Understanding People

I was talking with my son the other day, and I realized that some of what I want him to know, to learn from me, isn't that easy to teach. An example is that there are legitimately people in the world who like to harm others for some benefit to themselves. Unfortunately, these people don’t wear signs (then again, neither do the people who make honest mistakes). One of the hardest jobs we have as we grow up is to learn how to discern between these two groups of people. Failure to do that puts us in jeopardy of deep relationships on the one hand and cynicism towards all on the other. I strive to guide him to learn and grow with as few battle scars as possible, knowing that shielding him completely - though my fatherly heart aches to do so - is neither realistic nor truly helpful. You have to take some licks to learn - that's life. And it is in that crucible of life that all of us are formed, so I realize the necessity but wrestle with the amplitude.