This weekend I spent a lot of time outdoors playing games with people that I enjoy being around. And it was so much fun! I learned two new games that I've played similar versions of before, sort of -- scrum and fugitive. Fugitive is similar to manhunt, where two people have to travel a distance within 30 minutes, and they have a 5 minute head start on foot before other people start to hunt them down in cars. As a first-time fugitive, I thought the sprinting was pretty grueling since I'm not a sprinter, but in general the sneaking and running around was great. But as much fun as it was, it couldn't even touch scrum. It's like free-for-all rugby. What an awesome release! It was very empowering, since I didn't get completely pummelled by the guys, despite cutting my face open within the first minute of the game.
I've always loved playings outside (as in capture the flag, keep away, and so on), but I never realized just how much I relish it. It was something of a revelation, I suppose. Silly and simple, maybe, but I learned something about myself. When I feel down and the urge to get outside and take a hike hits me, I should try to listen to and follow that desire. I so often don't because of the time and the effort, and the fact that I always feel like there are a thousand other little things to take care of instead. But I never do those little things anyway, because I'm languishing inside myself. When I do get myself out there, however, all the little stuff seems easier to take care of. Not only that, but getting outside and exerting myself also somehow brings me a little closer to God, which is always wonderful. It all makes me wonder if I shouldn't expand my job search to include gym teacher positions. Then again, I do have something of a bad history when it comes to combining high-energy games and small children....
