Devotion: The Uniquely Human Experience of Play
Take a moment to read the scripture from the weekend: Ephesians 5:15–20
The 1981 movie Chariots of Fire recounts the story of two athletes preparing for the running events in the 1924 Olympics. One of them is Eric Liddell, who was born in China to Scottish missionary parents. His sister disparages the time he devotes to competitive running while at university in Scotland. But he runs for the glory of God. These are the movie’s most famous lines: “I believe God made me for a purpose—but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
I have remembered those words for more than 40 years. I was struck by the idea that doing something I enjoyed could be pleasing to God. I knew that exhibiting the Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.) pleased God. And I knew that using my spiritual gifts pleased God. But the idea that entertaining myself—playing—would bring Him joy was a new thought for me.
God wants us to have joy, and play is the way we most often experience it. There is a freedom in play that lets us be open to however joy may come to us.
It wasn’t until I retired that I discovered how much I enjoy making personalized greeting cards. I think about who will receive my handmade card, and I pray for them. And sometimes, God and I have a conversation.
Me: This looks pretty, but it doesn’t sing.
God: It needs more contrast, and a little more texture wouldn’t hurt.
Me: It needs more contrast. And it could use more texture.
God: Remember that paper with the shiny purple stripes that called your name when you went to that tiny scrapbook store in San Jose in 2017?
Me: I dunno. It’s pretty in-your-face.
God: Exactly. Trust me on this.
Me: Ok… you’re right! The design has a lot more energy now! Thank you!
We can do anything—except sin—to the glory of God. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 to be very careful how we spend our life and how we allot our time. We are to be wise and make the most of every opportunity to do good because there is much evil in the world.
We can be intentional about play by reserving time for it and choosing activities that bring us pleasure and renew our spirits—rather than letting minutes and hours be consumed without benefit by whatever diversion is at hand.
God, thank you for the gift of play and the joy it brings us. And you! Amen.
Written by Cheryl Stubbendieck
Cheryl Stubbendieck is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team, leads the Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study and the 9 Months in the OT Old Testament reading project at Sheridan. She and her husband Jim have two sons: Aaron, his wife Chaitra and their son Theo live in Houston; Reed lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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