Coach's Corner

Recreation vs. Work Addiction

There is such a thing as – ‘work addiction’!  We define ourselves by what we ‘do’ and we compare ourselves to others, based on what ‘they do’.  We begin conversations with people and usually the second thing we learn about them (after learning their name) is what they do for a living. 

Working is central to who we are!  God made us to work.  I grew up with people telling me that if you can choose a vocation that you love – you will never work another day of your life!  I think it makes good motivation, but that comment is not necessarily rooted in reality.  Work is part of the human mandate – given to us from above. 

God made the first man and woman and placed them in a garden to ‘work it’.  The very first vocation was the ‘call to tend the garden’ – and that sure sounds like work to me!!

The word ‘vocation’ has its roots in the word ‘voice’.  There is a voice that calls us to work a certain way, in a certain field for the common good of others.  That voice is a good voice – it summons us to make ourselves useful in the world.  To find fulfillment in life is to incline our ear to the inner voice that invites us to move in certain directions and to exert ourselves in certain ways. 

There is another voice – another ‘vocation’ and it is the call to ‘recreate!’ Recreation is a holy vocation.  Learning to know when to ‘stop’ adding value to others, and simply do something that ‘replenishes’ and ‘restores’ you personally is a holy calling.  If we fail to hear the invitation to stop and respond accordingly, we will find ourselves being of less and less value to others.

Just as God gave the mandate to work – he also gave the mandate to stop! 

There is a word in Hebrew called ‘shabbat’ which means literally – “to stop”. It’s where we get the word ‘Sabbath’.  Sabbath to the Jewish people was a sacred day.  A day when work stopped and recreation began!  Slavery to the routines and obligations of life were substituted with the freedom to stop being obligated and to instead be liberated!

When we were children, play was not just second nature – it was our primal instinct.  Kids play whenever they can!  Breathing and playing go together for anyone under the age of 12.  Something happens when we ‘mature’ – we play less!  When we play less, we pay more.  Our relationships pay, our health pays, our vocation (work) pays.

August is a great month to listen for the inner voice of the Spirit of Jesus that calls us to ‘re-create!’

The other day, my daughters came upstairs from playing a game in the basement and they were telling us about the game they were playing.  I instinctively asked them – ‘who won?’ They looked at each other, giggled and said – “we’re just playing!” When we play, it isn’t about winning; it’s about living!  Too much of our life is wrapped up in measuring, comparing, earning, conquering and gaining.  Recreation is about ‘being’ – being full, being alive and being at home with ourselves. 

I hope you will take time to ‘stop’ and to ‘recreate’ this summer!!

Posted June 26, 2008