When I was a young child, bright sun reflecting on pavement hurt my eyes. And it seemed like that painful light was everywhere. I remember covering my eyes as I walked to kindergarten in La Crescenta from our apartment building. And I remember the dark tunnel on the playground that I hid in to avoid the harshness of that school yard.

 

It wasn’t long until our family moved to a town in southern Illinois, to a small, rundown house. I’m not sure that my parents were thrilled with it—we only lived there for a short time—but it was heaven to me!

 

There were tall trees, ivy, clover, and dandelions. There were frogs to chase, fireflies to catch, baby rabbits to rescue from the cat. And there was a small wooded area behind our yard to explore with the remains of an old building. It was overgrown and reduced to a broken foundation with random cement blocks and pieces of rebar. And the school had grass and trees!

 

Everything was green, and my eyes didn’t hurt anymore. It was a delightful breath of fresh air to five-year-old me!

 

I’m still a believer in the healing nature of natural spaces.

I’ve seen very troubled kids slow down, relax, and relate to others in positive ways during a week of camp in the mountains. Sticks, pinecones, stones, bugs, fallen leaves, tree stumps, weeds: these are all tools for children’s work of imagination, discovery, and creativity.

 

Research shows over and over again how important time in nature is for children’s (and everyone’s) physical, emotional, and intellectual development. And it is important for spiritual development as well.

 

My earliest memory of connecting with God happened while playing alone in a sandbox. Belden Lane, Professor Emeritus of Theological Studies at St. Louis University, has written a number of books on spiritual growth and development through time in nature. The Solace of Fierce Landscapes is a favorite of mine. Check it out!

The playground renewal project

The refreshing time of rest from my own childhood, along with the proven power of time in natural spaces, is why I am excited about the playground renewal project that is currently in progress at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church.

 

Two years ago, we started with a mural painted by our kids during Camp Joy. This past summer, the kids added another mural on a different wall in the playground area. And now over 90 households in the church have contributed to the renewal plan. This has allowed us to move ahead with new landscaping and construction to create a refreshing and engaging outdoor space for our kids.

 

Our climate doesn’t allow for fireflies and frogs. But we are hoping our new butterfly garden will attract Monarch butterflies, and we already have a bumper crop of lizards in the area! We are building a new wooden play structure and a shaded storytelling area. We are trying for some blackberries and strawberries, but our friendly neighborhood rabbits have already eaten the first strawberry plant!

 

Our new orange and tangerine trees should have a better chance to survive. A mud kitchen and picnic table are on the way to add to our growing outdoor environment. Our kids are already planning the vegetables they want to grow in the new raised garden beds to share with the people who come to the community meal on Thursday nights. And our third grade Sunday School class is planning to build a bamboo music wall for everyone to enjoy.

 

As soon as the grass has had time to get established, you are welcome to come and enjoy the space. And let me know when you have logs, milkweed plants, vegetable seedlings, earthworms, or other exciting nature items to contribute!