Creativity of Work and Play
Work and play are both creative activities and truly creative work is in and of itself play. For work is a calling that tells us we need to do such creativity in order to fully birth ourselves. True work is a calling forth from the depths of our souls; a release of the spirit to fly in its grandeur. Work that is prophetic is a calling by God, a calling to utilize our imagination, a calling to expand ourselves to the utmost possibility. Creative work makes our hearts soar; it is about healing.
Such work is of co-creation – it is enchanting and mystical; it is a spiritual experience; it is the essence of our being. Even when our work is stressful, difficult, or painful, it is good work if it is of goodness and healing. We find grace in our work; we find blessing in our work; we find healing in our work. This is both outer work (employment, volunteer work, raising a family) and inner work (delving into our being), for if we do not do our inner work of the soul, there will be no authentic outer work.
This inner work is about the growth of our spirit in order to become our highest selves. Our inner work may be of a psychological examination of self and psyche and/or of the mystical. Psychological work through counseling including spirituality needs, inner exploration, and self-help groups; mystical work of prayer, meditation, mindfulness, silence and solitude, connecting with nature, and all other practices which allow one to go deeper into one’s soul. For out of this inner work comes creativity, growth, and transformation.
Play both leads to inner and outer work and is an outcome of inner and outer work. We have been placed on this Earth by a Creator who has a sense of humor. We only have to watch her creations in action – the chimpanzees, chipmunks, cats and dogs, and babies of all creatures – to understand that creativity is based upon play. What fun, what delight we creatures of Goddess provide the universe. In this joy, all of creation lets go and imbibes in play, in the at-the-moment frivolity of life. The Beloved must be so pleased in what she has birthed on land and stream; such imagination!
And as the Beloved demonstrates such a sense of humor, so must his co-creators. Humor, fun, play, and leisure are as much a human right as the right of the Divine. For to be truly alive, we must celebrate, enjoy, and experience pleasure and ecstasy. We are delighted and delightful creatures who must revel in our own passions and creativity.
For what is play but a celebration of the blessings of this life. A celebration of life and living. In our celebration we understand that we have been created in grace and we bless the Beloved as she has blessed us. To have fun is to say “thank you” – thank you for birthing me into this lifetime, thank you for such gifts. To never celebrate, to remain stoic, to subvert our passions is to dishonor the Essence.
We must balance our work and play, although if we are in oneness with ourselves and the universe, they become the same activities as they are the creative endeavors of our highest selves. Work and play are of the Universe and the universal core of life. May we find such oneness in all that we be and all that we do.
C. Lynn Anderson, D.Min., ACSW, is a psychospiritual therapist and author of the recently published book, Where All Our Journeys End: Searching for the Beloved in Everyday Life. She can be contacted at www.sarahscircle.com