“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – The Little Prince

Jury duty was very brief but it gave a great insight into what is going on in life at the micro-community level.  I really enjoyed meeting people from all over San Francisco.  The case itself was a very sad situation and was reflective of the problems in society.  The guilty party was a person down on his luck who got caught.  I felt sympathetic to him but the fact was that he was just simply guilty.  The decision was quick and easy.

Explaining the trial to our children was an experience that all parents relish.  Teaching your children about right vs. wrong and how important it is to do the right thing.  When my daughter asked how we knew the person was wrong, my son reminder of the book, The Little Prince, where he says that your heart is what guides you to do the right thing.  Kids are so much like sponges as they pick up things so easily.

As my wife recovers we have taken this time to teach our children about the important lessons in life.  They are so receptive at this point and it helps that they have matured immensely over the last several months.  In discussing the Little Prince we asked them to name some things that are essential yet invisible in life.  Here is what they mentioned:

• Love
• Happiness
• Trust
• Faith
• Hope
• Friendship
• Health
• Honesty

 Yep, these are the essential things in life.  I do have to say though that they aren’t necessarily invisible as those who have all of them do have a certain glow and attractiveness about them.