The Summer of Play: Finding the Divine in Play, Presence, and the Playground of Life

As I crawl into bed,

I remember my mentor, Ed, a Holocaust survivor,

teaching me about the importance of play -

not just in early childhood

but throughout life.

Ed dedicated his life to the power of play.

At his funeral, we got everyone up and playing a game.

I’m sure Ed loved it from wherever he was!

This summer – I had a plan concocted in my mortal head…

I was going to edit multiple manuals in preparation for republication and

celebrate Mass every weekend with my community…

wherever I was.

Then, one of my companions told me

I needed at least a 3-week sabbatical

and it echoed what my parish priest had done…

So I set off to my family’s ancestral home

just for 10 days…

and felt I should extend it for another 10 days

and then with Divine Echoes, others encouraged me to stay even longer…

and six weeks later I came home

my dear cousin with me

that she may heal in spirit and body

Yesterday –

My cousin and I went for a long walk – doctor’s orders for me

and combined it with stopping at little downtown shops

helping local businesses thrive.

We found a nook by the water to eat and drink…

and ended our journey with some handmade candy.

Last night found us at the theater - a musical

She journaled about the grand finale:

“Don’t stop believing.”

I look at the photos she shared with our family -

She’s beaming again

like when we met for the first time in person

when we were tweens.

“I can feel myself getting better,” she reflected the other night.

The power of play

The gift of time –

to focus on being present

to hold the joys and sorrows offered moment by moment

and time to release them, as well

time to intercede silently when things are awry,

or when someone is struggling

time to make the most of what’s present

time to cultivate joy and beauty and belonging and

a grateful heart

time to develop eyes that see the good

and practice LovingKindness

and perhaps it feels like

this was the summer of “playing house”

of cooking simple meals with fresh ingredients for those around me and

those whom the Spirit prompted me to invite over for a meal

and lots of listening and chatting

time to listen to the other’s story

time to share about the Divine – always present

the Divine known by so many names and images and experiences

time to share the wisdom and experience of my 56 years…

even with the community chorus I belong to that requested my advice on building community

it’s been a summer of enjoying the beauty around me

                  the mountain behind the front door of our ancestral home

                  the cove in the ocean by our summer home

and the gift of the people around me with all their frailties and marvelousness

It’s been a summer of deliberately choosing to make new friends in the sandboxes of my life

and to support local businesses

and to buy fresh food

and to pray with people – if they want

and to pray for people – so many people…

©     the single mom who just moved into a new condo

©     the longtime companion who became a grandmother

©     the new companion who found out she has a benign brain tumor

©     and the young-ish jeweler who gave me back the bracelet with the Miraculous Medal – the man who was now in a coma - fighting for his life

©     and the mom who asked me to baptize her 3-year old daughter

©     and my neighbor who handed me vegetable from her garden as she told me she’s helping her daughter and granddaughter start a new life

©     my new friend whose mom is recovering from a broken leg and was non-responsive

©     and of course, there’s my own family with all our needs….

All of this and so much more was shared on the playground of life

And I smile as I remember the afternoon my friend, her differently-abled 7 year old, her daughter’s aid, my son and I gathered around a huge playpen… to bless their new home. It was joyful, beautiful and filled my heart… our hearts

And I smile as I remember the sweet reunion with my dad and his cousin – and my cousins and our children – as we each brought some part of the meal like stone soup – it was fun and filled my heart… our hearts

And I smile as I remember the night I had 5 of my dearest girlfriends over for an Italian summer dinner to meet my cousin – and we shared how we all met over the past 26 years…. it was beautiful, too, and fun and filled my heart… our hearts

And I smile as I remember just last weekend, when 40 of us celebrated my mom on her 80^th birthday with an “epic party” and 5 sets of games…. that was super fun, too….

All of it a testament to the power of play

As all of this rolls over me

and through me -

perhaps it will settle in me

Perhaps this summer,

through play,

I’ve fallen more deeply into the call of ministry I initially felt:

to be a minister on the Main Streets of Life

Maybe I AM being liberated

from striving for the future

and building greater structures

and larger communities

Maybe – just maybe

I’m settling into a quieter space

with the Divine and dyads and triads and smaller groups of people

who treasure me for WHO I AM and HOW I show up in the world

with a slower pace

somewhere between being on the couch with two broken feet

and the faster pace of the spring

Maybe through this summer of play

I’m learning to trust

that I AM where I AM supposed to be

that I can read the signs on the map of my life

that my husband, family and companions help show me The Way

and that when I need to move, I will know

and all I need will be there

and will appear just as I need it

So this morning

as the soft rain falls on my planned beach day

My heart smiles

I AM blessed.

I AM a blessing

All is well in my world.

Thank you, Ed

Thank you, Julian of Norwich

Thank you, Mama and Papa’

Thank you, my precious Humberto

Thank you, my dear cousin, Stefania

Thank you, all those who hold my heart

Thank you, my Beloved Divine One

                  whom I know my so many names and images

Thank you