“I remember you”, “I remember you too”, the children and I shared with each other.  “I used to work at the school, but now I work here at this wonderful labyrinth garden.”

I tried to keep my description short for the energetic group of school children visiting the labyrinth garden on Monday.  “Ok, everyone, your teacher told me that you are studying Greece right now.  One of the first labyrinths discovered was in Greece, which is part of the reason you are here at the labyrinth today.  As you walk the pathway, I have placed some images out there for you to discover on your labyrinth walk scavenger hunt.  When you see the images, you will learn some of the reasons that folks way back when created and used labyrinths. This is one of the oldest labyrinth designs known, a classic seven-circuit labyrinth, and its first development was on the Isle of Crete, which is part of Greece. Have you talked about labyrinths yet in class? “

“I can’t eat flowers”; “Are the images on the pathway or off to the side”; “Can we run in the labyrinth”; question after question came to me as the children listened respectfully but also wanted to share their thoughts.  I answered each question with patience and finally said “Ok, only two more questions, then you guys can go walk”.

The student’s teacher stated, “I want you guys to walk the labyrinth this time, then after snack if we still have time you can run the labyrinth”.  After the okay to stand-up from the locally-crafted large picnic table, the children took off.  They children ran to the pathway and stopped at the entrance.  Many of them began walking, quickly walking, then skipping, and then some began to run.

“A lot of children who come here like to run when they get in the labyrinth.  It’s ok to me as long as you’re careful so you don’t fall and get hurt”, I’d said only a few short minutes earlier.  I knew the deal.  Time and time again, I’ve seen children skip and run and laugh in the labyrinth.

What a sweet moment in time to see happiness in its purest form, from a school group of young children, two teachers and a mom.