Christ in the Carpenter's Workshop -- Simone Barberino -- circa 1600
There are a surprising number of paintings depicting the boy Jesus working away in the workshop of his earthly dad, Joseph. The Greek word translated into English as carpenter may simply mean "worker" but artists through the ages have enjoyed showing father and son addressing projects, almost as craftsperson and apprentice. In the painting above mother Mary is hanging out with them and Jesus appears to be leaning into a plane. Hold on, wouldn't that be dangerous? What about the slivers? He could have lost a finger!
As something of a follow-up to a recent blog about free-range education for kids in some settings and the importance of outdoor play I'll mention a fascinating CBC Radio The Current about risky play and creativity. It included a conversation with architect Alexandra Lange about "junk" playgrounds in Japan, areas where children scramble, climb, construct with minimal supervision. This is play "from scratch" which might include some scratches and even broken bones. Lange has written a book which addresses how "play got so small", if I recall her phrase correctly. Think of the 40-plus snow sliding hills in Toronto which have been closed this winter because of the supposed potential for harm. Maybe if the kids were bubble-wrapped...
A Junk Playground in Japan
I do think that it's because of our adventurous grandchildren who love puddles,climbing, making forts, and generally making their grandparents nervous -- in a good way -- that I'm on this track regarding the boy Jesus, and the adult as well.This Sunday is Transfiguration, and the story of Jesus climbing a mountain with some of his disciples to have a numinous experience. The following Sunday is the first of Lent where the gospel lesson reminds us that Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, foraging and fending for himself.
Did a childhood of risky, expansive play and work equip Jesus for what was to come? As someone who was regularly sent outside with my brother after school and told to show up in time for supper, I'm leaning that way.
I should add that now our adult kids express some concern (not a lot) when we head off into the woods or out in our kayaks because of our advanced age. It does make us chuckle. The circle of life.
from a commercial with elderly women sliding
2 comments:
Yes, looking at this from the perspective of a pattern of adventurousness -- Jesus broke a lot of rules throughout his life around what was conventional behaviour!
In your exapmle of Japan and the play, maybe encouraging kids to take responsibility for themselves is confidence building and leads to independence (as in the Danish style).
But you have to have public policy and societal consensus that will allow this. Parents here would nor necessarily have that support.
(Remember the Japanese series "Old Enough" with kindergarten age kids doing neighborhood errands for thei parents?) - KB
Well said, Kathy, including your first observation about Jesus. I've heard that Japanese children are also nudged into getting to school on their own at an early age, including taking the subway! You're so right that a key to this is publice policy and societal consensus. The Japanese model would probably be considered child neglect by a lot of parents here in Canada.
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