Embracing the child within: openness and freedom

Some of the most 'open' people you'll ever meet are children and people with special needs.  There is a sense of transparency and willingness to experience and do and learn that most of us lose, at least to some extent. Why is that? 





Part of the reason is that most of us build up defenses of cynicism and antagonism, to protect those parts of us which we feel to be vulnerable.  For some, unfortunately, this comes from experience.  For others it even might come from education, among other things.

What do we have to fear that we are building defenses against?  The first thing that comes to mind is being hurt.  If you open yourself to someone, there always seems to be the possibility that trust could be betrayed.  Unfortunately that can and has happened all too often.  On a deeper level, if we are open, vulnerable in that way, it means we also have to be open to change- change in our perspective, our thoughts and words and actions- the very way we live.  The word here might be "conversion" or metanoia, which simply means turning (usually from something) toward God.  In relation to God, and opening ourselves to Jesus, maybe we are also as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI suggests, "afraid He might take something away from us..." (cf. Weddell 157).  This is scary, it is dangerous and feels out of our control.

Yet, there is an amazing freedom in the lack of inhibition you will find so often in children and many people with special needs.  At our dinner dance, all we have to do is turn on the music and there is a full dance floor.  There are the ones who will wear just what they want- and they rock it!You may hear some uncomfortable- and sometimes funny truths and questions, and you WILL know what they are feeling (even if the 'why' takes a little bit of digging to uncover).

 



When you are dependent on others, you are vulnerable in a way many of us don't experience until we are older.  This takes trust.  When a person LIVES in vulnerability that way, I have also noticed a tendency to be more open, understanding and compassionate to others.  When you live your life (at times very acutely) aware of your own weaknesses, that awareness can translate into a quicker understanding of those of others.

I imagine this is at least part of the "child-like" spirit we are meant to embrace.  Sherry Weddell presents some great ways for us all to help foster openness (cf. p. 163):
-  practice non-judgmental truthfulness
-  ask thought-provoking questions
-  help connect the dots:
   in the person's own words as much as possible, help them see God's work in their lives
- ask God for help, or even a sign
- pray for openness
- pray, acknowledging openness