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Opening Question
Have you considered that amusing recreation ~ translated, just having pure fun ~ may be one of the more important Means of Grace for persons most devout in prayer and service for the Christ?
Wisdom Story
An old story tells of a hunter coming on St. John the Evangelist holding a partridge. St. John was stroking it with amusement. The man asked St. John how a man like him could spend time in such a common, trivial way. The apostle replied, "Why don't you always carry your bow taut?" The hunter said, "If it were always bent, I'm afraid it would lose its spring and be useless when I needed it." The apostle spoke, "Don't be alarmed, then, if I sometimes relax my close application and attention of mind some and enjoy a little recreation. Thereby, afterwards, I can apply myself the better to contemplation."
Comments
St. Francis De Sales (1567-1622), in Introduction to the Devout Life, spoke at length of the necessary role of pastimes and recreation among us who follow Jesus Christ. "It is," says De Sales, "undoubtedly a defect to be so strict, ill-bred, uncouth, and austere as neither to take any recreation ourselves nor to allow it to others."
"Recreation" is from the verb "recreate." "Re" is again. "Create" means "to grow back." "Create" goes back to a root that is the source word for a Greek goddess of agriculture, often identified as Demeter.
This gives insight into the meaning and importance of recreation in the spiritual life. Like the new vegetation that arises from the previous exhaustion of the soil, we, too, get exhausted. We can suffer depletion through attention to what we esteem truly spiritual matters apart from the enjoyment of simply having fun.
I bike about six days weekly. I cycle different routes, and often my dogs run with me. I enjoy playing ball with the four-legged boys. I enjoy good movies and lively humor with persons in the town and community. I like riding places in my truck and enjoying music along the way. I like traveling to a nearby town and browsing a bookstore and getting a Latte. I talk to friends over the phone and we share e-mail. I enjoy good jokes. I turn on classical rock~n~roll at night and dance. I like quiet meals with long conversation, sharing stories and good food with someone. This all is a vital part of being a spiritual teacher and pastor. This re-creates my energies.
I am moving to South West Florida. I look forward to expanding my recreational choices. I want to learn to dance, and better than I do in my home at night and with someone in public. I look forward to being near more cultural entertainments that fit my soul and yearnings; museums, plays, concerts,...
I am even tempted to try stand up comedy. I have a friend who declares I would be great at it. And, I look forward to walking the beach and enjoying the beautiful Sunset at the Sea. I want to find a school where I can go and read stories to children. I want to start back playing tennis ~ I quit after a major stress fracture of my arm many years ago. I have built it slowly back up, partly by throwing frisbee and ball with my Black Lab. Now, I want back on the tennis court.
Many who see my more serious side might be surprised at the less-serious things Brian engages in, and as sacredly fun aspects of the contemplative life. I am not just walking around like some holy sage, mind occupied with deeply spiritual and intellectual matters all the time. The deeper I grow into the spiritual life, the more pure fun I have.
Recreation, as De Sales reminds us, is part of our vocation as followers of Christ. Recreation becomes, then, a Means of Grace, or a Spiritual Discipline. We become stronger persons in every way through such daily replenishment. We are able better to give of ourselves, for we are renewing ourselves through relaxing away from the oft arduous demands on our time and energies.
Suggested Reflection and Spiritual Exercise
Do you feel comfortable with the concept of recreation as a Means of Grace, or Spiritual Discipline? In what ways are you relaxing through recreation? Or you relaxing, or working hard at the recreation? What daily and periodic recreation can you integrate into your life? How might that enable you better to care for yourself, while better serving others?
*Copyright 2007, Brian K. Wilcox
See next page for Invitation to writer's contemplative village, purpose of OneLife, data on ordering author's book and upcoming devotionals 2008, and material on citations.
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