PLAYFUL

He can’t be old, Father, because he is still playful.

Despite his advancing years,

There is still a child within him:

A playful spirit

That wants to laugh

And be silly.

I love that spirit.

I remember it from when I was a child.

We rolled down hillsides,

built hill trolleys,

hid from one another,

went on adventures,

ran in circles,

hung upside down from climbing frames …

That playful spirit is

creative,

fun-loving,

energetic,

resilient,

generous,

hopeful.

Give me a playful spirit

In my faith—

To seek new ways to spread your word;

To express the joy which your love brings;

To be energised by serving you;

To bounce back from disappointment and trauma;

To be generous in my dealings with others;

To be full of hope for this life and the next.

I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. (Mark 10: 15, GNT)