Delight

I sometimes imagine what Adam must have experienced, opening his eyes for the very first time in the Garden of Eden.  This garden, this world, was his, a place made especially for him, with infinite care and thought.  It was beautiful, and ordered, and filled with light and color.  Everything that he might need or desire had been placed in the world, with perfect forethought and great wisdom.  He was free to explore, to experiment, to discover in this world of wonders laid out before him. . . .


Yesterday morning we went to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium that Turtle attends so that Rosebud could have her introductory interview.  She will be attending with Turtle starting next week.  For a year and half she has been waiting for the day that she was old enough to go to Atrium.  When Turtle started back in September, it became especially hard for her to be left behind.  We've talked alot about "when you are 3"  and she has waited and waited.

And so, the smile on her face as she walked into the Atrium was the happiest, brightest smile you could imagine.  With shining eyes, she shook the catechist's hand and her little face was simply glowing.  I watched her walking carefully around the Atrium, and I marveled at the quiet in my bouncy girl, the control clumsily, but gently, attempted.

And once again, I found myself amazed by the reaction of a child to this special place.  There is such delight!  Even Sunshine, toddling around a little in an out-of-the-way corner of the room with me, was delighted.  Smiling and chuckling she walked around, gently touching, pleased with everything she saw.  I was also reminded of one of the children in the classroom I assisted with before Turtle was born.  Hazen would often turn to me and say, joyfully, "Everything is my age!" 

The children are experiencing the joy of walking into a place made especially for them -- a "prepared environment."  The Atrium, or the Montessori classroom, is a place designed with the child in mind.  Maria Montessori said that "the first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult."  This "environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission." and it is one "which will enable him to develop freely."  This environment should be many things -- ordered, wise, respectful, filled with light and living things, art and color -- in a word, it should be beautiful.   She says, "It is almost possible to say that there is a mathematical relationship between the beauty of his surroundings and the activity of the child; he will make discoveries rather more voluntarily in a gracious setting than in an ugly one."

A space such as this says to the child: "You are important.  This beautiful, precious place is YOUR place, because you are beautiful and precious."  Such a space fosters profound respect for the world, for the gifts in it, for others, for oneself.   And it brings such delight and peace to their hearts -- I have seen it.

I wonder if it is true to say that nothing says that we are loved like such attention to our needs, our desires and our inclinations.  And isn't the knowledge that we are loved the root of all peace and joy?
So I am awed to think how it must have been for Adam at the dawn of the world, when he first knew with great delight, that he was loved.