Finding that which we do not seek

“There is such a place as fairyland - but only children can find the way to it. And they do not know that it is fairyland until they have grown so old that they forget the way. One bitter day, when they seek it and cannot find it, they realize what they have lost; and that is the tragedy of life. On that day the gates of Eden are shut behind them and the age of gold is over. Henceforth they must dwell in the common light of common day. Only a few, who remain children at heart, can ever find that fair, lost path again; and blessed are they above mortals. They, and only they, can bring us tidings from that dear country where we once sojourned and from which we must evermore be exiles. The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and story-tellers; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl

In searching for a quote by L. M. Montgomery (which I never found) I came across this treasure trove of whimsy, wisdom, and wit: Great L. M. Montgomery quotes.  A whole trove of quotes (save the one I can't find at the moment) to lighten your heart and bring joy to your day.  She is definitely one of my favorite authors, and though I have not had the chance to read the work quoted above, I thought I would share it with you as it seems to be the heart of what this blog should be about.  How does one capture the wonder, the vision, the joy, the sorrow, the beauty, the fleeting glimpses of this thing which every soul knows (though perhaps does not remember) but no words can describe?  Every child seems to know the path until they lose their natal joy and wonder in the small things of life, when their imagination atrophies and the cares and distractions of the world ask their due.  We find it in books, poems, songs, sunsets, laughter and tears, and even movies and other modern media can sometimes capture a glimpse of lost Faerie.  We all claim to be adults or wise or mature or refined, but we all love a good story though we admit it not even to ourselves.  The universal language, I think, is not love but story.  The story of good versus evil, love against hate, joy even in sorrow, perseverance and courage in the face of doubt and darkness; the story of what it is to be human.  Story is life.