By Sister Agnes Coveney, OSU

Two weeks ago, I saw a photo with a three-year old boy hard at work, mowing the lawn with a play lawnmower. He is turned to face the photographer and it is as if he is saying: Can’t you see, I’m busy! I understand from early childhood experts, my Ursuline Sisters, that children’s play is learning. It’s probably true to say that for children most of their waking and dreaming life is all about learning.

Wouldn’t it be something if we grownups also oriented our daily selves largely over to learning from whatever comes along? What if we approached our experiences as totally new moments and even as play? It’s something I want to try for even as this requires humility and a beginner’s mind. Here is what Jesus had to say about being like a child.

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, ‘Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
—Matthew 18:1-4