Devotionals

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Recreational Spirituality

My neighbour down the street works hard all week at a regular job but on weekends he fuels up his quad (ATV) and heads for the hills for some recreation. The sound of that quad roaring by stirs fond memories of the good times that I experienced during my last career. As a Provincial Parks Ranger I spent a great deal of time out in Canada's parks, climbing mountains, setting cross-country ski trails or patrolling with my ATV. I am an outdoorsman, so for me, being able to escape the office and take my All Terrain Vehicle up into the hills as part of my workday was indeed a great blessing.

As I was contemplating the joy of those years, I began to realize how my experience as a professional outdoorsman was much like my faith in God. The many years that I was committed to my career and going to work everyday, I was free to enjoy the benefits. But as soon as I left my job and retired, the joy of the outdoors could only be enjoyed on the rare occasion that I went out to the forest for recreation.

Similarly, as I consistently walked close to the Lord and worked hard at being obedient to His Word (the Bible) I was free to experience and enjoy His richest blessings.

On occasion, however, I became so involved in the world around me that I only offered Jesus a little prayer at nighttime and a quick church service on Sunday. When my spirituality became simply "recreational" my relationship with Him became distant, and the daily filling of the Holy Spirit that I had been accustomed to, faded away.

Psalm 37 records some delightful promises of God. It is here that King David speaks of the benefits of our commitment to the living God, and states, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

I wonder if many of us are searching for the "desires of our hearts" in all the wrong places?

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