My favourite childhood memory is spending summer days with my cousin and her grandmother. Since there was no television in the house we spent all our time out in the rear garden. It was the garden of a child’s dreams—filled with flowers, tall trees, plenty of dirt, and permission to do as we pleased. We usually chose to make mud pies: creations we were especially proud of. She and I filled old cake tins with mud mixed to just the right consistency, then we turned out the “pies” and decorated them with clover flowers and shiny pebbles. No one was checking her watch and we played until it was too dark to see.
I have not made any mud pies lately, but I still seek the outdoors with walks on public pathways and kite-flying with my children. The fresh air clears my head and I just feel better after a day outside. God has designed the earth to provide us with the food, water, and shelter we need to live. Could it be possible that spending time in his creation improves our physical and emotional health? Is it a coincidence that the timing of human improvements in technology is the same as the increase of incidence of obesity, heart disease, depression, and attention deficit disorder among other problems? Recent research indicates that it is a likely link. One might do a quick search on the internet or talk with his physician to confirm that our busy, technology-filled, and often sedentary lifestyles lead to a number of negative health issues.
No one is suggesting that a quick walk outside will cure all that ails you, but adopting a more healthy lifestyle won’t hurt. A good start could be walking to school or church when possible, taking your bicycle to the grocery store, or playing catch with the children instead of watching television. And let your children make mud pies.
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