As some of you know, Willem is the young grandson of Jan Hryniewicz, the minister at Union Church in Biddeford Pool, Maine. He is, to put it mildly, spiritually precocious, a Teacher in the clever body-disguise of a little boy. When Willem, speaks, it is generally worth a close listen.

The latest Willem story arrived in September, as Willem started school at a preschool for creative children in Philadelphia (where he lives with Mom, Dad and older sister, also wise, Dalia). The school is called "Any Kid Will Do," or AWKD. The Director of AWKD and teacher, George Barrick---a devout Buddhist, gifted educator, gentle spirit and gay black man---taught the children yoga, sign language and meditation, among many other things. Willem adored George, and George adored Willem. Tragically, George died in June of spinal cancer. He was 46.

Willem has dealt with George's death in many fascinating ways, according to Grandmother Jan. His first response to hearing of George's death was, "What about his school? They can't close his school! It has to stay open so more kids can go!" A week later, Willem was out walking with his Mom Niki and asked if he could bring along his bug catcher. When Niki agreed, Willem explained, "I want to catch a butterfly...so the next time something sad happens, I can let it go."

Later this summer, when Willem, Niki and Dalia were with Jan and her husband in Ocean Park for part of their vacation, Willem said, "I can see into the Spirit World...When I close my eyes, I can see George."

Niki started to speak to him, but Willem interrupted her immediately, "Shhhh, don't talk, Mommy. When you talk, he goes away."

May we all see with the eyes of a child, the eyes that can part the veils and let us glimpse eternity.