The Unknown...
So this past week in our new casa has seen my eldest playing a bit of explorer. There's the creek down the road and the pond back a ways, both of which have yielded a lot of adventure. Which is great, because that is what a boy needs: somewhere to create his own narrative, to be the hero, to overcome his fears, to explore the unknown, and to grow into the man he was made to be through those adventures. What changes between boyhood and manhood? Not a lot, I would venture to say. Except perhaps the unknown leaves us more afraid than it did before. Part of that might be the added responsibilities of family, home, and work. Knowing that our failure as we explore the unknown could leave those we care most about in a bad spot, is a large load to carry! However, I think the same unreasoning fear exists in men as does in boys: just like my son was afraid to grab the crawdad (who had apparently escaped his confinement and had made it to under the desk), I am afraid to let go of my n...