God's Playfulness (Celebrating Mardi Gras)

 

God’s Playfulness

        Have you ever thought there may be a playful side to God? As I watch some of the festivities for Mardi Gras, your playfulness and joy are delightful! I believe God is delighting in your joy, too. There is a lot of evidence in creation that God has a sense of humor! These are just a few of the insects that tell me so!

ADEGSM/Getty Images

                                   Shawn Thomas/Getty Images

Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday” in French) has become one of the most playful days of the Christian year. Lent has been and continues to be for some, 40 days of “giving up” something as way of reminding ourselves of our dependence on God. The day before Lent starts has become a day for extravagantly colorful playfulness. 

       God plays, too, with extravagant colors and combinations of creatures:

There is the sea, vast and wide, with its moving swarms past counting, living things great and small. The ships are moving there and the monsters you made to play with. (Ps 104:25-26, NABR)

        Children NEED to play to learn. But some of us feel that to please God as adults we must be serious all the time. Jesus says this:

²He called a child, whom he put among them, ³and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)

Humility is one of the keys to being like a little child, to relax enough to be silly, playful, open to delight as God has created us in His image and likeness.       “For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.” (Psalm 149:4) There is no room for pride in play and laughter! So let’s play and laugh to the glory of God!

Prayer Suggestion: Beloved Lord, you created us with delight and the gifts of playfulness and humor. May we cherish and enjoy these gifts, especially on this “Fat Tuesday” as we celebrate playfulness.  Amen.