Imagination
Lately I’ve been unpacking the acronym, SPIRIT to invite us to explore aspects of our environment that can nurture children’s spiritual lives.
For example,‘S’ is about space. What does the physical space teach children about who they are, who God is and how we value them in our community of faith?
‘P’ is about process. How can we teach children to value process over product?
This week’s ‘I’ word is imagination. Artist Pablo Picasso was known to have said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up.” The children among us challenge us all to be more imaginative. I’m reminded of the story of the little girl who was busy drawing a picture when her teacher approached to ask her what she was drawing.
“God,” the child replied.
“No one knows what God looks like,” the teacher commented.
“They will in a few minutes!” she exclaimed as she carefully finished her artwork.
I would love to have seen the child’s drawing, wouldn’t you?!
When we wonder what God is like, we often look at the life of Jesus. It is striking how he appealed to our imagination as he taught. For example, when questioned, he usually asked another question rather than giving an answer. Often he crafted parables to stretch our thinking about the Kingdom of God. Jerome Berryman, creator of Godly Play likes to say that “parables turn things inside out and upside down”. What if the Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed? What if the Kingdom is so valuable that like the merchant in search of the most valuable pearl, we trade everything we have for it? Indeed, Jesus cultivated our playful imagination in his teaching.
Maria Montessori, a famous educator and Christian taught that play IS a child’s work. And I would add that it is adults’ work to cultivate the imagination (and play) of children!
There are many ways we can protect, encourage and be inspired by a child’s imagination. In doing so we nurture their spiritual lives. Let’s allow our Godly Play practice (from both 10am chapel and 9am Sunday School) to suggest ways we can be with children beyond the classroom at church.
First we can “stay at their elbow” as they explore stories of scripture and questions of the meaning of life. This means we don’t run ahead of their questions and play, pulling them along to find an answer or draw a conclusion, or create a product we want. It also means we don’t lag behind them, unopen to what they may reveal to us about what God is like.
Second, rather than rushing to answer children’s questions and wonderings, we can choose to respond with, “Would you tell me more about your question?” or “I wonder about that too!”. Good news! We don’t have to be anxious about providing all the answers! We can model for them that questions, mystery and imagination are a part of faith.
Third, we can offer children beautiful art materials and quality toys, and outdoor time in nature to play as they feel led, trusting their process of play is their work and the way in which they make meaning.
Afterall, it takes mind stretching playfulness to consider who God is and to experience God in new ways. When we cultivate a child’s imagination and join them in play, together we become fertile ground for God’s love to grow.