The Wizard is ever present
Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing a production of the play, The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett as adapted by Jessica swale at the Little Lake Theater in Bethel Park, Pa. It was directed by Mary Meyer and features some amazing actors, several of whom are as young as 6th grade students as well as some who, shall we say, more mature.
While chatting with Jenny Malarkey, the children’s theater manager I remarked that:
I was, once again, reminded of another story allegedly written for young people, The Wizard of Oz. I have always appreciated the story for the Wizard’s poignant reminder that we have what we need to move on with/to a meaningful life. Dorothy has merely to click her heels to return to Kansas. Mr. Scarecrow has a brain. Mr. Lion has courage. Mr. Tin Man has a heart.
As children, we often seem to have an intuitive knowledge of what is important and true, unless, of course, our brain and/or soul is stolen by a medical condition such as mental illness, some other Illness or early acute trauma. Perhaps this is why wise teachers such as Jesus tells us that unless we become as little children we shall not be wise or see what some call ‘the Kingdom of God”. Of course, there are facts we need to learn whether that be that fire burns, the language of music and math can serve us well, the power of words, or how to use materials to create. Very young children seem to know who to trust, what makes sense or what constructs such as hate and the many ways we create the us and them games do not make sense.
It seems much of adulthood is unlearning the lies we have learned about ourselves and the world; the lies which keep us from celebrating our shared humanness.
Children need teachers who teach them certain scientific “facts” (as we currently understand them) while encouraging them to:
Thanks to all those such as the staff of the programs at Little Lake who create the stage for claiming our best and wisest selves.
Written October 1, 2018
Jimmy F. Pickett, Daily blog published on facebook (Jimmy Pickett) and the web site, coachpickett.org
Yesterday I had the pleasure of seeing a production of the play, The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett as adapted by Jessica swale at the Little Lake Theater in Bethel Park, Pa. It was directed by Mary Meyer and features some amazing actors, several of whom are as young as 6th grade students as well as some who, shall we say, more mature.
While chatting with Jenny Malarkey, the children’s theater manager I remarked that:
- The play was obviously well done as the many young children in the audience were very quiet throughout the performance.
- Both the adult and the youth characters in the play are reminded during the course of the play that they have what they need to heal and to pursue a life of meaning.
I was, once again, reminded of another story allegedly written for young people, The Wizard of Oz. I have always appreciated the story for the Wizard’s poignant reminder that we have what we need to move on with/to a meaningful life. Dorothy has merely to click her heels to return to Kansas. Mr. Scarecrow has a brain. Mr. Lion has courage. Mr. Tin Man has a heart.
As children, we often seem to have an intuitive knowledge of what is important and true, unless, of course, our brain and/or soul is stolen by a medical condition such as mental illness, some other Illness or early acute trauma. Perhaps this is why wise teachers such as Jesus tells us that unless we become as little children we shall not be wise or see what some call ‘the Kingdom of God”. Of course, there are facts we need to learn whether that be that fire burns, the language of music and math can serve us well, the power of words, or how to use materials to create. Very young children seem to know who to trust, what makes sense or what constructs such as hate and the many ways we create the us and them games do not make sense.
It seems much of adulthood is unlearning the lies we have learned about ourselves and the world; the lies which keep us from celebrating our shared humanness.
Children need teachers who teach them certain scientific “facts” (as we currently understand them) while encouraging them to:
- Break all the rules.
- Color/paint outside the lines.
- Explore the music of dissonant notes.
- Love all, but especially those who are labeled as unlovable.
- Pay attention to the negative space.
- Dance as if rooted to the center of the universe and attached to an enormous balloon.
- Always use the null hypothecs.
- Be attached to nothing – always stay open to challenges and amazing discoveries.
Thanks to all those such as the staff of the programs at Little Lake who create the stage for claiming our best and wisest selves.
Written October 1, 2018
Jimmy F. Pickett, Daily blog published on facebook (Jimmy Pickett) and the web site, coachpickett.org
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