“The jostling of young minds against each other has this wonderful attribute that one can never foresee the spark, nor predict the flash. What will spring up in a moment? Nobody knows.” ̶ Victor Hugo
Defining Presence-of-Play
I recently heard that presence–of-play indicates a person is developing at an ideal rate. The concept was esoteric at first. I associate play with children and toys. But play can correspond to any age or situation. Play is using interaction as opportunity for creativity.
When I apply it to my own life, I understand. The times I engage in play are the times I am growing at a good rate of change, challenged neither too little, nor too much.
Childhood was a time of constant play, followed by the social blossoming of adolescence. I play when I fall in love. And I realize now that I learned to appreciate play during my first job, when my interactions were most at risk of becoming robotic.
Play encompasses all things, even, or especially, the mundane: sitting in class, treating patients, feeding the baby, doing the dishes, chatting with the cashier at checkout.
By nature, play requires another person. We were created in the image of a relational Creator, hence, we are made for relationships. This is why marriage and true friendship are beneficial.
The same podcast that posed the concept of play said that describing Eve as a ‘helper’ for Adam stems from poor translation of the original text. The word better means ‘beneficial adversary.’
Woman is created not only to support, but to sharpen. What a compliment!
We are meant to sharpen swords, and we do it through play. Sometimes it means being nurturing and comforting. Other times, confrontional and challenging.
When I tend toward being robotic – as I do in stress – my husband engages me in play. If I’m cooking dinner and reciting the tasks that (I think) need accomplished, he gently pulls me to the living room to dance. I do the same for him, in my own way.
The potential of fraternal jostling is infinite, but it requires willingness to challenge and be challenged. I encourage my husband to take risks. He shows me love and therefore teaches me to love.
The concept of growing through relational play echos through Scripture. Proverbs directly states, “as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the character of his friend” (27:17).
For students and future physicians, our careers rely on play. We wither when we treat patients robotically. Fortunately, the structure for play is built in.
By nature of the job, we hold intimate encounters with people seeking to be healed. I certainly fall short of being the beneficial adversary to others that I was created to be, but I get to practice daily, and that is a gift.
