I was challenged by something I heard recently while participating in Rick Warren’s “40 Days of Love” Bible study. Warren was speaking about recreation and how important it is for all of us to engage in activities that re-energize us emotionally. Recreation is not something I think about regularly. In fact, when he first said the word, I thought of my younger days playing basketball for the county Park & Recreation department – clearly, I was missing the point.
Dictionary.com defines “recreation” as:
1. refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
2. a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
Literally, recreation means to re-create or create anew.
Preferred methods of “recreating” vary among individuals, since we all define pleasure and work differently. For example, Warren said that as a pastor, author and speaker, he works with his mind every day. For recreation, he likes to work with his hands for a change and do tasks such as gardening. However, those who work with their hands all day might find reading or some other mentally-stimulating activity more recreational.
I began thinking about this and realized that I neglect recreation and do not engage in a wealth of fun activities that re-energize me. Warren’s point was that recreation is crucial to our emotional health, and having good emotional health is critical to being able to love others. In other words, it is not selfish for us to do something we enjoy for the pure sake of enjoyment, if it is done in moderation – in fact, it’s loving for us to do so!
You may have some “downtime” during the next week since we are celebrating Thanksgiving. Despite all of the temptations around you to busy yourself or do something “productive,” I encourage you to seize opportunities for recreation. Go for a walk, bake a cake or do whatever helps you recharge emotionally. Don’t abuse the opportunities, but also don’t abuse yourself and your loved ones by being so task-oriented that you neglect time to re-create and therefore a chance for God to love on others through you. You will be thankful for your decision to re-create.
Now the question is – what recreational activity do you want to do first?!
Dictionary.com defines “recreation” as:
1. refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
2. a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.
Literally, recreation means to re-create or create anew.
Preferred methods of “recreating” vary among individuals, since we all define pleasure and work differently. For example, Warren said that as a pastor, author and speaker, he works with his mind every day. For recreation, he likes to work with his hands for a change and do tasks such as gardening. However, those who work with their hands all day might find reading or some other mentally-stimulating activity more recreational.
I began thinking about this and realized that I neglect recreation and do not engage in a wealth of fun activities that re-energize me. Warren’s point was that recreation is crucial to our emotional health, and having good emotional health is critical to being able to love others. In other words, it is not selfish for us to do something we enjoy for the pure sake of enjoyment, if it is done in moderation – in fact, it’s loving for us to do so!
You may have some “downtime” during the next week since we are celebrating Thanksgiving. Despite all of the temptations around you to busy yourself or do something “productive,” I encourage you to seize opportunities for recreation. Go for a walk, bake a cake or do whatever helps you recharge emotionally. Don’t abuse the opportunities, but also don’t abuse yourself and your loved ones by being so task-oriented that you neglect time to re-create and therefore a chance for God to love on others through you. You will be thankful for your decision to re-create.
Now the question is – what recreational activity do you want to do first?!
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