Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - July/74

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Leisure

Topic - Leisure

T.G. I. F. More and more people know the meaning of these initials. Should any of our readers wonder, they stand for "Thank God it's Friday!," The pressures and demands of the work-a-day week are over for most; a weekend may be enjoyed to the full. Some, to be sure, will enjoy it. Others will spend it at a frantic pace, and return to work or office more tired than when they left.

Leisure, just what is it? What is it good for? How should it be used? One dictionary defines leisure as freedom from the demands of work or duty. Granting for a moment that the definition is good, doesn't it say something important? Leisure, and use of leisure, are bound up with freedom. You get to do what you want, when you want. Ali, but here comes the rub. What I want may not be possible, or good, either for me or for someone else. Leisure is involved with responsible freedom.

Were one to add to the definition, the idea of enjoyment, or satisfaction should be included. If you have a lot of leisure, and do not enjoy it, or find satisfaction in it, you will be bored, and perhaps hard to live with. Some unions and business firms are pushing for a four day work week. p In a number of cases the four day week, with ten hour days, is being implemented on an experimental basis. Some like it very much, others are not sure.

Leisure, to be helpful, needs to be creative, or more accurately, to be used creatively. Leisure involves rest and renewal. You may recall that Jesus said on occasion to his disciples, "Come apart and rest awhile." They had been engaged in a busy campaign of travel and witness and healing ministry, also. His body is not geared to a seven day a week operation.

Rest may take many forms. One needs rest in the form of change of pace, as well as of sleep and relaxation. Rest will likely include exercise for body and mind. This involves creative use. Hobbies, planned activity, and just plain rest all come into play.

For most people of faith the weekend includes exercise for the soul in the form of worship, particularly taking part in corporate, or congregational worship. The by now time worn-statement of scripture remains true: Man does not live by bread alone.

One's approach to leisure tells a great deal about him as a person. If work has no meaning, or if one sees no meaning to life in general, leisure will be a time of escape. One will want to burn up its hours in having fun, only to find, likely that the after taste is bitter, and the after effect destructive. A middle age seaman once complained bitterly, "All I do when I go on liberty is see the inside of a gin-mill. Other guys go and see a town, or take in a ball game, or see a good picture, but me - all I do is see the inside of a gin mill! I don't think I ought to go ashore anymore." For him leisure had little meaning - he needed escape, and could not get away. He needed work time to recover from leisure time misuse. That's tragic.

A person who finds meaning in life, and who approaches his work in the same way, will find leisure a time for renewal, refreshing, and preparation. In order to benefit from such a use of leisure one must be a fairly well adjusted individual .

Many in their leisure hours will smoke too much, drink too much, eat too much, and sit too much. Their leisure will contribute more to the risk or occurrence of heart attack than it will contribute to the refreshing of body and mind.

Again, essential in the proper use of leisure is creativity. I do not mean, necessarily, making something, or designing something. Rather, being creative in leisure means that you are able to do something for yourself without having to be entertained all the time. Television has proved to be very much a mixed blessing here - many people have become so accustomed to sitting down in front of the tube that they can no longer begin, or maintain a conversation with family or friends. They no longer want to read a good book . . . they just want somebody else to think for them, play for them, entertain them. Life is not a spectator sport, after all. People a few decades ago were more creative in their use of leisure - they gathered about the family piano, they played together, they talked together, they truly lived together.

What will you be doing for your holidays? Some will say, "I can't take a holiday, I'm too busy." Perhaps, but do not become so busy hat one day you have your holiday. in hospital, with loved ones anxiously hovering near the door leading to the cardiac unit. There is one account of the minister who was too busy ever to take a day off. He felt that was cheating God. When he relaxed his conscience mistakenly chided him. When he died prematurely had he not also cheated God by having burned out sooner than normal?

Summer vacation may include a trip, or may involve a holiday camping or at a cottage. Whatever form it takes, it should include something for every member of the family, so that each will enjoy the time, and benefit from it; so that no one in the family will be glad when the holiday is over. Again, creative use of time, and creative approach to travel, to hobbies, or whatever, are involved here. Parents need to think of their families needs in planning summer vacation activity, and should remember as well that each father, mother, and children, should benefit from summer holidays.

Proper use of leisure rests upon proper use of life. For one who finds no meaning or purpose in his work, leisure will likely involve an attempt to run away, only to find that the running is done on a treadmill. For one who is so busy that he cannot relax or unwind, leisure will likely be a frustrating pursuit of relaxation, only to find it eluding him at every approach. One who enjoys what he does, or at least, sees that it makes a useful contribution to the world of human affairs, will benefit from leisure. He will enjoy travel, or reading a book, or engaging in worship, or spending a week or two camping or at a cottage. He will return refreshed in mind and body.

What does you leisure time say about you?

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