Holy Play, the title of my new book, is a phrase I’ve created that refers to living your purpose with great freedom and joy.
Holy Play and Freedom
When it comes to purpose, there are many persons (including some who’ve read The Purpose Driven Life) who still feel unsure about their purpose. I believe the source of this hesitancy and doubt about purpose is connected to how we understand God and purpose.
I can use my own experience as an example. About twenty years ago, I was torn between remaining as pastor of a growing local church or beginning a Ph.D. program and becoming a seminary professor. My breakthrough came when I heard the following words in my spirit after praying one morning. “Know this: Whichever path you choose, I will be with you.”
That “message” set me free to decide my destiny and purpose without fearing that my decision would anger God in some way. Not only did I go on to complete a Ph.D. program and become a professor at several seminaries, but as a result of my experience, I think about God and purpose in a way that’s different from traditional understandings.
Regarding God, based on my experience and biblical teaching, I refuse to see God as “a domineering parent” who demands that we do this or that, or else. Rather I envision God as “Our Great Beloved Partner” who graciously grants us inspiration and freedom to imagine and live our dreams. And, in regard to purpose, I have lived and enthusiastically teach that purpose is not something we receive from God; purpose is something we joyfully create together with God, to our and God’s great joy.
I believe that such fresh understandings about God and purpose free us to think about vocation and life-work in more spiritually open and exciting ways. We become open to seeing new possibilities for ourselves. The end result is perceiving and living purpose with great clarity and confidence.
Holy Play and Joy
I believe there are many persons who though feeling sure about their purpose, don’t feel as much fulfillment as they desire. One way to determine whether or not your work is as fulfilling as it can be (and as God wants to be) is to ask yourself the following questions:
How often do I feel excited about my work?
How often do I lose all sense of time when I am working?
Am I truly thankful to be doing what I am doing?
Am I learning and growing enough doing what I am doing?
How often does my work feel like play?
Such questions can help you uncover your true satisfaction or dissatisfaction with what you are doing. In the case of the latter, you have a choice: Seek work that feels more like play (work that more often than not fills you with passion and anticipation) or settle for less? The choice is up to you. It really is.
