Fun for Fun’s Sake

By Deanna Rossow

I recently attended a seminar on “Play as a Spiritual Practice.” Heidi Goehmann helped us explore the definition of play as something that we do by our personal choosing, by our interest and desire, and by our sense of humor and delight. She reminded us that God takes pleasure in seeing us have fun!

Sometimes our fun has absolutely no “purpose” at all, except to enjoy it. Our fun glorifies and pleases God, even if nobody else ever knows about it.

Heidi’s take on the spiritual side of play reminded me of the tiled ceiling in the basement of our house in Houghton Lake, Michigan. We dressed up that large room with five single beds and girly-girl decor for when our granddaughters would spend the night. We all called it, “The Girls Dorm.” It was a special place just for them.

One day as I was tidying up after a visit, I noticed that the ceiling had a regular pattern of tiles. That measured “stage” seemed like an invitation to design a configuration of constellations!

I went right to work and sketched a grid that included The Big Bear and The Little Dipper. Then I purchased glow-in-the-dark sticky stars to place in strategic places on the tiles. The labor was sometimes confusing and often intensive, but when the job was complete, I turned out the lights and lay on my back and admired the night sky on the ceiling!

It was an unexpected treasure, full of surprise and delight!

My husband and kids and granddaughters are the only ones who know about these stars. They were placed in love for our personal pleasure. They remind me of the beautiful and glorious constellations our loving Creator placed in the heavens. That divine artwork gives glory and pleasure to God; and we who know God as Father are in on the secret! We share in God’s delight as we enjoy God’s beautiful creation.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11, KJV)

What a great reminder that just having fun for fun’s sake can bless us, and our families, and our Lord!