Bicycle Thieves and the Victory of our Fragility

December 16, 2010 by Joseph Susanka

Continued from Page 1

A harsh and demanding struggle lies ahead, but Antonio no longer must face it alone; Bruno, now fully aware of his father's failings, is capable of loving him even more, thanks to that awareness. From this moment forward, Bruno will be there by his father's side: to encourage, to support, and to offer a comforting, helping hand when he falls.

The moment of ruinous revelation that draws inexorably closer to all parents from the day of their children's birth—that moment when their children finally realize that they, too, are human, and subject to the same failings and weaknesses as the rest of humanity—is a terrifying one to consider. But as Bicycle Thieves clearly shows, there is something to be won in that moment, even as childlike confidence and absolute, unquestioning trust are lost. For it is at that moment that the hierarchical relationship of parent to child can begin to transform into that which all parents truly desire with their children: a deep and abiding friendship. And that friendship, like any truly profound friendship, can only begin once each sees the other as they truly are.

Perhaps that's not such a terrifying thought after all.

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About Joseph Susanka

Joseph Susanka has been doing development work for institutions of Catholic higher education since his graduation from Thomas Aquinas College in 1999. He blogs at Crisis Magazine, where he also contributes feature articles on a variety of topics.

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