Recreation as Re-Creation

What do you do for fun?  For me, it’s mountain biking!

I love to get on my bicycle and get out into nature to enjoy the exercise and the elements.  I love to hear my breathing and to feel my muscles as I’m riding over rocks and roots while climbing a mountain pass from Argentina into Chile.  I love to see God’s handiwork in the Monkey Puzzle trees, the glaciers, the lakes, the volcanoes, the lava flows, and the birds as I pedal through the Patagonian forest.  Oops, I slipped on a wet root and fell into a puddle of water and scraped my knee.  It doesn’t matter!  A little mud and a little blood make it even more fun!

Okay, so mountain biking isn’t your idea of fun; that’s okay!  But what do you do for fun?  What do you do for pleasure?  How do you get away from your work?  What’s your form of recreation?  No time for play?  You are too busy!  Don’t just take it from me.  Listen to what the Bible says about the rest of not working:  “God rested from all his work” (Gen. 2:3), “…do no work…” (Exodus 20:10), “God rested and was refreshed” (Exodus 31:17), “…the people rested…” (Exodus 16:30).

I think it’s fair to say:  God made us for work, and God made us for play!  Though all of us could benefit from a lesson on the merits of hard work, our Protestant work-ethic often leads us toward ALL WORK and NO PLAY.  Without the rest of play we become un-balanced believers often lifeless and downright boring.  What’s more, we miss out on all that God has in store for us through play.

Rest from our work gives us the opportunity of being refreshed through recreation.  For me, mountain biking gets my thoughts off of work, eliminates stress, provides some exercise for my body, and gets me in touch with the outdoors.  Through the recreation of mountain biking I’m re-created!  My mind is clear, my emotions are soothed, my body is relaxed, and my spirit is open.  As a result, I am re-energized to work, a much better husband—that’s what Laurie says, and closer to God.

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to get away this past week for a bit of restful play.  It did me good!  I’m refreshed and re-created.  Anybody else feeling the need for some fun?  How about a games night?  Square dancing?  Mountain biking?

May God continue to accomplish his work in my life and yours as we discover all that he has in store for us through play.

Back to work,

Scott Corwin, Pastor

This Week @ IBCB:  2_7_2010

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