I attended a conference in October that focused on various aspects of clergy health and wellness. The national church offers these conferences to all priests vested in the Church Pension Fund once every ten years after they are ordained. The gatherings are one week long and are scheduled at different places in the nation throughout the year. Because clergy sign up according to what fits into their schedule, it’s rare that participants know one another when they arrive.
My conference took place in New Hampshire, and the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center. It was a gorgeous spot, and I was grateful for the opportunity to meet faithful and inspiring colleagues from many different dioceses in the Episcopal Church. The food, the faculty and the content shared were all excellent, too.
In the middle of the week one of the leaders asked us about our “play style.” She said that we all talk a lot about work, and rest, and physical health, but that adults often forget the art of play that was so formative during childhood. She gave us a link to an online quiz (www.lindsaybraman.com) and asked us to think about how we have fun—just for the sake of fun, with no expectations, agenda, or assumed outcome.
The quiz is a bit simplistic, but if you take it, you will get the general idea. It may also invite you to think about some activities that will feed your innate, God-given drive to recreate. As we move into this new calendar year there will be much that will pull our focus; much that will be serious and demanding of hard work. It might be wise to balance those imperatives with time dedicated to playful activity, for no reason other than sustenance and delight.
Happy 2025,
