Discovery

Have you ever wondered about the sense of wonder in a child?

Earlier this week, I had a chance to sit and watch as a very young child 'discovered' his very first birthday cake. Once the rituals of blowing out the candle and having the customary pictures taken were all complete, my little friend was allowed to taste the cake that had tempted him for the better part of the day.

On the outside, it was a work of art (created by mommy with lots of love) that looked very much like a dinosaur either ready to pounce in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the Dino welcoming Fred Flitstone back home after a long day's work. On the inside, there was the most exquisite chocolate cake, and from the look of things, baby's hands were making short work of mommy's artwork.

The texture of the cake was far more interesting than its taste, although the adults in the room made sure that he got just a bit of a taste so that he could say for all eternity that he had fulfilled that custom as well, even with his very first birthday cake.

Fighting the urge to sleep, he plowed onward, effectively demolishing the cake and leaving in his wake a pile that was somewhat reminiscent of a load of loam freshly delivered and awaiting the gardner's tools.

Some people are extremely blessed to retain this highly sensitive childlike curiosity throughout the better part of their lives. I sometimes think that these are indeed the most blessed.