My kids went outside today and said that they were bored because there was "nothing to do". As I looked around at the beautiful blue sky I saw trees to climb, bikes to ride, and balls to kick.
My kids are so used to having things structured for them outside that they've lost the art of spontaneous play. Decades ago you could see kids playing pick up basketball, pick up baseball, pick up soccer, etc. When suburban life kicked in, there came rec leagues and organization. Now when you ask a kid if they play soccer they'll refer to whether or not they "signed up this year", not whether or not they kicked a ball with their buddy. This has stunted their ability to go outside and play "pick-up games".
The church early on was a movement of people that lived out "spontaneous play"; they moved where the Spirit moved, didn't wait for a board or a committee to approve a master plan of assimilation...they simply loved people in tangible and practical ways.
I hope that the church can once again capture the art of spontaneous play. I hope that people won't rely on the church's "rec league" programs for their spiritual formation. Instead of people asking if there is a small group that meets their needs, they would listen to their own longings as well as the longings of others and see how they might be able to best serve others.
I want to see a church that isn't looking to sign up for rec-league sports, but is instead creating pick-games wherever they find themselves.
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