If you open the Bible and begin reading at the very first verse, you read these words: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1
And then, if you skip ahead, you read that God created light, the oceans, trees, plants, stars, birds, fish, animals and finally humans.
And we humans made huts, air-conditioned them, went inside, and stopped going outside to enjoy the majesty of what God created. Our huts are warm, cold, safe, protective, comfy. We get very very comfy in our huts, and so we don’t go out there where it might be too cold or too hot, or too windy or too still. We stay inside, wrap up in blankets, and sometimes we get stuck.
When we were younger, we didn’t stay inside. We used to disappear early in the morning and not return home until the street lights were on. Kids carried BB guns, we sat on our parent’s laps and steered the wheel of the car. We rode in the backs of pickup trucks, we waited in the car by ourselves while our parents were running errands. We went into the woods — sometimes with Dad’s hatchet. We built forts and we rode our bikes everywhere we went. We ran. We played baseball all afternoon. We spent all day outside. Our parents had no idea where we were.
Ah, those were the good ole’ days. And of course, now that we are older and wiser, we realize some of the things we did weren’t exactly safe. So, these days, we have a different view of child safety.
According to a 2022 study, of 5,000 American parents of children ages 5—13, split evenly by state, more than half of the parents surveyed are worried that their kids aren’t spending enough time playing outside.
According to the study, parents tell their kids to play outside on average 4 times a week. The top reason parents tell their children to go play outside included getting some fresh air (51%), taking a break from devices (47%), and exercising (42%).
35% of parents also said they encourage their children to play outside in order to positively impact their mental health — as well as have some quiet time for themselves.
The bottom line is this: Parents reported their child spend just five hours a week playing outside — less than an hour a day.
If you are wondering why parents don’t get their kids outside more, consider this situation.
A mother in Texas, who has three children was visited by the police and Child Protective Services one afternoon, because her 6-year-old was outside playing by himself. She told the authorities that he was safe— he knew the rules — not to go past the top of the hill where the stop sign is. But a seemingly well-intentioned neighbor brought him back home one day, then called CPS.
This is a difficult situation. Was the neighbor being over-involved? Are we happy about that neighbor’s actions, or not? Back when I was literally gone all day on my bike, coming home when the streetlights came on, no one cared if I was by myself. No one called CPS. No police or CPS official came to my parents’ door. This is a tough debate and I see both sides. And I understand the role that fear plays when parents keep their children inside.
There was a huge explosion of kids and parents spending time outside during the pandemic shut-down and for many months afterwards. Although playgrounds were often closed, kids played in their yards and driveways, often creating chalk art, and playing board games. When walking my dog, I frequently heard the beautiful sounds of children laughing and yelling, talking and playing.
I believe that most of the kids in our neighborhood learned to ride their bikes during the first year of the pandemic. And now? This past summer the sidewalks, porches and yards have been mostly vacant and silent.
Our parents weren’t just telling us to go outside and play because we were driving them nuts, on some level our parents knew the benefits of spending time outside — in nature, or in our driveway, in the woods, or on our porch. We blew off steam, we burned excess energy, we breathed the fresh air, and we slept really well because we were really tired.
Beyond the obvious health benefits of spending time outdoors, there are significant spiritual benefits as well. Maybe we don’t really know what we believe, or where we are on our spiritual journey. But if we step outside, our tired body might perk up, and our foggy brain might focus more clearly. We might hear our inner voice more clearly, and we may find ourselves connecting with God.
Being outside in God’s creation provides nourishment for our souls, and opens our spirit in a way that only nature can. When we are young, we climb trees to see the world better. We catch fireflies at night. When we are outside our senses are activated. We smell the fresh air, we feel the sunlight on our skin, we hear the sound of rustling leaves, snapping twigs, we see the beauty of the natural landscape, and all of that gives us a sense of joy and peace.
When we are outside we feel connected to the earth and to all living beings. We are humbled by seeing and feeling our place in the grand tapestry of life. Nature grounds us, and helps us put things into perspective, and we appreciate the simplicity and beauty all around us.
Spending time outside allows us to let go of distractions, to be fully present, and to reflect on our thoughts and emotions. We often find clarity and solutions to challenges that we are facing.
Nature is an endless source of inspiration and learning for us. Being outside rekindles a childlike sense of wonder and appreciation for the world’s wonders, reminding us that life is a beautiful journey to be embraced with open arms and an open heart.
Spending time outside with other people is also healing. Taking a walk with another person inspires conversation with new insights and perspective. When we are outside we talk about things differently, with more leisure, with a relaxed attention. Marcie and I recently spent several hours on a pontoon boat for two days with dear friends. We communicated in a much different manner than we do when we are indoors. We had more time, it seemed. We were more patient as we spoke. We bonded with each other in a much different way than when we socialize indoors.
And although our soul longs for fun and connection with other people, it also yearns for connection to our higher power. This sacred, personal relationship will experience a new level of connection outdoors. When we look up at the stars, we feel that upward pull, that moment of awe. It’s the same feeling we get when looking at the clear, blue sky and an early morning sunrise. I have talked in recent weeks about how feeling awe gives us humility. It helps us to put things into perspective. How small we are, really. How insignificant that problem actually is.
Buddha wrote: “If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand.” — Buddha
When we are connected to nature we get a spiritual understanding of things and a deeper comprehension of our own greatness as well as our smallness. We stand in front of the ocean or at the base of a tall tree, and we grow quiet. As we ponder in the silence, we get in touch with the bigger, better parts of who we are. We start to consider doing something different. Taking a bold step, or doing something new. When we are inside our huts…..our climate-controlled indoor space, we don’t think as broadly. We feel limited and structured. We limit our potential when we are inside. We need the expanse of outdoors to open up our thinking.
Nature has the ability to ground us in humility while also showing us the endless potential that exists within us. My friends, we need to make time to connect to nature. We need to appreciate its beauty and its expanse, and to connect to ourselves, our friends, and our higher power. So, please, for the love of God, go outside and play! Amen.
E.M.Forster has written:
“What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?” — E.M.Forster
Let’s vow to go outside and play at least for a little bit, every single day that we can.
Comments