Too Grown-Up To Play?

In September, my church band took a road trip to West Virginia to play for a church's homecoming celebration. I'm always excited for trips and weekend getaways, especially because I would get to play keyboard and add a state to the list of places I hadn't visited yet.



The ride there was beautiful, filled with abundant hills and valleys. We played our music outside on a wooden stage, while the churchyard swarmed with people eating hot dogs, barbecue, potato salad, cupcakes, and other potluck assortments. Children played in inflatable bouncy trampolines and slides.

The day was bright and warm; I felt completely alive and light-hearted. I barely had any make-up on and longed for a shower from the long drive, but it didn't matter. I knew I would get to relax and clean up later when I would stay with a woman from the church named Tammy and her sweet, little eight-year old boy named Clay. So, in the meantime, I just forgot about my messy hair and traveling clothes and absorbed all the laughter and celebration.

I sat at the table eating my lunch and watching the kids running wild in the inflatables. Feeling giddy and free, I yearned to play right along with them. I inwardly admonished myself that crawling into inflatables and zipping down slides was not the "grown-up" thing to do. I was 32 years old, after all! I'm "supposed" to be mature, sophisticated, and always appear in control, correct? But then again, doesn't God intend for humans to experience joy and freedom....times we just let everything go and lose ourselves in the precious moments he gives us?

As I deliberated, I heard a small voice with an accent at my side, "Want to go down the slide with me?" I turned, and it was Clay, the little boy whose mother was offering her home to me that night. His face was red from running, and his hair was sweaty. He waited for my answer with a wide-eyed, eager grin on his face.One of our band members sitting right by me laughed and said, "Go for it, Misty!"

So I jumped up and followed him. Soon I was scrambling up the inflatable steps to the top of the slide, laughing as I flew down, chasing after Clay and his friend in a game of Tag. Hot and sweaty, I noticed glimpses from adults as I clambered around with the kids. But in that moment, I didn't worry about their quizzical glances. I climbed inside the big inflatable trampoline and, on my knees, bounced up and down with a group of youngsters.

To my right, two little girls dressed in pink quietly bounced.....up and down.....up and down. They stared curiously at me while continuing their jumping. Then the older one, about 4 years old, in a dark pink outfit, silently bounced towards me, just hopping closer and closer to me until she was right in front of me. Not saying a word, she reached up, put her arms around my neck, then bounced off. Right behind her, the smaller girl, dressed in light pink, mirrored her actions---she bounced and bounced right over to me, reached up to hug me, then bounced away.

My heart felt completely warm. I was glad I had chosen to bypass playing the role of a serious adult and had just played instead. Maybe being a wise adult would be my correct aim, one that knows the importance of sometimes just letting go and living life with the unrestrained joy of a child.