Work and Play

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play;his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body;his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. – François-René de Chateaubriand

A friend and I were enjoying a little afternoon small talk. She mentioned a Mary Oliver poem that I should read, “When I Am Among the Trees.” My longtime friend and I both enjoy traveling, art, a good laugh, good poetry, flowers, and yes, trees. We’re more nature appreciators than tree huggers (although I enjoy a good hug ♥️).

The uplifting nature of the poem led me down the rabbit hole of several other Mary Oliver poems. I liked this one:

I Go Down to the Shore

I go down to the shore in the morning

and depending on the hour the waves

are rolling in or moving out,

and I say, oh, I am miserable,

what shall—

what should I do? And the sea says

in its lovely voice:

“Excuse me, I have work to do.”

― Mary Oliver, A Thousand Mornings

I love it! To the poet’s question of misery, the sea politely responds, “I have work to do,”. Where the waves of solitude and innocent truth intermingle with humor.

We’re only human. Sometimes our God-given emotions can be a lot. Sadly, sometimes even misery can become our focus. Or even how we treat others can sometimes be based upon “what kind of day we’re having” (Charlie Brown’s teacher voice: wah, wah). We often forget that all emotions are like the tide; they come and they go.

But God is constant. The sun keeps shining. The moon and stars share their lovely light, and the waves roll in and roll out, ebbing and flowing. And from our rhythmic breathing internally to the rhythmic wonders externally, creation follows the voice of God, with work to do.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. —Psalm 19:1-2

The Satisfaction of Work

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. —Psalm 104:13

In Hebrew, the root of the word satisfy conveys the idea of being filled or having enough. It’s contentment. God wants us first truly satisfied in Him. For He meets our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs with His divine provision and grace, satisfying us like nothing else can.

But created in His image, our work can also satisfy. Perhaps we can’t create captivating oceans in brilliant shades of blue or lay out galaxies with swirling dots of shimmering stars. But our work is still important.

Our homes are satisfied when well-managed, kept clean, and orderly, all creating more room for love and sweet memories. Our husbands are satisfied by feeling respected and taken care of. This shows our children our submission to God’s order, the gifts within marriage, and glorifies our Heavenly Father. And our children are satisfied by our love, godly boundaries, discipline, grace, and good direction—becoming the groundwork for what’s important in life. None of our work is about perfection, yet a humble heart seeking a quiet life through the guidance of the Holy Spirit:

Seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. —1 Thessalonians 4:11

A quiet life that has experienced the satisfying beauty of diligently working with our hands, for God and not man, is the result of true intimacy with Christ. The result is joy when we choose to ‘stay in Christ.’ We love because He first loved us…

And if handled with care, this love just keeps growing—growing into a desire to work and serve even more. The result is a heavenly recipe. For when we serve God, it circles back, giving us our own satisfaction in Him.

Room for Play

But the title of this article is Work AND PLAY?! Is it possible? I mean, another load of laundry is mean-mugging us, there are ongoing dirty demands of dishes, and another grocery run winks and says, you ready?!

We’re tired—not to mention the nagging of namby-pamby ‘mom-guilt.’

So, room for play?! Pfff.

On top of all of that, the great Mister Rogers once said, “Play is really the work of childhood.” And we know that play is imperative for healthy development in children. But is playing just for children? I say no way, José.

So where is it in the Bible that gives us ‘permission to play’? Specifically, the verse about blowing off laundry to play tickle monster with our kids, or tossing out the menu plan for a night of frozen pizza and board games?

…Or how about showing off your driving skills?

Mario Kart? Or for real? Meadow, Luke, and I love our made-up game that they call “Crazy Mama Driver” (seems to work best on Man o’ War Boulevard, still pretty much following the rules of not speeding, but there is quite a bit of hype in passing).

Meadow, Luke, and yes, the occasional Crazy Mama Driver

If we really do share an intimacy with Christ, we can lighten up. Because the Bible isn’t just rules, but rather sweet instructions from the One that loves us the most—offering us lives of integrity, good things, and the ultimate legacy, one that points to Jesus. It all comes from a place of pure joy, not the deceptive joy of this world. So solid in His truth and lifted by His love, we uncover a praise that can’t help but overflow, and a playful spirit that comes from ‘pure joy.’

Here are three wonderful yet very biblical reasons that give us a permission slip to play.

· Guidance/Wisdom

It’s follow the leader, and our leader is Christ—His ways, His love, our faith. There will be many instances in life in which we don’t exactly know how to handle a situation, and our own self-guidance can shift like the wind. But God gave Scripture to write on our hearts. So, with solid trust, we obey with a child-like faith—or sometimes we wait, still trusting. And no matter what we’re up against, we can hold tight to the promises of God, for His word will not return void, and His wisdom will always guide us down the right path.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. —James 1:5

· Peace/Protection

There’s no way to describe the peace and comfort that comes from God if we really trust Him with everything. For me personally, I trust Him more and more with each passing day, for He always proves Himself trustworthy. There’s a love, comfort, and protection within God’s plan that can put our souls at rest. It’s a peace that lightens our hearts, leaves us with a smile, and the capacity to play.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —Isaiah 41:10

· Forgiveness/Salvation

Either of the last two points can stand alone with endless reasons to celebrate. But this one, being fully forgiven for all our sins, and then offered eternity in the light of the Lord—a­re there even enough words?

May we never take these gifts for granted.

All three points can be completely and thoroughly supported with so much of God’s Word, leaving us with faith-filled hearts and endless reasons that lift our souls and leave us with a playful spirit. It’s permission to whistle while you work. Stay with me as we continue to explore.

Whether we are at work or at play (or intermingling the two), God wants to take up more of our hearts. As we trust Him and rely on the indwelling of His Spirit, we find freedom. And it’s in the bright light of this freedom that we find the playfulness to dance, sing, and praise, all for God’s glory.

Don’t Be Dull

Ever heard the old proverb written by James Howell in 1659? “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” More truth with a little humor. And the dullness in life is far from the abundant life that Jesus offers. Remember, we serve a God that created puppies, sunsets, shooting stars, and love.

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. —Psalm 36:8

When we focus on God’s ‘river of delights,’ we find an abundance of joy—it’s life, but with so much more. The Mary Oliver poem I Go Down to the Shore reminds us that beyond our temporary concerns and emotions is an ongoing comfort, beauty, and even playfulness to God’s design.

It’s like the mighty oak tree, tall, and strong, but it becomes something more when a child sits and swings in the fresh spring air. It’s the creek that flows with peace and purpose, but it becomes a cherished childhood memory once the kids take off their shoes and tiptoe in. And as devoted Christ followers, we joyfully put our trust in a God that is always faithful, as we make room for purposeful work…but also room for play.

3-2-1

3 Scripture Verses, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question to Consider

3 Scripture Verses:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. —Colossians 3:23-24

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; —Ecclesiastes

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. —Philippians 4:4

2 Quotes:

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” —Thomas A. Edison

“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.” —Johann Sebastian Bach

1 Question to Consider:

Despite life’s circumstances, do you trust God’s promises enough to celebrate life with a playful spirit?