The Most Important Lesson

“Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” -Oscar Wilde

It seems a bit odd that people look down on mistakes. With the exception of mistakes one makes over and over again, mistakes are the best teachers in the world. When some early caveman approached the first hot, glowing flames, and stuck is hand in it, he learned not to stick his hand in fire. I’m sure that when he returned to his cave and grunted his narrative to his brethren, some of them had to try it out for themselves. Convinced that this burning sensation must be wrong, I’m sure one or two of them kept touching it. (Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.)

Each little life lesson one acquires molds them into a different and—one would hope—better person. Unfortunately and paradoxically, some of the most important lessons are learned only after it’s too late: The lost love, the missed opportunity, ordering the chicken instead of the fish. Every so often some of these people are given a second chance to show what they’ve learned the first time around. They’re given the chance to put right what once went wrong…and hope each time that the next leap will be the leap home. (Oh boy!)

Having gone through a lifetime of important lessons, some are lucky to get to pass them onto the next generation. It’s an odd transition from student to teacher. (Ah, very wise, Grasshopper…) When a father sees himself in the eyes of his son, he can see all the missteps he’s made He wants to guide his son to avoid the pitfalls and perils he’s seen. Ultimately, though, he has to helplessly sit back and watch his son follow similar paths. His only hope is that his son his wise enough to learn the lessons he couldn’t before it’s too late.

The most important lesson(s):
Don’t tug on Superman’s cape.
Don’t spit into the wind.
Don’t pull off the mask of that old lone ranger.
And don’t mess around with Jim.