Sacred space at school
    ~ Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

"The Quiet Garden sounded like soft music – violins, harps, flutes and pianos creating a soft melody. This melody touches the heart and soul, a melody that makes life bloom. The calming music shows emotions, not just in us, but in the plants also. When I step in the Quiet Garden I feel my faith grow. Jesus is right there waiting for us to go talk to him." - eleven year old Sydney.
 

Pause for reflection
Pausing quietly for any length of time is not usually associated with rambunctious children or adolescents but that is exactly what occurs at the Quiet Garden at Sacred Hearts School in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. About six years ago, the idea for a Quiet Garden came to one of the teachers at the school and in Kairos time in February of this year, the small school officially became affiliated with the Quiet Garden Movement. This just seemed the next logical step in the spiritual journey for the students, teachers, and parents. Any morning a visitor to the school will pause in wonder at seeing the students ages 6-14 gathered around the courtyard saying the Lord’s Prayer while doing the Prayer Posture.

Walking the sacred space
Students in Lahaina, Maui, two oceans from England praying with their minds, voices and bodies? Has the Revd Philip Roderick walked this way? In fact, that is exactly what occurred on two different occasions in 2001 and 2003. Father Phil, as he is known in Maui, was invited to share in the children’s spirituality and he spoke to three different groups of 11-14 year olds. For six years, the Prayer Posture is the way the students, teachers and some parents begin their morning even before attendance is taken. Soon after a labyrinth was painted on the basketball court and students and teachers can be found "walking the sacred path" any time of the school day. The labyrinth has proven marvellous as a path for calming conflict and soothing frustrations. In fact, it did not surprise the 8th grade teacher one day when she was frustrated with her students when one boy walked up to her and gently suggested, "Mrs Waldrop, I think you better go walk the labyrinth."

The idea to have an area of the campus be designated as the Quiet Garden followed the painting of the labyrinth. Students regularly sit in the grassy area to write, draw or contemplate. Surrounded by hanging heliconia, white and yellow hibiscus, pink ginger, blood red streaked croton, being witness to the mango blossoms turning into hard, small green mangoes to lush, heavy sunset-orange juicy fruit, hearing the rustle of palm fronds in the gentle breeze and picking a banana off a stalk simply offers a vibrant environment ripe for awareness of life. One can imagine the poems, writings, art and creative thoughts that come from even 15 minutes in the small area,

If the primary vision of the Quiet Garden Movement is "to initiate and resource an international network of local opportunities for silence, reflection and the appreciation of beauty; for learning about Christian life and spirituality; and for experiencing creativity and healing in the context of God’s love", then witnessing students in the Sacred Hearts School Quiet Garden shows that the vision is manifest on this small island thousands of miles away from Buckinghamshire. This is a cause for celebration. Aloha has no boundaries.

Mary Anna Waldrop