A Child's Eyes

When's the last time you looked at a child's eyes? An odd question I know, but really think about it. What is it that's so different between the eyes of a 4 year old and a 44 year old? Is it simply age? No. I submit to you that it is the experience of being witness to so many horrible sights and injustices in the course of our lives. It is not that we are embittered, no, I guess you could just say we know better, but that wouldn't be true either. Is it that children are hidden from the horrors of the world? Maybe. But the fact is I have still seen dying children with a smile on their face and a glimmer in their eye. Surely you can not tell me that these children do not know of pain, suffering, and injustice. What is it that changes as we mature that causes us to fear, mistrust, and throw up our defenses? I'm not suggesting that all children have the eyes of hope, as is the case that some adults do still carry the torch of hope in their eyes. Indeed, some children have lived lives that bring upon far too much pain and hardship, but how is it that most children do carry this glint in their eyes, a spark of hope if you will? Even if the reason children hold our hopes is because they don't know of the terrors of the world, why is it when we learn about them do we automatically become the victim of a most arresting grip of fear? I realized this sad observation a few weeks ago and it truly is disheartening to me. I guess it's not just the terrors of the world, but the stresses brought on by the increasing responsibilities we are burdened with as we age. We lose our carefree nature and worry to the point where we can't even see the simplistic joys of life. Maybe that's it. The loss of the spark is our becoming blind to goodness altogether. It's such a rare and uplifting occurrence to see people who haven't lost their glimmer. Please don't lose yours. Remember that there's more to life than money, bills, quotas, standards, and the responsibilities others put upon you. Just also make sure that your responsibilities are met, like entertaining your inner child. I guess these might be interpreted as the ramblings of a stupid kid, that as I grow old I'll realize this isn't feasible, and that my theory is but the aspiration of a daydream. I say to them, "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." - John Lennon.