It’s summertime. That means it’s time to play—to experience some leisure. But our work-oriented society does not give leisure its due. In his book, When I Relax I Feel Guilty, Tim Hansel talks about the business of play, or “leisure” in an insightful way:

“If you excuse me a moment for not speaking English, I think you will find it helpful to know the background of the word ‘leisure.’ It comes from the Latin word ‘licere,’ which means ‘to be permitted.’ More today than ever, we need to learn how to give ourselves permission to relax, to play, to enjoy life, and to enjoy God for Who He is.

“It is interesting that the Latin word for word was ‘negotium,’ or ‘nonleisure.’ Work was thus secondary, defined as it related to leisure. Our society does just the opposite, defining leisure as ‘nonwork.’ We tend to be almost compulsively utilitarian. Everything must contribute to our work. We play in order to work better or be more ‘useful’ to God. In many ways these are the habits that keep us unhappy. In our myopia of overvalued productivity, we have forgotten how to enjoy things for what they are.

“Leisure is more than just nonwork. It is a point of contact with reality and a catalyst for new experiences, new ideas, new people, and new places. It is the time when the gift of wholeness again becomes a hope and a possibility.”

ZORBA IT
Whatever it is that you think of when you think of play make sure it is play and not just work masquerading as play. Zorba, in the book Zorba The Greek, cries out, “Boss, you’ve got everything except one thing—MADNESS! A man needs a little madness or else he never dares cut the rope to be free.”

Play is supposed to be madness. It us supposed to help us “cut the ropes,” which keep us bound to the rigorous demands of our work-oriented minds. That’s why you need to hone in on the things that do this for you. Every one of us needs a hobby, a diversion—something that we love to do with all our might and all our energy just for the fun of it. But keep in mind that one person’s play is another person’s work. Do what gives YOU a sense of freedom from your responsibilities.

Play is a process of doing something refreshing or fulfilling without having to achieve a goal. Play itself brings you pleasure; it is enjoyable. Play is free and spontaneous. Its emphasis is on feeling, with one moment of feeling leading to the next until you are lost in the present. Play is enriched by emotional involvement and spontaneity. It usually includes people, surroundings, and activities that push us into the moment, instead of letting the moment pass by unobserved. Though we tend to focus mostly on the past and the future, life really only exists in the present. Play is one of our few opportunities to live in the present—it is where now becomes most accessible to us. We need to play.

THE BENEFITS OF PLAY
Though thinking about the benefits of play can rob the point of play, I share a couple with you in the hope that you will start playing. Play gives us a whole host of benefits, but let’s talk about two: it’s a stress reducer, and it builds relationships.

There are scads of studies that show people who participate in recreational play (from athletic games, to outdoor interests like hunting, fishing, skiing, etc.) experience a reduction of stress. Since stress is a significant factor in our general health (especially heart disease and blood pressure), play will improve your overall health and increase your life expectancy. Play is a natural “tranquilizer.” So, what are you waiting for?

The only down side of knowing this is you may try to play to accomplish this, and then it won’t be play anymore. Remember play needs pointlessness to be play.

Play also contributes greatly to building relationships. Playfulness is a gift. If you plan on being married to the same person the rest of your life, you had better learn to get playful and to learn to laugh at yourselves. Gail and I have been partners in love and marriage for over thirty years. Early on in our relationship we were pretty good at throwing down a fight. We had our moments of huffing and puffing, and trying to blow each other down. But something changed in us along the way. After about twenty years of doing life together we stopped being able to get so upset. When our discussions escalated anywhere near a conniption fit, we started breaking out into giggles over it. I guess we finally stopped taking ourselves so seriously and realized that when we were huffing, we really were full of wind.

Happy, fun-filled play jammed with laughter and silliness is a treasure. It relieves tension and balances out the difficulties we are forced to face in a fallen world. The truth is, this world is not a very happy place. There is much pain and sorrow here. Many have lost their capacity to giggle because life has been so hard—there has been too much loss. The richness of life hangs on a slender thread, and even the strongest among us can lose it in an instant.

I think God has designed play to help us keep life “abundant.” Play is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is a vital contribution to life and health. I’m suggesting that each of us should commit to recapturing play in our lives. I believe even in the midst of conflict and pain, God wants us to snag some joy and happiness.

PLAY IS NOT ESCAPISM
One note of warning: Make sure that you are committed to engaging in satisfying and enjoyable activities when you think of play—don’t just try to escape. Escapism will help you turn off the stress but it is not re-creative; it will not prepare you to reengage in life’s responsibilities. Though it’s fun to watch whatever is on TV from time to time, if you consistently “pass the time” you have doing that kind of mindless thing, it will not be satisfying, nor restorative. You will have squandered time that could have been used for activities that actually regenerate and renew you. Play isn’t “drifting” into “whatever” absorbs your time; it’s an active choice to engage in activities that reset your emotional and spiritual meters. Play well.