Dear Shell-shocked:
>>Frankly I've never bought into this "child's sense of wonder" stuff. As you note, practically everything is new and strange to children, and so they accept this state of affairs as being normal. They tend to be far less surprised by genuinely surprising events than do adults. An grown-up would be terrified if the proverbial pink elephant suddenly appeared before him; a child would probably take it in stride, unless the beast behaved threateningly.<<
I have heard of children who do not experience wonder, excitement or awe at the world -- but I always thought they were autistic!
As far as pink elephants are concerned, if one suddenly appeared it would be an objective reality meaning there would be an unknown science that underlie its appearance. Any child ( and good scientist, for that matter) would ask why and how, after getting over their initial surprise.
>>Can I "think back to the time when I thought anything could be accomplished and the only limitations on my person were those set by my own mind"? Certainly. I was a teenager. Teenagers think they're unappreciated geniuses capable of anything (if only their parents wouldn't interfere), and practically immortal. This, in fact, is why most people read Ayn Rand at that age.<<
This is the way people should approach the world all their life, but most teens, in trying to define their self, often end up eclipsing it or starting the process of burying it.
>>"Can I reconstruct the arrival of the cold, creeping fog of the irrational, moving inexorably toward me like a wraith that ever so slowly invaded my mind"? 'Fraid not. I can remember growing up, though, and realizing that not everyone shared my exalted view of myself, and that not everything was gonna work out the way I wanted it to. .<<
It is what society chooses to call "adulthood" -- actually it is giving up part of the self (one of the best parts) and meekly sticking one foot in the grave.
>>This state is anything but irrational: it's adulthood.<<
Yes, irrational adulthood. Setting artificial boundaries usually by buying into other people's opinions on your "limitations"!
>>My, though, Terry. We're getting pretty mystical with all this fog stuff. Wraiths and shapeless masses and vampires and all! Whatever would Ayn think!<<
I am describing the creeping malaise, the cancer of faith and mysticism.
I don't live my life by what others choose to think or not think about me -- not even Ayn Rand, if she were still alive.
Father Terrence |
