Leisure in a Changing Society 🌟

Constructive Leisure Activities in Zambia 🎨

Here are some leisure activities that help individuals develop skills and talents, as well as earn a living:

• Playing the guitar 🎸: Helps discover and improve musical talent, which can lead to income.
• Playing tennis 🎾: Improves physical abilities and can provide financial opportunities through competitions.
• Reading novels 📚: Enhances grammar and language skills.
• Dancing 💃: Improves dancing skills, which can also lead to professional opportunities.
• Wood carving 🪵: Preserves cultural heritage and helps develop skills that can provide income.
• Learning a new language 🌐: Expands communication abilities and job opportunities.
• Forming a charitable or service organization 🤝: Provides community support and helps people use their time constructively.

Examples of Leisure Activities 🎉

Some of the leisure activities enjoyed today include:

• Reading 📖
• Listening to music 🎶
• Plaiting hair 💇‍♀️
• Playing the guitar 🎸
• Photographing 📸
• Conversation 💬
• Swimming 🏊‍♂️
• Watching TV 📺
• Game viewing 🦁

Problems with Too Much Leisure Time ⚠️

Having an abundance of leisure time can lead to issues such as:

• Boredom 😒: When individuals do not have money or ideas on how to spend their leisure time.
• Delinquency 🚫: Idle time may lead to negative behaviors like excessive drinking, misuse of money, or over-watching television.

Zambia has several natural resources that can be used during leisure time:

• Water 💧: People can enjoy swimming, viewing fish, and visiting waterfalls.
• Animals 🦓: Animal viewing (safaris) during leisure time is popular.
• Minerals 💎: Precious rocks near mines can be explored during relaxing activities.
• Sunshine ☀️: Especially appreciated by tourists from countries with less sunlight.

Ramadan and Muslims 🌙

Ramadan is the most important religious period for Muslims, observed during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims engage in charitable acts and feed the poor during this time. Fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset, and smoking or drinking is prohibited. After sunset, there is public entertainment 🎉, and shadows are watched as a form of relaxation. Ramadan commemorates the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Mohammed, and it ends with a feast celebrating Mohammed’s pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina.

Diwali and Hindus 🪔

Diwali is a Hindu festival celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. It is a joyful time where relatives exchange sweets 🍬 and set off fireworks 🎆, and small lamps are lit around homes.

The Festival of Cattle (Hindus) 🐄

Celebrates the harvest, where bulls, cows, and bullocks are honored. These animals are decorated with flowers 🌸 and bells 🔔, symbolizing good luck and respect for their importance in farming.

Traditional Leisure Activities 🏺

• Beer parties 🍻
• Singing and dancing 🎤
• Storytelling and proverbs by elders 📜
• Wood carving 🪵
• Hunting and fishing 🎣

Modern Leisure Activities 📺

• Going to discos 💃
• Watching video shows 🎥
• Visiting game parks 🦒
• Reading books 📚
• Listening to the radio 📻

Differences Between Traditional and Modern Leisure Activities ⚖️

• Cost: Traditional activities usually don't require money 💵, while modern activities often do.
• Nature vs. Technology: Traditional activities involve nature 🌳, while modern ones rely on modern equipment and technology 💻.
• Communal vs. Individual: Traditional leisure is communal 🤝, while modern leisure is often individualistic.
• Creativity: Traditional leisure encourages creativity 🎨, while modern activities can rely on others' creativity.
• Active vs. Passive Participation: Traditional leisure requires active involvement 🏃‍♂️, while modern leisure can involve passive participation.

• Music (Songs and Dances) 🎶: Rhythm reflects life force and our connection with others.
• Proverbs and Storytelling 📖: Express wisdom needed for living a good life.
• Sculpturing 🗿: Teaches values and preserves history.
• Beer Drinking 🍺: Celebrates community and life through communal gatherings.

Biblical and Stoic Views on Leisure 📜

Biblical View 📖

God created the world as something good for humans to enjoy. Leisure and enjoyment are important aspects of life, as seen in the feasts and celebrations of the Israelites. Jesus participated in joyful occasions, such as the wedding feast at Cana, where he turned water into wine 🍷.

Stoic View 🧘‍♂️

Stoics believed that the body is evil and should be punished. They refrained from any form of pleasure, including dancing 💃, tasty food 🍽️, and laughter 😂, to prevent weakening of the will.

Renunciation in Early Christianity 🙏

Renunciation involves giving up something for a higher purpose. Early monks renounced material comforts to increase their love of God, living in simplicity and poverty. However, the stoic view of renunciation, which involved suffering for the sake of suffering, was considered incorrect because it deprived people of things that were not sinful.

The Church’s Attitude Toward Traditional Leisure Activities ⛪

Wrong Attitude: Early missionaries condemned traditional Zambian activities, viewing them as sinful. Dances, songs, and beer drinking were especially criticized.

Correct Attitude: The church now promotes preserving Zambian culture, including songs 🎶, dances 💃, and traditions. It also encourages constructive leisure activities for the youth, such as forming youth groups (YSC, CLG) 👥.

Old Testament: Leisure’s Place in Life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) ⏳

This passage teaches that there is a time for everything in life: a time for joy 😊 and sorrow 😢, a time for work 💼 and rest 💤, a time for love ❤️ and hate. This balance between work and leisure is necessary for a fulfilling life.

Why We Need Both Work and Leisure: Life is made up of opposites, and both must be respected. Without leisure, a person may become tired and less productive. A balance between work and leisure allows people to connect with God and relax.

Sabbath Observance (Deuteronomy 5:12-15) 📅

The Sabbath is a day of rest and worship. No one, not even children 👶, slaves, or animals 🐾, should work on the Sabbath. It was instituted as a day for people to rest from their labors and focus on their relationship with God.

New Testament 📖

Sabbath for Worship, Rest, and Service (Mark 2:23-28) ⛪

Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for man’s benefit, not as a burden. On the Sabbath, we should focus on resting, worshipping, and helping others 🤲, not on rigidly following laws that make life harder.

Trust in God for Peace (Matthew 6:25-34) 🙏

Jesus teaches us not to worry about material needs like food 🍞 or clothing 👗 because God will provide for us. This total trust in God allows us to relax and enjoy leisure moments without unnecessary stress.

Heavenly Peace After the Second Coming (Revelation 21:1-4) 🌈

The ultimate peace and joy we seek in leisure will only be fully realized in heaven. In heaven, there will be no more pain, grief, or suffering, and we will live in the presence of God 🙌.