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Buenas tardes hermanas y hermanos;

On the way to my church office I listened to a fascinating story on NPR. It centred around the sudden resurgence of the sport of hacky sack.. I use the word sport lightly. It is more of a pastime.  

If you can remember, a hacky sack is a small round bag usually filled with plastic pellets or sand, which is kicked into the air as part of a competitive game. It is not easy. It takes coordination and dexterity. 

Across college campuses in the 70's , it was not uncommon to see students standing in a circle trying to keep the hacky sack off the ground for as long as possible without the use of hands. It was and still is excellent exercise. 

The story on NPR spoke about how hacky sacks are literally flying off the shelves. One store has sold half a year's worth of hacky sacks in just two weeks. And restocking the supply will be very difficult. This story tells me that the world is rediscovering the joy of playing games. Of embracing our inner child. Think about how we used to engage in play time when we were younger. We would spend hours outside just having fun, allowing our imaginations to take us to lofty places. And yes, I can hear some of you reminding me that adult life is complicated and does not allow for play time anymore. Busy schedules, work, bills to be paid, etc etc. 

Adulthood is highly overrated. 

We make excuses for not engaging in play. 

And this is unfortunate. 

Play time engages all our senses. 

Fills our lungs with fresh air. 

Strengthens our muscles. 

Improves mental acuity.

The list goes on and on. 

I want you to think about the games you used to play as a child. 

The kind that did not need electricity or computer chips. 

The games we invented on the fly. 

Nowadays AI formulates games that rob us of our imagination and spontaneity. 

I see the resurgence of hacky sack as a sign of hope. 

That the human spirit is indomitable. 

As I have said on many occasions , creativity and spontaneity are inexorably connected to the Holy Spirit. 

The news is filled with terrible stories. We are definitely living in a broken world. But by engaging in play time , we can begin to heal this world which is still filled with beauty and promise. 

Those who seek to rob us of our joy will not succeed. 

So here is your homework. 

Write to me and tell me your joys of engaging in play. 

When we fully embrace our inner child, we come closer to the divine. 

Jesus said " Let the little children come to me."

When I walked into my office this morning, I glanced at the mantle and saw the paper airplane that I had made a couple of months ago. As a child I was obsessed with making the perfect airplane. A couple of minutes ago I went out into the hall and launched the airplane. It flew straight as an arrow all the way down the hall. Had I been able to see myself in a mirror at this exact moment, I would have seen my ten year old self jumping up and down with glee. 

I am going to call this airplane hope. 

For any of you in our little reflection group who are undergoing hard times, please remember that there is always hope. A hope for better times to come.  

Together we can make a difference in this world. 

Now go out and take on the rest of the day, fully embracing your inner child.

It's play time. 

 

Let us pray.  

Gracious and loving Creator, the source of all good desires, all right judgements, and all just works, give us that peace which the world cannot give, so that our minds may be fixed on doing your will, and that, freed from fear and anxiety, we may pass our time in rest and quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen 

Paz 

Que diosito me los colme de bendiciones hoy y siempre . 

Con mucho amor

Juan