Recreation or Re-creation, Which

During this month, summer will come upon us. Many of us will begin to think of vacationing and getting away for awhile. Certainly, Nancy and I will take some time to relax and refresh. Recreation is a good thing, but re-creation is even better.

All of my life, I have loved sports. As a mature adult, I have looked back upon my many hours of practice in various athletic endeavors, and I can see that what I liked best was not winning, but experiencing something emerging from within me. In the case of childhood games (aren't all sports really for kids), it may be hitting a tennis ball like never before, but what is better yet is having some insight or feeling rise from within us that touches us and transforms us.

Let us give our attention to re-creation this summer. Spirituality never rests. We are destined to live from a divine center every moment of our lives. The journey of spiritual growth is never ending, so let us not rest from the joyous work of giving ourselves to Spirit. There will be exciting classes to attend at Unity of Fort Myers this summer. "The Gospel of Thomas" begins this month. It will be followed by four weeks of chaplaincy training and then an important class on "Non-violence: A Dangerous Idea."

And let us remember that prayer and meditation is a call for re-creation. Spend some time at the beach in the coming months not just frolicking in the water, but sitting on the sand feeling the sun on your face and the wind in your hair as you open yourself to experience God's presence. No one has ever experienced the Presence without being transformed. Remember the question: recreation or re-creation, which?