Saturday: Play & Recreation
September 20
- Scripture: Mark 6:31 — “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”
- Reflection: Even our Lord retreated, exhausted from caring for others, and sought quiet and respite. He often sought time on the water or time on the heights. He prayed. He connected to God. He sought renewal.
Although no text in the Bible describes Christ’s laughter, we hear songs on his lips (the Psalms). We watch him seek out friends and spend time with them. We see him allow others to tend to his needs in turn. We observe that he spends much time outdoors, traveling between locations, immersed in God’s creation.
Rejuvenation through friendship, play and respite is part of the rhythm of life that God envisions for us. Engaging in leisure helps restore our capacity to be present to others and of service in the world. Pleasure and rest build up the integrity and balance of our identities as whole people. - Spiritual Practice: Spend the day outdoors, enjoying nature, engaging in a hobby, or relaxing—allowing yourself space to rest and reconnect with God’s creation.
Song:
- Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Casting Crowns: https://youtu.be/JST8imW-D5A?si=VDoCsP3HT1RbOIpD
A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” ― Albert Einstein
Sept 20 Daily Devotionals