Thoughts Along the Path . . .

Less then 5 minute ago I returned home after a jog around Ayr and went directly to my laptop to write this column for the Ayr News. Usually I go first to the kitchen for a snack and then take a shower, but rather than risk getting distracted by other matters I am here instead. In my home office, at my keyboard, wondering how to tell you what I saw and what it has me thinking about.

Midway through my run I saw several youth with their bicycles on the sidewalk, blocking the path for anyone else to use. I wondered if they would move their bikes to let me through or should I go onto the shoulder of the road. As I got closer, I noticed they were picking flowers and laying them down, mostly dandelions I think, I wasn’t quite sure about that. And then I saw something I never expected: a dead rabbit on the grass. These youth were laying flowers across the body of the dead rabbit. (And yes, they did move their bicycles.)

In today’s troubled world, with turmoil, unrest, warfare, and so much negativity, I felt happy to know that young people still care about rabbits, that they take a moment to show their love for animals by laying flowers across their bodies, that they aren’t too busy on their cell phones to even notice the rabbit in the first place. And they even took a moment to answer my question, “Do you know what happened to it?” And no, they did not.

I often walk or run around Ayr, and this wasn’t the first time I have seen young people being respectful, courteous, even reverent. A few years ago I wrote about some children moving their hocky game so I could pass. I see children helping their parents or older siblings with yard work or projects. I have had young girls compliment me on something I am wearing, and young people often guide their dogs out of the way of pedestrians.

Perhaps I’m just being sentimental about the rabbit incident, but that moment with its seemingly small act gave me a sense of optimism. Surely the future will be brighter with young people growing up and taking leadership roles. Their lives will have its twists and turns, with unknown challenges to solve or endure. But if they care about a dead rabbit and aren’t afraid to show they care, they can grow and mature into compassionate adults, too.

This line from a Baha’i prayer came to mind: “Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden.” Whenever I read or hear these words I think about how educating children extends far beyond whatever happens in school.

Famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had a similar idea when he wrote: "Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits." Plants need a variety of nutrients, water, sunlight, care. So do children. And, come to think of it, we are all children in the sense that we need guidance and nurturing, too.

As we plant our gardens this spring, as we look forward to enjoying the beauty of our surroundings and the opportunities we have to improve our world – I hope we will not forget to be like children who pause and show respect. Many people have concluded that civility as a social norm is in the past, especially within social media. And yet, if we disconnect from our devices and just look around us, a brighter future indeed seems possible.

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Submitted to Ayr News by Jaellayna Palmer May 2026