“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke
I love getting to know children for the brilliant, present, and imaginative beings that they are. It is my belief that we have just as much to learn from them as we do to teach them. In the book Breakpoint and Beyond: Mastering the Future Today, by George Land and Beth Jarman, kindergarten-age children were tested for their divergent thought, or their ability to come up with many solutions to one problem or prompt. 98% of those young children scored “genius level”. However, at age ten, 32% of the same group scored as high, and by age fifteen, only 10% made the cut. When 200,000 adults were given the same test, only 2% tested at the genius level. The research suggests that allowing more time to foster and practice divergent thought might allow people to maintain a greater skill level of it. That means allowing imaginations to run wild, rather than being quick to give the “correct” answer.
In my mind, this translates to the importance of allowing ourselves to imagine and to play in our adult lives. As someone who finds fulfillment in my art practice, I was reflecting this morning on how important it is for me to grant myself creative blocks of time. When we spend 2-3 hours getting to a flow-state, it is said that the activity in our pre-frontal cortex slows down. We become fully present with our process instead of monitoring our time and progress. As someone who let my inner critic stifle my own process for a long time, it has been greatly beneficial for me to realize my own creative needs during the pandemic.
While practices like drawing and painting may not be for everyone, I do believe anyone can find an activity that will bring about a flow state, and with it, more possibilities. It may even temporarily loosen our grasp on some of the worry and sorrow that we are feeling. We are all unique, and some might even be surprised at what interests one “loses themselves” in doing. It might be knitting, weaving, walking, cooking, or any other activity that does not require a great deal of critical thought. Knowing that so many are experiencing pain and suffering, I pray that in the coming week, comfort and healing flow through you.
Please consider joining our private Facebook group: UUFM Children’s Faith Development
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/1404655806251029/). This group is intended for families and congregants who are involved in Children’s Faith Development. My approval of new members’ access to the information there is what makes the group a safe space for sharing. I will be sharing our weekly stories as Facebook videos on my personal page publicly and sharing them in the group, as well as short prayers and meditations.
Link to the stories:
Our virtual Stories for All Ages are now available on the UUFM YouTube Channel. At least one new story will be available by Sunday, each week.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNwWkbABO6HpDlw5Po2TdQA?view_as=subscriber
Youth Group: Our Youth Group meets again on Wednesday, February 3rd, from 6:30-8pm. We will begin exploring our monthly theme of Beloved Community and end with some games.
Virtual Children’s Chapel: Our next Children’s Chapel will be held on Sunday, February 14th at 11:30am. Our monthly theme this February is Beloved Community!
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Best regards,
Macey Forsyth