THERE BE MONSTERS

My son believes there are monsters downstairs in our house at night. He's never seen them, but like most kids he genuinely believes they are there somewhere. We like to think we all outgrow monsters when we get older, but we don't. We let them grow up with us and, fools that we are, we take them out into the world.

We no longer think they are just hiding under our beds. Instead we imagine them all around, in all the places we don't know and don't understand. They lurk behind all the doors we don't have the courage or capacity or desire to open. Too many of us default to suspicion and fear rather than trust and curiosity. We readily embrace conspiracy theories over common sense. We question the character and intent of those who disagree with us, rather than just questioning their viewpoint - let alone questioning what motivates us and our own beliefs. Yes, there are wicked people in the world who do wicked things for wicked reasons. But not nearly so many as we imagine. If only we could apply our imaginations to connect more-useful dots as quickly as we draw a line between "different" and "monster" with such ease.

My son believes there are monsters downstairs in our house at night. But unlike most of us grown-ups, he's wise enough to know that come the morning all he needs to do is run up the stairs into the light.