Watch

This Passionate Volunteer Creates Magic

Creator:
Published:
December 12, 2023
August 30, 2021
Watch this park volunteer create magic for children by putting a fairy door in a local park and open another world for them.

One man, discovering his new destiny: Lynn Bradley is a craftsman on a quest to brighten the day for adventurers seeking a dose of magic. His woodwork enchants public parks by sparking a new imaginative world that brings smiles to faces young and old. "I think we've lost the connection between ourselves and God or nature," he says.

Video Transcript

Meet Lynn Bradley: park volunteer

Deep inside a northern Indiana forest dwelleth a tiny, mysterious door.

(Three little girls walk through mud in rain boots and stop at a small door in the bottom of a tree trunk)

Mortals leaveth handwrit notes in a quest to glance its magic.

(The little girls open the door and place a note inside)

Lynn Bradley: (talking to dog) Lexi, come on. Come here. Come on. We got to do the fire.

In 2013, I got an infection in my colon. And I was still working and the infection eventually led to me losing my colon. 

(Lynn places logs inside a fireplace in his garage)

So I decided to go ahead and retire. And in the process, I started to rehab by hiking. During that time, I just fell in love with the park down there, and I saw an opportunity to volunteer, making whatever they kinda needed. There's a lot of woodworking involved, and I love doing that. With people that lose their jobs unexpectedly, there's a lot of depression. And I won't lie, there was a lot of crying.

Krista Daniels: interpretive naturalist

Elkhart County Park, Elkhart, IN

Krista Daniels: We had a beloved staff member who passed away. Her name was Cathy Metzger. So this is what we call our Cathy's Little Library. (Krista shows off a small wooden library on a post) So Lynn donated many, many hours, blood, sweat, tears to put this in for someone that I don't even know if he met her. I'm not even sure if he ever met her, but he loved the story of her and her connection with the people. He has a giving heart, and so he was all on board when I asked him as one of my regular volunteers. And he said, "Absolutely yes," no hesitation. Well, he put in the fairy door here at the park as well, which has been a huge hit for years.

Lynn: Oh, let's see here. (reading notes that had been left inside the fairy door) "My only dream is that life is always an adventure. It may be messy, but that's okay." And that was by Emma. "Hope everyone that passes through can enjoy this park, peace and love, and have many blessings." "Mother's day, I got yelled at by a cross country skier for running on his trail. I should probably be spending time with my mother, not running." "A crisp, beautiful walk in the woods is exactly what I needed." I think we've lost the connection between ourselves and God or nature, and just taking a walk to get away from life in general and just doing it once, twice, three times a week will do miracles. This is probably one of my favorites and it's a quote by C.S. Lewis that somebody wrote. But it says, "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."

(fire crackling)

Help protect our parks.

Please do not modify the landscape at any park without guidance and consent from your local parks department.

One that I remember specifically was a guy that said, "We just had our first baby today, and I'm out and getting ready to go pick up my wife," Things like that, that are memorable, and it's like a little time capsule.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
December 12, 2023
August 30, 2021
On a related note...
Giving Hope to Children with Special Needs in Uganda

Giving Hope to Children with Special Needs in Uganda

Grotto

What I Miss About Slow-Motion Communication

What I Miss About Slow-Motion Communication

Brett Robinson

Show up With an Open Heart, and Just Stay

Show up With an Open Heart, and Just Stay

Elizabeth Abrams

Animal Shelter Volunteer Gives Insight | Little Ways: Give Time

Animal Shelter Volunteer Gives Insight | Little Ways: Give Time

Grotto

How Getting Out of My Comfort Zone Changed My Faith

How Getting Out of My Comfort Zone Changed My Faith

Josh Flynt

Our Tips for Making the Most of Thanksgiving

Our Tips for Making the Most of Thanksgiving

Grotto

Breaking Boundaries: The Exciting Future of VR Innovation

Breaking Boundaries: The Exciting Future of VR Innovation

Grotto

6 Ways Local Businesses Can Use Your Help Now

6 Ways Local Businesses Can Use Your Help Now

Carissa Pluta

What We Can All Do to End Domestic Violence

What We Can All Do to End Domestic Violence

Grotto

“The Stories My Kitchen Table Could Tell”

“The Stories My Kitchen Table Could Tell”

Erin Ramsey-Tooher

How Parenthood Awakened My Sense of Wonder

How Parenthood Awakened My Sense of Wonder

Erin Ramsey-Tooher

Christmas Gift Ideas for Every Love Language

Christmas Gift Ideas for Every Love Language

Kate Fowler

What It Takes to Be a Great Mentor

What It Takes to Be a Great Mentor

Grotto

Owning Their Own Future: Ownership is the New Black

Owning Their Own Future: Ownership is the New Black

Grotto

Learning from the Social-Distance Experts

Learning from the Social-Distance Experts

Grotto Shares

Need Some Good News? Watch These Videos

Need Some Good News? Watch These Videos

Grotto

Community Thrives at This Historically Black Catholic Parish

Community Thrives at This Historically Black Catholic Parish

Grotto

What It’s Really Like to Give Away a Kidney

What It’s Really Like to Give Away a Kidney

Josh Noem

The Complete Guide to Hosting a Dinner Party

The Complete Guide to Hosting a Dinner Party

Lauren Lawson

Playing Air Guitar to Make a Better World

Playing Air Guitar to Make a Better World

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.