One.
Last week, my friend Phil commented on TREE 343 about play. He wrote that when everything got too serious, it seemed like “a decision to play was disrespectful towards the seriousness. But what I know in my heart is that without play my ability to find creative solutions disappears. I become dry and boring. My thinking is narrowed.”
Serious situations need people who have the courage to play with them. Otherwise, where will the creative solutions come from?
Important note: Though they sometimes overlap, playing is different from joking. If you’ve ever seen a little kid absorbed in creative play, you know that it can be very serious business.
Also last week, the family was talking about U2’s Achtung Baby. My oldest daughter said, I love the Jesus and Judas thing in “The End of the World”.
I had no idea that song was about Jesus and Judas because I’m terrible at listening to lyrics. I looked up the words and, sure enough, there was Bono messing around with one of the more serious parts in the bible. His willingness to play only makes the story more poignant, personal and redemptive.
Thank you, Phil and Freya!
Two.
Three.
Haven't seen you in quite a while
I was down the hold just passing time
Last time we met was a low-lit room
We were as close together as a bride and groom
We ate the food, we drank the wine
Everybody having a good time
Except you
You were talking about the end of the world
I took the money, I spiked your drink
You miss too much these days if you stop to think
You lead me on with those innocent eyes
You know I love the element of surprise
In the garden I was playing the tart
I kissed your lips and broke your heart
You
You were acting like it was the end of the world
Love × 12
In my dream I was drowning my sorrows
But my sorrows, they learned to swim
Surrounding me, going down on me
Spilling over the brim
Waves of regret and waves of joy
I reached out for the one I tried to destroy
You, you said you’d wait
’Til the end of the world
Grow slowly
Jeff
I was a gigantic U2 fan as a '90s teen and adored this song for the exact same reason your daughter pointed out (well, that, and Edge's banger of a riff). My heart bursts a bit with the poignant echo from the past... thanks for sharing, Jeff!!
Freya, right on! Playfulness can get you into trouble as Jeff alluded to. Sometimes those around me think I’m not taking something seriously enough. I’m really absorbing the seriousness and thinking of solutions in a happy state. But it’s perceived as not being affected to the degree they feel it. But I do, and I change my demeanor to convey my consideration of their concerns. To those of us who have too much fun as often as we can, here’s a caution. It’s possible to play too much. Anyone else feeling me out there?