Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 28, 1993 TAG: 9302260047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Raylyn Terrell
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
VALUES WORTH KEEPING SEEN IN PLAYGROUND
On a Saturday afternoon, I took a walk with my 16-month-old grandson, Joshua, and his mother, Kate. The sun shone with gently inviting warmth and the sky was blue - a welcome change from the gray, wet and icy atmosphere of the proceeding days.As we walked toward Caboose Park in Blacksburg, pushing Joshua's stroller up and down the several hills, we talked and delighted in the sunshiny blessing. Joshua was having a great time, pushing his body up, while seated, as if helping the stroller move along.
When we arrived at the park we joined what seemed to be at least 100 children, parents and grandparents in the wooden wonderland of the Hand-in-Hand playground. Here the dreams, plans and volunteer work of over 1,000 local residents had fashioned a uniquely inviting spot for family fun. I had taken pictures during the construction, and saw the loving care with which men and women, students, professors, soldiers, retirees, homemakers and writers, dug, sawed, hammered, pushed and pulled the playground into place.
While Joshua watched and played, I just observed. There are many cultures and nationalities represented in Blacksburg because of Virginia Tech, and they all appeared to be represented in the playground that day. Almost everyone present was smiling easily, relishing the enjoyment of the children, and some of the parents were playing too.
The ups and downs, ins and outs, over, around and under possibilities at Hand-in-Hand invite childlike exploration. There was such excitement in the faces of the explorers - some faces strongly lined with the marks of time.
One might ask, "how were such divergent people able to occupy a limited space so peacefully and happily?" The following factors are worthy of consideration:
\ 1. Family accountability: Mothers, fathers, grandparents were watching, guiding and correcting their own young ones.
\ 2. Family blessing: There is no human joy greater than contributing and seeing the happiness and achievement of the young ones - just ask any grandparent!
\ 3. Liberty and opportunity: Everyone was free to explore, or sit and observe.
\ 4. Defined areas of activity: There was a gentle discipline and appropriateness as parents of toddlers and small children gravitated to sand box, slide and swings.
I remember that recently a two-year study was completed during which Japanese and American researchers studied each others' public school system. The Americans found some things in the Japanese system they wanted to emulate.
The Japanese found nothing in the American system they wanted.
Why are the two so different? Why is the Japanese school system so superior? Do we remember that the public school system in Japan was set in place by the American occupation authorities following World War II and that it copied the school system of the United States at that time?
Let us consider these things once again, and return to the good and true way that worked so well. The people of Russia have learned this lesson and are desperately seeking the knowledge of God and his ways, and so must we, for America is in serious trouble.
Ah, but God is still merciful.
Before Joshua, Kate and I left Hand-in-Hand (the name itself is wonderful!) the impression I felt was so strong of God's love and concern for each and every person and family there, that I had to do some celebrating. So, this 60-year-old grandmother joined in: I went up and over, in and out, slid down to the ground, and bounced on a tire. WHEE!!
Raylyn Terrell, who lives in Blacksburg, is a writer who advocates "wholeness of spirit, soul and body on biblical principles."