I wonder if all villages have angels, dreamers, dancing elves, moms, dads, babies, birds, and belly dancers? In 2002, the children at Wonder & Wisdom decided that Greensboro does. The first, second, third and fourth graders wrote Our Village Story and crafted a 3-D felted version of their village. It has been carefully kept in my office for twenty years. As I pass on precious possessions, the Greensboro Historical Society will provide a new and permanent home for “Our Village” in their children’s corner.
When I started Wonder & Wisdom in 1998, it was part of my dream that wherever children showed up in Greensboro, they would be treated with metta, a word which means “loving kindness” in Pali, a language closely related to Sanskrit. Both are ancient languages spoken in Northern India. I first learned about metta when I studied yoga, which is mentioned in ancient, sacred scriptures in Hinduism. I practiced metta more in-depth on Buddhist retreats, mostly led by Jews-by-birth. Wonder & Wisdom had its home at the Greensboro United Church of Christ. Metta is clearly an inclusive, community practice.
I learned a lot about metta from Jack Kornfield. I think of him often when I remind myself that the more open our hearts are, the more we need healthy boundaries. Shortly after the presidential inauguration in 2017, Jack told a large group of retreatants that we can hold compassion for anyone. He suggested offering compassion to difficult people from a distance. He noted that “Sometimes it’s helpful to do this from a great distance.” There was an audible squirm in the room.
I discovered that practicing metta from a distance can give me the courage to do the difficult. Looking back, it touched my heart deeply to visit incarcerated parents. Some of them were mothers and fathers of children at Wonder & Wisdom. It would have been easy to judge and shun them. Instead, we listened and asked them to write poetry to their kids. Practicing metta is a powerful way to hold sacred space.
Our culture of small sound bites does not encourage deep listening—to ourselves or to each other. I notice it is easier to reframe challenging situations in solitude and community when I am mindful enough to listen deeply. Generous listening is invitational, whether I am tending to my inner voice, sitting with a friend, working in a group, or even listening to the news.
The Wonder Kids wrote, “In our village everybody is allowed… We are a whole family. We are so cool.”
This May, the world needs more metta.
May Our Village continue to spark Graceful Mischief for The Common Good in children of all ages.