One of the tensions of the Christian Life
Some time ago I was doing one of the things I find relaxing – reading a USA Today Newspaper at lunch while eating a cup of soup. In this issue there was an article on “Bad times are play times.” It mentioned many experts, but the focus was on Stuart Brown and his book “Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul.” I ordered the book as soon as I got home.
One quote that caught my attention was “The opposite of play isn’t work … but depression.” When we are over extended “the drive to play will disappear.” Brown went on to say, “Play is particularly important during times that are sustainedly stressful.” What has caused me to think about this is that so many people I know are suffering burnout, depression or just listlessness. I have talked with several lately who wish they could just retire and check out. I think like most people in the helping fields, ministers have a tendency to carry around a lot of people’s problems and conflicts.
Martha plans to write a book on “Tensions in the Christian Life.” It will be a great book! I have been thinking about one of those tensions recently and the article in the newspaper was directly related to it. Is it “Work and Play”, or “Work versus Play” or “Work and No Play” or “Play and No Work”?
I think sometimes as a Christian I have leaned to work, almost feeling play was somehow sinful. In fact, I have found myself sometimes even feeling guilty when I was playing.
John Bay was an American actor and playwright who wrote, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” I am not sure it does not also make Jack a depressed person.
Reading through the Bible again this year I have been impressed by a number of themes. One of them is the Sabbath principle. When it is mentioned there is often a statement like “on the seventh day do no work.” I think we are to focus on God, but I am not sure He didn’t intend for us to play a little. Even in the creation event, He rested on the seventh day. Is not rest more than sleep?
Another theme in scripture is the relationship to fun and health. Proverbs 15:13 in the NIV says “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” In the Message that verse is “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.” I like that!
A few chapters later in Proverbs 17:22 the Message version says “A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” The New Living Translation of that verse is “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
My son-in-law, Justin Bryeans, is much more philosophical and imaginative than I am and a theme for him is “rhythms.” I think this comes from more than him being a drummer. Our lives are to have a rhythm that I think includes both work and play.
As you look at your own life, do you have enough play? I think I have not, but am working on it. Not to excess, but to live in balance — To negotiate the tension so you end up with work and play.