“The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”

— Zechariah 8:5

The Sabbath day is a good time to be reminded of the importance of play. While our work and service are important in life, play is also important for the health of our body and spirit.

Awhile ago I visited a Central American country with a group of ministry leaders. We toured a number of ministry sites to see how God was at work. One site was a reclaimed sports and recreation area: a soccer pitch stood on land that had once been used as a garbage dump. As we listened to the story about this redeemed piece of land, some young women showed up in their soccer uniforms for practice. Soon afterward, someone came over and told us in Spanish that the soccer players wanted to challenge us to a match. Game on! We didn’t have the right clothes or shoes and we couldn’t speak the language, but we had a great time of fun and laughter.

We were also aware that these young women lived difficult lives, facing many obstacles from poverty to injustice in their society. But in that brief time of play, we experienced community and connection in a profound way.

Examples like this can also be an expression of our Christian faith. God delights in us and in his world. We are invited to do the same. Can you find some time to both worship and play today?

God, thank you for creating us to both work and play. Help us to be serious about both of these gifts. Grace us also with times of delight and laughter. Amen.