WYNN'S STORY

In 1970, when I was the mother of three preschoolers, John H. Westerhoff III wrote his book Values for Tomorrow’s Children, challenging the schooling/classroom model of Christian education. As I read it, I heard a deep yes in my heart. His subsequent writings, Will Our Children Have Faith? and Bringing Up Children in the Christian Faith, along with the work of Sofia Cavalletti, documented in 1973 in The Religious Potential of the Child, inspired me to create alternative Christian education experiences in the churches I served. Parker Palmer’s To Know As We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education, challenged standard educational practices and influenced me.

In 1995, I became involved with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a curriculum based on the pioneering work of Sofia Cavalletti. John Berryman introduced the curriculum Godly Play: Teaching Children the Christian Faith in 1991. Both Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Godly Play influenced my vision for working with children. In 2002, I discovered the work of Dr. Adriana van Kaam, cofounder of the Epiphany Association in Pittsburgh.

Another influential circumstance at this time in my life is being a grandmother. Four wide-eyed, active little boys share daily with me the gift of unconditional love, calling forth unconditional love from me. I can easily see God’s presence in their innocence, their zest for investigating every aspect of life, and their capacity for awe and wonder.

In the spring of 2002, at a time when I was overworked and feeling depleted, I promised myself that I would not take on one more project. Yet when the phone call came inviting me to lead a pilot group for Companions in Christ, a yes came from deep in my soul. Later, I came to see this response as God’s prompting.

Engaging with the Daily Exercises (thirty minutes per day of reflection and journaling) in Companions in Christ tilled the dry, crusty soil of my life, enabling me to be more receptive to God. The regular practice of spiritual disciplines helped me to slow down, listen to the yearnings in my heart, and become more open to God. As spiritual disciplines continue to ground my life in God, I am convinced that learning and experiencing these practices at a young age will help children increase “in wisdom … and in divine and human favor” (Luke 2:52).