Random Thoughts at 2AM

So, here's stuff:

I was thinking... I feel like we grow out of our knowledge of the purpose of life. If you think about it, kids often have a greater understanding of what's important than adults do. Take joy, for instance. How many adults have you met that seem to have never understood the concept? But kids find joy in even the smallest things. Take a trip to the store. You'll likely find grumpy adults jockeying for position in the checkout aisles, obsessing over what the next day brings, while a 4-year-old smiles in delight as he grabs a dirty penny from the ground, his new treasure. "Foolishness!" we adults would say. It's just a penny, right?
Wrong. Pennies bring children joy. Is that less substantial than when the latest contribution to an adult's 401k or when the Lions win the Super Bowl brings an adult joy? In then end, the "important" things of this life are really rather absurd in the Grand Scheme of things. The only things that last are eternal. So while we work during our wait for eternity, why not get excited over a penny? Jesus thought it made a pretty decent parable. (Sort of)

It's not just joy, though. Kids have an innocence that adults have far since left behind. I once sat through a VBS skit where a hypothetical child was said to be foolish for one of the things he thought. It disturbed me a little, because what was said to be foolishness was really innocence. And there's a large difference. That state of innocence, especially now, quickly disappears. Children are children for shorter amounts of time, and that saddens me.

Children also have an amazing ability to trust. They have yet to learn the harsh way of the world... but I would say their trust sets them apart. True trust is childlike trust. No reserves, no hesitation. Just trusting that Daddy will catch you after Uncle throws. And pure bliss in the middle of it all. I think this is what Jesus had in mind when He said that "No one will enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless he has the faith of a child." A paraphrase, of course. But true, nonetheless.

Lastly is a child's simplicity. They have such a grasp on the little things in life, like finding pennies. Flowers made of construction paper take on their own form of life in the eyes of a child. It is a child's simple nature that often puts a smile on our face and a tear in our eye. The belief that a hug and a smile can turn away all evil is such a beautiful thing, and can do wonders for someone at the edge of losing hope. Ironic, that is often a child that pulls from the cliffs over which we dangle.

All in all, I honestly think children have a better grasp on reality than adults do. We should listen to them sometimes. Because, along with everything else, children have the ability to tell the truth--what adults always think but rarely say. If you want an honest opinion... ask a child.