As I was riding along today on the light rail today, I saw a young man on a bicycle waiting for the train to cross the intersection. On his head he was wearing something that was a cross between the gas masks of World War II and a space helmet. It was a curious thing to see. It also sent shivers down my spine. What was he protecting himself from? There may have been a totally legitimate purpose for this head gear but it, frankly, gave me the creeps. My heart went out to this young man.

I have been thinking about all the young children headed to their first few days of school. I watched on Tuesday morning as the bus stop near our house filled up with the wiggling bodies of those who make up the tribe of children in our neighborhood. Backpacked and sporting new shoes, they stood in line. The older siblings watched over those who were headed off for their first school experience as the parents snapped pictures, filmed video. At one point they all posed on the step, sealed for posterity as forever-neighbor friends. I know this is true because I have nearly identical pictures of our now young adult sons standing beside their childhood friends on the first day of school.

As those children boarded the bus they were taking one step further away from their parents and one step closer to becoming grown up. It is an ancient cycle that goes on and on and we would really have it no other way. Yet there are fears that can grip parents as they send their precious ones into the world. Fears of the friends they might make, the behavior they might exhibit, the act that might get out of hand, the choices gone terribly wrong. Smaller, yet just as real, are fears of hurt feelings, tests failed,missed opportunities, toes stubbed.

Very few parents fear words that would encourage their child to be the best they can be. Not many parents I know would deny their child the opportunity to be told how great they are, how the future is open to them if they work hard, to take advantage of the education available to them, to fulfill the dreams they hold for their future. Isn't this what most parents do from the time their children are born?

The fact is these are the messages I would expect from the teachers that also started school these past weeks. These are the messages I would hope all children hear from neighbors, from family members, from friends.These are the messages I would hope all children would hear even, or perhaps especially, from their president.  Encouraging words, helpful words, words that allow children to know they are a part of something much bigger than themselves, that who they are and what they do makes a difference in the very fabric of the world.

Fear can be a very dangerous thing. It can cause us to ride around with all manner of protective gear. But words of encouragement, words of inspiration,words that instill confidence, should never be something we shield ourselves, or our children from. In the grand scheme of things, these are the words that will plant the seeds of promise and hope in the world.

And isn't that something we all need a little more of?