Go Out and Play

We went out for a ride and for a bite just before sunset. As we drove along the two-lane highway, we watched the irrigation system water the soybean crop. We also enjoyed our snack of fries, chicken nuggets, and pink lemonade. As we drove very slowly along the neighborhood streets, a cloud of mild sadness came over me. What I observed during that short drive, or perhaps I should say, what I did not see, will long be remembered. I remembered that it wasn't long ago that there were lots of kids playing outside and enjoying the 'out of doors'. It seemed so odd to me that not a single child did we see, and immediately it dawned on me. It must be the television and phones, the tik toc, the Instagram, the Facebook. It must be the homemade video productions. I suggested that it might be the 'virtual phenomenon', the social distancing, and that we have none to blame but COVID-19. Is it not the plague that took the play out of life and replaced it with pain? But on the other hand, it was clear to me that much of what I was seeing and feeling pre-dated the pandemic crisis. We have none to blame but ourselves. The words of an old song come to mind. "Day after day, I stay locked up in my room. I know to you that it might seem strange, but I wish it would rain". I tell you, on yesterday afternoon, it did seem strange that I saw no kids outside playing. So many things have changed in our world and our communities, and this might seem a 'small thing', but I never thought the day would come when I'd pray that kids would come out and play. 062122PS