Essay: Play for the Fun of It

Adventurous Play

When I view the awesome sky images that NASA is providing and read the descriptions that scientists are writing about the images I experience a deep sense of smallness. On the other hand, when I consider that I am one with and made of the same stuff as those massive and complex bodies my mood swings in the opposite direction – I know that I am surrounded with abundance, related to a Higher Power, an unrepeatable miracle. So how do people balance their smallness and greatness? The answer is adventurous play.

A friend recently sent me this quotation: “To never just play for the fun of playing is a disastrous loss. It is only in play that we can see simultaneously the supreme impertinence and utter insignificance of what we are doing”. Playing for the fun of it is living in the now. For centuries wise people and practical Twelve Steppers have stated loudly and frequently what C.S. Lewis aptly summed up, “The present moment is the point where time-space touches eternity-infinity.”

Jungian analyst Robert Cunningham writes, “Psychoanalysis has taught us the value and the necessity of play. Play is the work of infants, children and adults that brings a special relational space for personality and world to relate. It allows the self to know how it fits into the world on the outside and what the outside can provide the self for growth and healing. Play is an essential ingredient in psychotherapy and healing of soul. Play is essential for creativity to germinate and bring out new possibilities in life. Adventurous is the perfect adjective for it connotes courage and risk. There is no greatness of spirit without courage, no extension of the limits of the known without the willingness to risk, no transformation of need into love without wonder, no movement of fear into curiosity without lowering the illusions of control and power”.

Adventurous play is a very important dynamic of the Universe. We can observe it in13.7 years of fantastic creativity. The created world is the vessel into which the Great Mystery poured its sacred essence. For what purpose? TO BE SEEN. If that was the case for the Sacred Other – then it’s the same for the human soul. Dr. Cunningham points out, “psychoanalysis teaches that the infant demands to be seen if it is to thrive, to develop, to fulfill its gasping for life. The agony of aloneness is overcome in being seen and finding the gaze of the other that responds with care, nurture and knowing. Could it be no less true for the very Source of life and how wonderful to be seen in the manifestation of the miracle of creation?”

If we are conscious, evolving, members of this “showing” extravaganza then what is our purpose or role? Quite simply our job is to show -- play freely, surprisingly, creatively for the fun of it all and finding the gaze of the Other. We did that as children and there is no reason why we cannot continue to play adventurously into our mature years. It’s in our genes. Biologists tell us that we are neotenic – unlike our early ancestors the qualities of youth remain in us into our old age. Our task is to create a feast for all creatures, to give fizz to life, to be champagne.

Currently, in our culture play like everything else has been co-opted into the American Success Story– commercialized and professionalized. There are many people who play adventurously, just for the fun of it. A large number, however, play competitively to be better or best, to become famous, to make money. Others play vicariously and pay dearly to watch their heroes perform. Another very large number don’t get to play very often. They have to forego their creative instincts by working long hours at mindless jobs for meager pay. The competitive play that children are introduced to in pre-school does teach useful lessons for survival in our success-oriented culture. But if the goals of our culture are confused and questionable then the means for reaching those goals also have to be examined. If money, power and fame dissolve at death, why are they so anxiously pursued? Is that all there is?

The defunct Roman Empire believed in “panem et circenses”– bread and circuses to keep the lower classes occupied, temper their boredom and help them forget their misery. Many insightful people are beginning to see collegiate and professional athletics as a similar activity. Sometimes it’s beneficial to observe excellence in an activity, but even the best players sometimes wonder about what they are doing. Games are not adventurous play when the commissioners of athletes draw up complicated contracts and even dress codes. That’s about competition, wealth and fame.

For centuries there used to be a Commandment that stated, Keep holy the Sabbath. For Jewish people it was Saturday and for Christians Sunday. The intent of the commandment was to help people to slow down and rest, to count their blessings, express their gratitude and focus on their inner life – get their Ego in line with the Self. Collegiate and professional sports are the new Sabbath activities. They attract a lot of fans, make a lot of money, but serve to disconnect many people from their psyche’s Self and open up for them a wide avenue for their Ego to trip about in illusion-land.

A very important annual event for many families is vacation time – to get away to vacate --empty out stress, exhaustion, confusion, monotony, boredom and become invigorated for new experiences. Many families carefully plan their vacations and an increasing number prefer areas near water, mountains or wilderness with clear skies, bright sun, clean air and open space. Some people seem to have a built-in longing to be embraced by Nature and they are a sign of hope. They understand adventurous play and if given the chance they would be on perpetual vacation. Vacation is their vocation. Why shouldn’t it be so for all of us? That’s what the Universe planned.

1.How often do you play for the fun of it?
2. What contribution does play make to your personal growth?
3.What keeps you from playing adventurously?
4. How much time do you spend on your inner life?
5. What is your vocation?

Send comments to kellerbook [ at ] insightbb dot com  return to main menu