Innocence means welcoming the world with open eyes, open hands and an open heart. It means seeing with childlike eyes. Innocence makes it possible to experience life's good gifts each day as if for the first time. Innocence means starting new each morning, clean, fresh and pure–whole once again. Innocence means trusting and embracing even when it's risky and might lead to disappointment and hurt.

 Innocence means going to Disneyland with friends and thoroughly engaging–laughing, crying, wondering, playing, screaming (Space Mountain), believing.

Innocence means decorating for Christmas, and then, night after night, staring in awe at the lights of the tree, never tiring of the magic.

Innocence means making love wildly, gratefully, every time–pure, holy release.

Innocence means believing that the universe, though filled with horrible loss and nearly unbearable pain, will be, at the end, a place of love and beauty, inclusive of all.

I believe in innocence.

Text and image © 2010 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.