The Little Prince

In his wonderful classic The Little Prince Antoine de Saint-Exubery grown ups are spoken of rather disparagingly. The narrator early in the story describes pictures he has drawn - number one and number two. They are of a boa constrictor which has swallowed an elephant. But the appearance of the first is like that of a hat. When the six year old asks grown ups if they find the picture scary they ask "what's scary about a hat?" So he must draw the second picture depicting the actual elephant inside the snake. His conclusion? "Grown ups never understand anything on their own, and it's a nuisance for children to have to keep explaining things over and over again."

Jesus lauds the wisdom and comprehension of children. In this Lent season a good practice might well be to try to see the world through the eyes of a child. To be returned to simplicity, to wonder, to belief, to acceptance. Once again we will have to slow our days down to a child's pace! Take time to plod, to stop, to retrace your steps, to look. And al the better if you can spend time with a real child to teach your real inner child the simple complexities of life.