Enjoy Life and Play a Little

Being a pastor some people do not think that I have any fun or play; that I just sit around reading the Bible and praying. That would be good, but I am a regular person, too. I enjoy boating, biking, hiking, skiing, and going to the beach with my family. I love to play other sports and enjoy watching sports, too. Golf was a great activity, but with kids it took too much time and money.

Some think that playing instead of working is irresponsible. Adults should be grown up and not play anymore. Play is a necessary part of a balanced life. It is restorative and enables us to enjoy all areas of our lives. As the old saying goes, “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.” On the other hand, too much play can short-change that which should be of a higher priority.

One dilemma is faced by the army of workaholics who approach their leisure and work with an equal zeal. Trying to make every leisure moment count, they apply the principles of 'productivity' to their leisure. Their three day weekend becomes a whirlwind that neither refreshes nor satisfies. When they finally return home exhausted, and plop down on the sofa, Monday doesn't look so bad.

Here are some ideas to have more time for recreation: downsize and simplify so you will have more time to live for what matters – God, and family. Try to live on less of your income so you can have some family fun activities. Spend time on hobbies and/or other leisure-time activities. You must schedule WORSHIP, REST, and PLAY, too!

We should not feel bad when we take time out for recreation or to go on vacation. Staycations are a new word put in the dictionary. It is one way to save money and yet enjoy time together recreating. This area of Western Wisconsin is great for walking, hiking, biking and in winter going cross-country snow skiing.

Balance is a fundamental element in creating a healthy lifestyle. Recreation must be a part of that balance.

Recreation with physical activity has these benefits:
• increases life expectancy; (Every time sedentary people walk a mile, they add 21 minutes to their life, saving society 34 cents in medical and related costs)
• reduces the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, which are responsible for one-third of all deaths;
• reduces the risk of developing heart disease or colon cancer by up to 50%;
• reduces the risk of developing Type II diabetes 50%;
• helps to prevent / reduce hypertension, which affects one-fifth of the world's adult population;
• helps to prevent / reduce osteoporosis, reducing the risk of hip fracture by up to 50% in women;
• reduces the risk of developing lower back pain;
• promotes psychological well-being, reduces stress, anxiety and feelings of depression and loneliness;
• helps prevent or control risky behaviours, especially among children and young people, like tobacco, alcohol or other substance use, unhealthy diet or violence;
• helps control weight and lower the risk of becoming obese by 50% compared to people with sedentary lifestyles;
• helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints and makes people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina; and
• can help in the management of painful conditions, like back pain or knee pain.

Look at the word recreation: it is to create again. We need after a day and week of work to create ourselves again. Definitions of recreation: the refreshment of the mind and body after work, especially by engaging in enjoyable activities; an activity that a person takes part in for pleasure or relaxation rather than as work.

God created you and gives you life with the intention that you will enjoy it. Some people think that Christians need to be serious all the time and never smile. It’s almost like we need to move into a convent and sit on the floor and only eat raw vegetables. The Christian life is not meant to be one of boredom; we ought to have more fun than anyone else. I don’t mean that we ought to have fun more often than anyone else, but we ought to really enjoy life.

So how do recreation and pleasure help us enjoy life? Recreation and pleasure break routine, reduce tension, bring laughter (good medicine, Pr 17:22), build relationships, and bring renewal.

But there is another side to recreation and pleasure the Bible addresses. We must be balanced in pursuing recreation and pleasures.

II Tim. 3: 2,4,5 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, […] 4 lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV

When we love ourselves and pleasures our families will suffer. People can unknowingly worship recreation rather than God (“do not love the world, its desires pass away, doing the will of God lives forever” I Jn 2:15,17).The Bible also says, “those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them” (II Cor 5:15).

Isn’t it strange that some people know so much about a hobby but very little about God. They can give you the statistics of their favorite player since 1968 and tell you who won the Super Bowl 25 years ago, but they don’t know what God has promised them. They devote themselves to a hobby with their time, energy, and money when they get up early in the morning, drive for hours, and spend generously to buy tickets or equipment, but they complain they don’t have enough of these to spend time with God.

We must balance recreation and pleasure by asking these questions. Does it glorify God, or has it become an idol in our lives? Or do we work so much that we have no enjoyment? Ask God to help you and balance your life.