By Natasha Nikkel
My grandkids, ages 2 and 3, love going to the playground. While I’d be content to simply sit on the bench and watch them play, my granddaughter always beckons me from the top of the slide, insisting that I go down it with her. I can’t resist the invitation, so I often find myself in the middle of a gaggle of kids, working hard to shove my adult size body around obstacles and ladders that were clearly designed for a much smaller stature.
Each time, I inevitably find myself laughing – at how ridiculous I must look, at how the children around me don’t seem to mind my attempts at play, and mostly, at my own remembering: Oh yea, this is FUN!
My body moves in ways it hasn’t in years – swinging across monkey bars, crawling through tunnels, poking my head through obstacles. I watch my grandkids, as they bounce up from the end of a slide and then take off running for seemingly no reason at all.
They run because they have excited energy. They run with no destination in mind. They run because it just feels good – to move, to be outdoors, to make their heart pump faster.
Watching them, so trusting of their physical bodies, so free from care for how they appear or for whether or not they are “good” at whatever movement they are attempting, lures me into questioning.
When did I forget the deep pleasure of movement? How did that God-given joy slowly erode into self-consciousness, fear of judgement, or competition?
In this way, my grandchildren are constantly teaching me. Through their very being, they insert profound theological questions into my life. They are a mirror of God’s truth. It’s as if innately, they know deep in their being that they are created in the image of God and their bodies were fearfully and wonderfully made. Seeing them embrace the fullness of this and live it out with ease is a gentle whisper from God, reminding me that I too was made in God’s image, and I too, can find joy and connection in moving my body.
The incarnation tells us that God is a God of physical matter – a human body housed the divine Christ. The body is worthy of tenderness and care as the vessel through which we experience all of life; taste, touch, smell, expression. Children, especially the youngest, are naturally gifted at taking full advantage of this.
As you explore your own faith, consider what the children in your life might have to teach you. A day at the playground with little ones, a bike ride around the neighborhood with teenagers, or a dance party with elementary school kids…. However movement next takes shape in your family, watch closely the young ones. Notice their expressions, their sounds, and allow yourself to follow their lead, no matter how silly it may feel. The God of Joy and Incarnation may have something to tell you through a somersault, a giggle, or a run in the woods.
About Natasha Nikkel: Natasha, currently serving as the COO of Youthfront, wholeheartedly embraces the quest for the sacred amid life’s challenges. With a background in social psychology and a wealth of unique personal experiences, Natasha possesses a deep understanding of trauma and the transformative power of human connection. As a licensed foster parent, she and her husband adopted two children from the foster care system, ages 10 and 13 at the time. Beyond her role as a foster/adoptive parent, Natasha has served as a committed board member for multiple non-profit organizations in Kansas City. Guiding and mentoring start-up nonprofits holds a special place in her heart as she witnesses their journey from initial ideas-for-good to the tangible reality of becoming fully-fledged, formal organizations. She is especially passionate about organizations that work with youth from hard places.
