by Guest blogger Joy Wendling
Our focus word at Messy Church USA for July is PLAY! At the recent Intergenerate conference I attended a presentation by Joy Wendling titled From Blocks to Bunco and Everywhere In Between: A Theology You Can Play in. Joy lives on Whidbey Island, WA and it was a delight to meet her and learn of her ministry working with parents and churches. I also learned that are eight personality types! Joy shared a spiritual practice for each of the types first written about by Stuart Brown in his book, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul.
Thank you Joy for sharing your work on the theology of play that fits so well with Messy Church! Enjoy everyone! (Roberta Egli)
Created to Play
by Joy Wendling
“It’s the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives.” Fred Rogers
You might think play is simply blocks, dolls, and board games, but there is so much more to play than you may realize. Play is a way for you to experience the complete joy and abundant life that Christ offers. You might experience play through a bowl of ice cream, reading a good book, some art supplies, or even a hike in the woods. One of the things I love about play is the way it can span generations when done intentionally. Those who love to read may be 4 or 84 and with the right material can enjoy reading together.
Play is active and engaging. You don’t sit back and watch, you participate. It sparks creativity and fun. Play draws you in and helps you to momentarily step out of the broken world around you. Through play, there are benefits for your brain, body, bonds, and bliss. The impact of play is not age-dependent, but simply happens when you show up and join in regularly. When you can expand your thinking about what play is and can be, it opens your potential to grow your faith with others while embracing the joy of the Lord.
Two Danish definitions for Play
The English language is limited to one word for play that entails instruments, games, sports, and toys. However, in Danish there are two words for play: spille – which is the play that has rules, limitations, and expectations such as board games, sports, and instruments; and lege – which is for open-ended and more creative play. The second is where the famous blocks get their name. While both types of play have benefits, it is the lege play that holds huge possibilities for faith, especially in intergenerational settings.
“I believe we were all created to play and enjoy God’s love here and now. ”
Joy Wendling
“However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all.”
Ecclesiastes 11:8 NIV says,
While certain types of play are determined by your age, some play is determined by the way God created us. Just as Christians worship God in different manners, Christians also enjoy God’s blessings, or play, in different manners. Some may enjoy running or moving their bodies, while others play through learning new things, collecting things, designing events, being creative, or even through competing. When you focus on these kind of play opportunities, you are no longer bound into ministry by age, but bring together God’s people through joy and abundant life. And, can offer serving opportunities that bring joy to right person while getting the job done.
Play benefits all ages…sound like Messy Church?
If you consider the opening quote by Fred Rogers, you will notice that though Fred Rogers commonly spoke on behalf of children, here he says, “we.” Play benefits all ages. What if God’s Word, grace, wisdom, truth, and love were the things we played with? What if the Church, through God’s presence in Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, was a place to creatively play? What kind of difference would that make?
At Created to Play, I help families and churches to explore those questions and what it means to grow closer to Christ through play. I believe we were all created to play and enjoy God’s love here and now. Ecclesiastes 11:8 NIV says, “However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all.” In our broken world we may not enjoy every moment, but with the love of God, through Jesus, and the help of the Holy Spirit, we can experience God’s complete joy.
Thanks Joy! Contact Information for Joy is below!
