From the Other Side of the Edge….
By Joe Facinoli

One Child’s “Perspective”, …so Simple, …so Pure, …so Profoundly Relevant

We fight all the battles, endure all the stresses, …but still, …too often we forget just why we do it.

We work so hard at it, …every day. And yet, ...too many times we miss the “what for?”.

Life, …in It’s purest form, …in It’s most joyous state, ….is supposed to be simple.

We eat, we sleep, we provide for our families and do for ourselves, and help others when they need it, …when we can.

But then why do we make It so hard, …so complicated, …so difficult?

A very dear friend recently sent me the best piece of writing I’ve received in quite some time, ….and maybe ever.

It was at once, …intricately simple, wonderfully pure and exactly to the point, …yet amazingly profound.

And it was only two sentences long.

Seems her grandson had received an assignment at school, to identify and compare the dreams of a very famous person, about whom they were studying, …with those of his own.

It was in January of this year, around the time of Martin Luther King’s birthday celebration and holiday.

His teacher had given all her students a printed sheet of paper, which asked them to make a connection with Dr. King, by way of explaining his legendary dream, and then telling what theirs might be.

There were two column headings on the page, with ample space under each of them, for the student’s responses.

On the left side, it read: “Martin Luther King’s Dream”. On the right: “My Dream”.

Taking all the politics out of it, and any “agenda” which cynics might be too quick to jump at, …it was a very basic task, and perhaps even properly thought provoking, for these young elementary school kids.

My friend’s grandson nailed the first part, knowing exactly what the great man had stood for, and showing some prescient depth of thinking on this highly involved, and complex subject, even for most adults.

He said that Dr. King’s dream: “….Was to have equal rights, and to not judge people by their skin.”

Bingo! Keep an eye on this kid, and let’s hope nothing (and no one) changes his purity of thought, and understanding of his fellow man.

Maybe, if we’re damn lucky, he’ll make a fine Congressman or Senator some day!

Perhaps one who will still vote his conscience, even then, and his heart, and will stand up for what’s right, and good, and possibly reshape those venerated, but unfortunately now so perverse and recalcitrant, “hallowed” halls under that otherwise bright and shiny dome, in downtown DC.

Sad, …that my bar is presently set so low, that even the smallest breath of fresh air and intelligence from a bright young child, …who states only what he feels is right, and so honestly, and so unafraid, …can so lift my spirits, and brighten my hopes for our future, beyond my current (read: bleak) expectations.

But he wasn’t done. And the best, for this ol’ cynic at least, was yet to come.

In the space allotted for him to write out and articulate his fondest and wildest dreams, and to let the world know what his plans were for himself, and for the future of his world, …he nailed it again.

Showing the same direct, utter, and sweet simplicity, with which he was able to define MLK’s dreams, he addressed, simply, his most obvious need, which would make his immediate surroundings, his environment, and thus his life, …so much more effective, a lot easier, and plainly, …better.

He showed a directness, a focus, and a clear understanding of things which make lives more enjoyable, less complicated, and even, …more independent.

I mean, …this kid could even be Presidential material, ….who knows ??!!

So, ….what did he say? What did he come right out with, and so openly and unashamedly, …given the chance?

His dream, so eloquently stated: 

“….Is to fix the hole in the fence, so balls won’t roll out.”

Oh. My. God. Thank you, my sweet child. Thank you soooo much.

I had forgotten why I work so hard, and wrestle with the world so fervently. Why I fight all the traffic, and put up with all the stupidity and selfishness of far too many.

It’s for the pure and simple things, which this marvelous world has to offer us.

For the roses to smell, and the sunsets to watch. For those tantalizing and fetching spring breezes, …the proud oak trees turning dark red in the fall, …and the first snow of winter, so gentle and quiet.

For a baby’s first step, and then their first day at school. For playing simple games with our kids, and teaching them to drive, …then crying at their graduations.

So that we can hike in the forests, and splash through pristine mountain streams, and rest on the cool moss, in the flawless shade.

Swim in the ocean, ride bikes on the boardwalk, and “rescue” too many broken shells, from the perfect sand.

For a cold beer, on a hot day. For a taste of good wine, with a good meal.

And for a child’s first word, and a grandmother’s last, loving breath.

We do it for ALL of these things, and for all of life’s other uncountable, immeasurable, pure and simple pleasures.

And NOT for the nonsense that today’s supposed “civilization” has brought us to, and has become. NOT for the endless and partisan, legislative gridlock and stagnation.

NOT for self-serving political correctness, and its accompanying petty judgments, and constant over-litigations and judicial interferences.

Nor for the over-regulation and intrusions of the “people’s” government, …nor for the self-serving “wordsmiths”, pundits, and teleprompter “professionals”, which we must daily endure.

And not at all, certainly, for the self-absorbed, “me first”, entitled society that too much of this once great nation, and elsewhere, have turned into.

No sir, …for none of that. Our boy has brought us back to where we should be.

Back to the basic, human needs, where inflated self-importance, and being famous for being famous, have no place.

To common sense, …where the idea of a balanced budget might just accommodate the “mending” of a fence or two, or plugging a few of the many holes, that are the needs of our country.

Back, indeed, to a society taking care of its truly needy and wanting, without mortgaging nor limiting, the rest of “….our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor”.

And to taking care of ourselves, and understanding our own problems and issues, and finding a way to solve them, without government assistance, ….nor worse, intervention.

There was a time, ….when all of that was the norm, and pridefully so. What happened to that, and just when did it go away?

Sometimes, the smartest approach, …the most honest, the most efficient, and the most rewarding way, ….is the simplest way.

Unfettered, unadorned, and unpretentious. Directly to the point, and to the root of the problem.

And sometimes, the “smartest person in the room”, is someone’s young grandson, who’s still in elementary school.

We should listen more often.

Joe Facinoli
--Joe can be reached at: joefacinoli@gmail.com
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© Copyright 2014, Joe Facinoli