughts came together in a helpful way when reading Randall Greenwald’s article “The Pastoral Virtue of Playfulness.” While the article is written for pastors, the point he makes applies to us all: we need to stare at God’s world in wide-eyed wonder once again, we need to take time to delight in the Lord’s blessing and care, and we need to laugh.
In that vein, I offer up three further articles on the value of play – a value not only for children, but for adults – read and be both challenged and encouraged:
- “Play Hard” by Jared Wilson starts this way: “‘We are not to be perpetually solemn,’ according to C. S. Lewis. ‘We must play.'”
- Justin Taylor shares a quote on the value of play – and, perhaps as a sidenote – he also highlights an important truth: it will almost always be easier and “more efficient” to work on a task alone. But that doesn’t mean working alone is better. Personally, I think the church (and our society!) could stand a bit less efficiency and a bit more showing/training/mentoring/apprenticing.
- Lastly, Erik Thoennes writes on the spiritual value of play.
