The Spirit of a Child

During our CPE units each of us offer some sort of spiritual grounding activity or reflection at the start each class meeting. Because we all come from different spiritual worldviews and life experiences, it is always a fruitful way to enter into another’s spiritual tradition or spiritual orienting system. This day was no different. A student who uses her playfulness to engage others asked each of us to imagine ourselves once again as children. After leading us in a quiet meditation she asked us, “What did the spirit of the child in us long to have or be in this moment?” We each contributed two or three phrases that we sent to the leader by e-mail. Over the next week we received them back in the form of a poem. Below is the poem we created, albeit unknowingly, from our shared experience. Enjoy! And thank you Pamela!

Childlike Faith - By CPE Cohort #12

Play was my work.

Life was an adventure.

Finding peace as a little one in the woods.  

Finding the places to go.  

I want to feel like a child with a child’s innocent ways.

I want to feel like a child till the end of my days.

I need you to love me.

I need you to let go.

I need to play and be by the water.

I want to be safe and seen and known without feeling alone.

 We must maintain childlike faith in God.

 The higher up I went on the swing, the more exciting it became;

 I thought about how carefree I was.

 Stay engaged with my wonder at the deeply interdependent web of life.

 What an intricate marvel it is that my smallest every day actions can help others to thrive.