Rev. Bob Cotter, our pastor in the Presbyterian Church, Flanders, for many years, spoke of recreation - something he wholeheartedly believed in. A man who wanted his 'flock' to realize and appreciate the gifts of a loving God, Bob believed in taking time for one's own interests and discoveries, sharing time with family, never wearing a watch on vacations, and "date night," with his loving wife, Joan. It was, he said, a way to stay in touch with that part of us that wasn't working - when we were "off duty" in our private lives. He loved his work, and, with our active, program church, we felt and saw Bob's touch everywhere, but worried that he worked too hard. Not to worry - Bob knew how to relax and have fun - how to make sure that his personal loved ones/family had him to themselves once in a while. He also knew how to spend time alone. An avid jogger, Bob ran 4-6 miles every day (except Sunday!) up and around the golf course near his home. It was, he said, his time to be in touch with nature, his health and God - one on one.
One year, at about this time, Bob talked to us, in a Sunday worship service about Easter, and the resurrection. Yes, I said, "talked" rather than "preached," for Bob would step out from behind the pulpit and make eye contact with us, and speak to us in a personal, connected way. Bob also addressed re-creation and recreation - the words, and the concepts.
As I remember, Bob said that it was important for us to rest and relax, to embrace those hobbies, activities, sports and fun times that restored us when the stresses of daily life stripped away their memory, replacing them with tensions and responsibilities that - while necessary for survival and success - gave us less joy....and joy, he said, was a gift from God. He said God wants us to love one another, to share the gifts he has given us with each other, and within our own hearts.
The word recreation is a word we use from childhood, when we participate in sports in our towns' recreation departments, up through the time when we talk about the recreation coordinators who will see us as "white hairs," in a senior complex, playing bocce ball and shuffleboard! We escape that which we must do (as kids, we must listen to our parents, participate in class, do our homework and brush our teeth, for starters....as adults, we must pay our taxes, have annual checkups, and take our teeth out to brush them : ) - but we also should pay attention, from the early years through the middle years - right up until we take a little longer to walk around the block with the grandkids on bikes circling around us as we walk - to enjoying this gift of life.
Spelling the word, "re-creation," we also re-invent ourselves as we travel through the years, and through our growth, successes and memories. Women who were once skinny little freckle faced girls, and men who were once awkward hormonal teenagers grow into swans who marry, have kids and are beautiful, fulfilled women of business and home lives, and debonair men who wear corporate casual golf shirts, lift high their toddlers in the air over their heads, talk about domestic vs. imported beers, and learn how to golf.
In between the middle years surviving kids and enjoying grandkids - and the knowledge that I will have to learn to play shuffleboard, I am - since two back surgeries saw me falter a bit in the walking department - enjoying some recreation and some re-creation. I get out to plays and nice dinners, plan to travel a bit, and even take a cruise in the Autumn, which account for some recreation, but I am also re-creating my 'new' me. While I can't play tennis, racquetball, or bowl as I used to, due to the serious, permanent damage of one surgery, the second one prevented worse damage, for which I am thankful. Trying to 'move on with my life' - as a life counselor urged, I took up photography as a hobby, and it is swiftly becoming a passion, an art, and an escape. Through my lens, I can and do choose what to capture, keep, embellish and share. I've enjoyed the dozens of species of birds at my birdfeeder, zoomed in on my grandson's big, beautiful blue eyes, and shared landscapes around this town, county and state that are breathtaking - truly a gift from a loving God - the photos and my ability to take them.
So, while I'm recreating, I am also re-creating...my joie de vivre for "all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small." The lines that follow these verses from a favorite hymn, I dedicate to Rev. Bob Cotter, for he led us to these gifts, and left us beautiful memories, hope and a plan. It is right, beautiful and a joy to give thanks for them, and for him, for "...all things wise and wonderful, the good Lord made them all."
Happy Easter....happy Spring. Cherish these gifts and the joy - the newness - of your life, every day that you awaken, and welcome the new day.
One year, at about this time, Bob talked to us, in a Sunday worship service about Easter, and the resurrection. Yes, I said, "talked" rather than "preached," for Bob would step out from behind the pulpit and make eye contact with us, and speak to us in a personal, connected way. Bob also addressed re-creation and recreation - the words, and the concepts.
As I remember, Bob said that it was important for us to rest and relax, to embrace those hobbies, activities, sports and fun times that restored us when the stresses of daily life stripped away their memory, replacing them with tensions and responsibilities that - while necessary for survival and success - gave us less joy....and joy, he said, was a gift from God. He said God wants us to love one another, to share the gifts he has given us with each other, and within our own hearts.
The word recreation is a word we use from childhood, when we participate in sports in our towns' recreation departments, up through the time when we talk about the recreation coordinators who will see us as "white hairs," in a senior complex, playing bocce ball and shuffleboard! We escape that which we must do (as kids, we must listen to our parents, participate in class, do our homework and brush our teeth, for starters....as adults, we must pay our taxes, have annual checkups, and take our teeth out to brush them : ) - but we also should pay attention, from the early years through the middle years - right up until we take a little longer to walk around the block with the grandkids on bikes circling around us as we walk - to enjoying this gift of life.
Spelling the word, "re-creation," we also re-invent ourselves as we travel through the years, and through our growth, successes and memories. Women who were once skinny little freckle faced girls, and men who were once awkward hormonal teenagers grow into swans who marry, have kids and are beautiful, fulfilled women of business and home lives, and debonair men who wear corporate casual golf shirts, lift high their toddlers in the air over their heads, talk about domestic vs. imported beers, and learn how to golf.
In between the middle years surviving kids and enjoying grandkids - and the knowledge that I will have to learn to play shuffleboard, I am - since two back surgeries saw me falter a bit in the walking department - enjoying some recreation and some re-creation. I get out to plays and nice dinners, plan to travel a bit, and even take a cruise in the Autumn, which account for some recreation, but I am also re-creating my 'new' me. While I can't play tennis, racquetball, or bowl as I used to, due to the serious, permanent damage of one surgery, the second one prevented worse damage, for which I am thankful. Trying to 'move on with my life' - as a life counselor urged, I took up photography as a hobby, and it is swiftly becoming a passion, an art, and an escape. Through my lens, I can and do choose what to capture, keep, embellish and share. I've enjoyed the dozens of species of birds at my birdfeeder, zoomed in on my grandson's big, beautiful blue eyes, and shared landscapes around this town, county and state that are breathtaking - truly a gift from a loving God - the photos and my ability to take them.
So, while I'm recreating, I am also re-creating...my joie de vivre for "all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small." The lines that follow these verses from a favorite hymn, I dedicate to Rev. Bob Cotter, for he led us to these gifts, and left us beautiful memories, hope and a plan. It is right, beautiful and a joy to give thanks for them, and for him, for "...all things wise and wonderful, the good Lord made them all."
Happy Easter....happy Spring. Cherish these gifts and the joy - the newness - of your life, every day that you awaken, and welcome the new day.
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