by RE Steven Bruening, Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all their multitude. On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation [And he played!].” – Genesis 2:2-3
“And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.” – Zechariah 8:5
“Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning born of the one light Eden saw play!” (Hymn: Morning Has Broken with Words by Eleanor Farjeon, 1931)
This blog is taken from a devotion offered to the Commission on Ministry meeting, of which Steve is a key member.
You may have noticed that I took liberty with Genesis 2:2-3 by adding, “And he played!” at the end. God delights in creation. This divine delight was evident on the Seventh Day when the Creator walked, laughed, and played with Adam and Eve on the Sabbath under the radiant sunlight “born of the One Light Eden saw play.”
Play is an activity that, at its heart, is spontaneous creativity for the sake of just being. According to Peter Gray, a psychologist and a neuroscientist in the field of play research, play – especially free play, i.e., spontaneous play – is an “activity that is freely chosen and directed by the participants and undertaken for its own sake, not consciously pursued to achieve ends that are distinct from the activity itself,” (Gray 2018). This is the divine play that God, Adam & Eve, and all Created Order engaged in on the first Sabbath; it is sacred, joyous, spontaneous, creative, renewing, and life-giving, and we do not do enough of it.
Playing is essential for humanity’s survival. Without time for restful play, our physical and mental well-being suffers. It is an activity to be engaged in not for self-worth-measuring or to produce a commodity but for the sake of being itself. When we immerse ourselves in free play, we honor the Sabbath the way our Creator and our spiritual ancestors did—for the sake of being in relationships with each other and building a sacred community. It is the first gift Jesus, He-Who-Was-Is-And-Always-Shall-Be-the-Word, gave to a newly ordained creation. And what a wondrous gift it is!
The towering literary figure – he did stand an astounding 6’4” – Gilbert Keith (G.K.) Chesterton, author of The Everlasting Man, a book that the atheist Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis credited, in part, for his conversion to Christianity, poetically penned, “The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground” (G.K. Chesterton 1908). I have always liked this quote – equating heaven with play is powerful theological imagery.
Playing is not only a way to express creativity but an act of creation itself. It fosters, sustains, and builds communities through relationships. Free play is crucial in childhood development for building foundational relationships. It helps us understand boundaries, interpret body language cues, and develop critical thinking and social interaction skills.
UNICEF, in collaboration with the LEGO Foundation, highlights this key idea in its “Learning through Play” document, boldly stating: “Play is one of the most important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and skills” (UNICEF and The LEGO Foundation, 2018).
Playing is a hallmark of the Kingdom of God. This is why Zechariah wrote, “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.” Zechariah’s vision of children playing in the streets symbolizes peace and restoration. It signifies a return to innocence and joy, where the community is free from fear and conflict. It is, for Zechariah, the ideal analogy for the Kingdom-to-Come. This imagery conveys the complete restoration of creation, wherein the divine presence permeates every aspect of existence. The children’s playful interactions testify to God’s love’s healing and transformative power, bringing a new era of peace and wholeness.
I encourage every one of you to do something spontaneous and fun just for the sake of doing it! Randomly chase a butterfly. Roll down the next hill you encounter. Embrace the full-souled ancient, sacred, and divine gift of free play. Rejoice and leap for joy in the One Light that Eden saw play! We can answer the holy call to bring all Creation into Wholeness, Peace, Unity, and Love through childlike play full of wonderment, curiosity, laughter, and a deep sense of friendship.
Friends, like the children in Zechariah’s vision, may we play in the streets with spontaneous joy and laughter, bringing peace and prosperity to our communities. Equipped with this heartfelt wisdom echoing in our spirits, let us come together in prayer:
Playful & Laughing Creator,
We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of play. Just as You rested and delighted in creation on the seventh day, we, too, seek to embrace the joy and spontaneity of play. May our lives be full of laughter, creativity, and connection, mirroring Your divine pleasure in us. Guide us to find balance in our busy lives, setting aside time for rest and play, knowing that it is essential for our well-being. Help us see the sacredness in these moments of play as they renew our spirits and strengthen our relationships. Like the children in Zechariah’s vision, may we play in the streets with joy and laughter, bringing peace and prosperity to our communities. Let our playful interactions testify to Your love, healing, and the transformative power of Divine-Love-infused play.
AMEN.
