Recreation

As I drive to the church in the mornings these days, it feels like the campus of Carson-Newman is taking a long exhale from another completed school year.  When I stop by McDonald's for breakfast, the lines are less crowded with parents and teachers rushing to start the school day.  Summer break has arrived (or is arriving very soon) for many in our area, and with it the community as a whole has the opportunity to catch its breath.

With the completion of Youth Sunday and the conclusion of the To Be a Presbyterian class, my schedule has been less hectic this week, and I have enjoyed time to read, pray, and reflect, aspects of ministry that are quickly sacrificed when we fall prey to the American achievement model of vocation. 

Now summer, for those without children or who do now work in an educational setting, may be like much of the rest of the year, but even for those of us plugging away as usual, there are increased opportunities during the warmer weather and longer days to enjoy the outdoors, go out on the lake, or play a round of golf.

Summer is a time of recreation but can also be a time for re-creation.  I am reminded in this moment of pause how we are instructed in the Westminster Catechism to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever."  I believe we can enjoy God by enjoying the world God made.  This is different, of course, from manipulating the world to our desires regardless of the economic or ecological results, but I do believe God values and enjoys our play.  If God does not intend for us to enjoy life, then why does recreation and play seem to natural to us?

My encouragement to you this summer, then, is to play, to enjoy your life and enjoy God's world.  Find time to sit on your porch and count the lightning bugs.  Pack a cooler and spend the day on the lake, swimming and swapping stories.  Load up the family car and head to the mountains for a retreat, and break out the board games in the evening.  Work a puzzle, go to Dollywood, play basketball in the driveway with your kids even if it means neglecting to mow the lawn for another day.  Take your dog for a long walk.

In these moments of recreation we can again find our purpose and our joy in life.  We cultivate relationships, we make memories, we release negative experiences from our lives.  We follow the command of our Lord to enjoy God.  So enjoy God this summer, and experience re-creation!

(But don't forget we still have Sunday school and worship each week at 9:45 and 10:45, in addition to our Youth Mission Trip, Vacation Bible School, and our week to feed the Appalachian Outreach volunteers!)