― G.K. Chesterton
Even as young children, we are somewhat aware of the concept of there being evil in the world. One can have the most protective parents ever, but the child still cannot be fully kept from this understanding. It's on the news. It's talked about in classrooms. It's seen on the streets.
For many children, it's found in the homes. For some, these "dragons" are much bigger and more real than they are for other people.
Fairy tales do not teach our children that there is evil. Fairy tales provide children a belief that this evil can be vanquished, and we can live happily ever after. As we get older, we learn that these fairly tales aren't real. But we still try to hold onto the thought that there could be some truth to them. So we reach out - to school officials, government organizations intended to protect, church leaders, mentors. And one by one, those turn out to be even less realistic than the fairly tales.
Some people just keep seeking something to believe in - keep seeking a fairy tale. But some realize the fairy tale simply does not exist. And they can't face that reality.
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Seventeen years ago today, one young man came to that conclusion. One young man stopped believing. As children, and even preteen/teenagers, we developed our own fairy tale to try to keep the idea alive that good would overcome evil. Utilizing a toddler/preschooler toy, we invented the "Solar Stars" - a band of rebels who would overthrow the tyrants. We would be the heroes. We would have the fairy tale ending.
Just over eight years ago, yet another young man stopped believing in those fairy tales.
Two brothers. Two wonderful boys. Two boys who knew the existence of dragons, but stopped believing those dragons could be killed.
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I love you both. And I miss you dearly. I wish so much I could have done something to keep the fairy tale alive.
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