Plan and Play

After a long day yesterday of counseling, meetings and study I decided I needed to go home and do something with my hands. I love to build things and create things for our house. Bu yesterday was different. I did not feel a need to make anything for the house or create anything. I just wanted to play with my saws, drills, wood and kids. So I got out a bunch of old wood that I had around and just started cutting and building. In the end all I built with my kids was a box that I will probably take apart. But when I was doing this I realized a very important life lesson. Sometimes you don't need a plan you just need to play.

Too often in my life I plan, plan, plan. And after that I plan some more. I love to schedule, plan and think about the future. But what I am realizing is that I need to have tim to play as well. Too much planning takes the fun out of life. Too much planning leaves no room to be spontaneous. Too much planning makes you rigid and stressed. If all we ever do is plan everything out we live and die by a schedule. We live a life that is run by everyone else.

But when we leave room for play we have to use our minds to be creative. To wonder. To play. To imagine. To dream. When there is always a plan I work the plan and lose creativity. Now I ma not saying that plans and schedules are not good. They are good and they are necessary. Too many people play and have no plan and this can be destructive in life and relationships. But I believe we can make space in our life to play as well.

But here is the tricky part. You can't plan your play. You just need to have space in your schedule and plan where you are not sure what you are going to do. This time could be filled with being creative, playing with your kids or visiting a friend. I am not sure what play looks like for everyone but I do know this we all need to take some time out of our planned days and weeks and months and play a little. So take a little time today and go play. Use your imagination. Let wonder take over your heart. Open your eyes to the fun around you. Enjoy the company of another. Maybe let today or tomorrow a day to play.