Five Minute Friday: "Learn"

"Five Minute Friday". Third week for me! This week's word is "learn".

It's almost time for school to start back after a full and crazy summer. I work at an academy, so I'm more than just nominally interested in that fact.

The first day of school (and even after the 'new' wears off, hopefully!) brings streams of bright faces, eager to begin again the process of learning.
And yet, they have so much to teach me. To teach all the adults in their lives.

Children have a different outlook on life. They don't understand social rules or observe understood appropriate behavior. Sometimes in their enthusiasm, they squeal with delight in decidedly undignified style. They don't have any hesitation about scratching an itch in a hard-to-reach place, requiring awkward physical contortions. They are brutally honest. They are not uncomfortable with staring openly at something or someone that they find interesting. They hoard pretty rocks but think money is boring. They believe in the unbelievable. And they are slow to realize and observe stereotypes or 'differences' in others.

All of these things aren't always for the best (ha!) but the outlook of innocence behind so many of them is something adults would do well to learn from.

For example, I don't think I'll ever forget a story I heard about a question asked by a biological child in a white family with several adopted children (of various distinct nationalities). When the child found out several of his siblings were adopted, he asked, 'Which ones?'. There's also the story of a child who quickly befriended a handicapped individual that everyone else was too embarrassed to talk to.

The schools are filled with brilliant teachers showing off shiny degrees, when many of them would do well to learn from their pupils.
There is a reason that Jesus told His disciples that anyone who wishes to enter His Kingdom must have the heart and faith of a child.

Trissy pointed out a fact the other day that I'd never quite put into conscious thought, but that is, sadly, so very true:
"Children are so busy living life that they don't focus on their troubles. Adults are so focused on their troubles that they're too busy to live life."

Oh that we could all learn how to truly live!

{Note: It took me a little longer than five minutes :) .}