For all of today’s readings: Click on today’s date at http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Play
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Second Week of Advent
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How do you relate to the word … “play?”
Progress-less presence
Loose light laid-back laughter
Abandoned (in a good way)
Yes, yell yes, or yikes!
PLAY.
Sometimes when I sing, I do what real singers do and adjust my voice to song. Sometimes I play my guitar and hear the notes ring through my ears and through my skin.
When I play hide-and-seek with Jack and Aly, who are 6 and 3, they help me. They remind me to whisper, and to hurry-up-and-hide. It doesn’t take long to count to 10, or 30.
I like to play chess with Matthew, who is 12 years old and pretty darn good. At least he’s better than I am. My friend who works in a game store sometimes brings a game along when he visits. Games like “Lost Cities,” and “Grizzled.” Margaret and I sometimes play Tripoley. Mom and I play Scrabble.
My best playtime includes lots of laughter and lightness of being. Winning is not foremost in my mind. I am really resting. There is no hurry. Joy runs deep and wide.
These are moments with Jesus, who is teaching me how to play. I rest with him, recline at table with him, eating the morsels of the moment. These moments are always Right Here Right Now. To know this I just need to open my hard-working hands and put out my palms. Face them up to heaven. See what happens next. What do you have now for me, Lord?
Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Bless the Lord, o my soul. You crown me with kindness and compassion, and redeem my life from destruction. Let me behold you as you come to save your people. Teach me to play in the fields of the Lord.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1405
