The playfulness of Jesus

If we look, we can see Jesus everywhere, in even the most simple things of life. Here's an example of that from John Eldredge's book "Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus" (pp. 190-191):

Last night I had a horrible night. I don't quite know how to describe it, but if I even use the word Gethsemane, I lose all by trying to establish a connection. Hours of evil attack, the fruit of which was, I couldn't find Jesus this morning. I felt as though he had abandoned me. Kneeling facedown in my office, worshipping, my face to the floor, I suddenly felt a presence next to me; something dropped by my ear. It was an old chewed-up toy. I looked and there was Oban, waking his tail. Wanna play? The playfulness of Jesus, cheering my heart through my dog. Oban laid down in front of me, and began to lick my hand. It was so merciful, so comforting; the comfort of Jesus.

Look around to see Jesus in your life today.

Pirate hat

Jesus is often playful. He probably has a better sense of humor than most of us. Consider this passage from p. 190 of John Eldredge's book "Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus":

My son was having a tough freshman year at college. So many students there are bound under the religious fog. It was a lonely fall, filled with misunderstanding. One afternoon, just after a classmate said something particularly hurtful to him, Blaine returned to his room and slumped into his bed, about as low as a young man can get. He looked over to his desk, and 'saw' Jesus sitting there, in his desk chair, a smile on his face. He was wearing a pirate hat. Then he disappeared. A whiff of the Emmaus road.

Now if Jesus appears to you in a pirate hat, how could you not feel better about your situation?