Remember: Soul and Play

This past weekend, millions tuned in to watch the Ryder Cup. Beyond the fairways and putts, what struck me most was the camaraderie – the way players from different backgrounds came together, not just to compete, but to share in something larger than themselves. There were fist pumps and high-fives, moments of encouragement, and the unmistakable joy of playing for more than just individual glory.

Something happens to the soul when we enter into play with others (even in competitive settings). We find passion awakened, purpose renewed, and connection deepened. Play, in its truest form, is not a distraction from life but a way of re-membering what life is for – joy, belonging, and the experience of being fully alive.

But here’s the challenge: too much soul without play can leave us heavy, introspective, and stuck in ourselves. Too much play without soul can leave us shallow, restless, and untethered. The invitation of God is to hold the two together, finding a rhythm that gives depth to our play and levity to our seriousness.

From the very beginning, the Spirit of God hovered over the chaos and, with the Word, began shaping things into something new – light and darkness, sky and sea, variety and unity. Creation itself is the story of re-creation – of God bringing form and beauty out of an otherwise seemingly disorganized mess. In many ways, our own work of intentionality and remembering is a continuation of that same pattern: shaping lives that hold soul and play together without letting either one run away with us.

This week, whether you find yourself at work, cheering on your team, in prayer, or at play, notice where you may be leaning too far. Are you lost in seriousness without delight? Or chasing a “win” without depth? The Spirit’s invitation is to bring the pieces back together – soul and play – as part of God’s ongoing work of creation and re-creation all over again.

Prayer

Creating God, you reshaped light and darkness and order and chaos. Shape us, too, into people who hold soul and play in holy tension. Help us to re-member what brings us alive and what draws us deeper into You, that we may live with passion, purpose, and awe. Amen.