Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of Antifragile, argues that there are three kinds of things: fragile, resilient, and antifragile. A failure to rightly understand which category you should put something or someone, can result in unnecessary harm.
Fragile things easily break and cannot heal themselves. China teacups are a great example of fragility. Because of their fragile nature, fragile things need to be handled very gently and carefully.
Resilient or sturdy things can endure shocks. They don’t break, but they don’t improve through tough times. Plastic cups are a great example of this. You can give plastic cups to kids, not glass cups.
Antifragile things not only don’t break through difficult times, they actually improve. The stressors and challenges are a necessary part of growing. Because of this, antifragile things don’t have to be afraid of challenges, they can face them.
Many people, Taleb argues, only think about the first two categories for things. But the third category is important to keep in mind if you want to understand humanity, especially kids. Far from being “candle light” that needs protection from the wind, kids are more like a fire that is energized by the wind. In order to improve, we and they need pressures, challenges, and all the rest.
In a culture of growing “safetyism” and “fragility,” Taleb’s insight is important to keep in mind. With God’s help, we and our kids, not only can face the impossible, but we can grow through them, becoming more like Christ (Rom 8:28-29). Taleb’s book, although not a Christian book, is a fascinating look at realities that many Bible believing Christians are missing today. Let’s turn away from the “safetyism” that surrounds us and our kids, and face our challenges with faith, not fear, because we know that our God is “with us” (Ps. 23; Matt 28:18-20).
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