How Jim Henson Discovered Neverland

Today, September 24th, Jim Henson would have turned the grand old age of 70. Unfortunately, the world lost one of its greatest assets in 1990 before he could reach that milestone. Jim was only 54. Too young, I say.

When I think about Jim Henson, I wonder what we missed by having lost him so early. What stories had he not yet told us? What characters had we not yet met?

Of course, I don't get very far with this train of thought because my mind instantly turns back around to the characters he did give us.

There was Kermit. Shy, but determined, many saw Kermit as an extension of his creator. He was a dreamer, just like Jim, and was humble to boot. Again, just like Jim.

Some have said that Jim was a bit like the character of Rowlf, another Muppet brought to life by Jim's puppeteering and voice. Wise, low-key and a good listener who was happy to play melody in the background, those who worked with Jim always mentioned his ability to listen to those who worked with him and wasn't afraid to let them shine while he took a backseat.

According to those who knew Jim, you also saw a little bit of Jim in Ernie, the wacky, childish roommate of Bert. Never afraid to look foolish, Ernie was the one who chose to enjoy life instead of analyze it constantly. His take on life was full of wild-eyed wonder and amusement was found everywhere around him.

Then you have the Swedish Chef. Nutty and over-the-top, some philosopher would probably say that the Swedish Chef represented a Jungian, repressed side of Jim that he didn't let out too often. Or, more than likely, Jim was just like the rest of us, a big kid who liked to make up nonsensical languages and throw things across the room.

When you take a look at them side by side, some of Jim's most popular characters all had one thing in common: they all contained those childlike qualities that so many of us try to repress or hide as we grow older. The insecurity of Kermit. The blunt, unpretentious wisdom of Rowlf. The wide-eyed wonder of Ernie and the crazed playfulness of the Swedish Chef.

The reason that Jim's work touched so many of us is that he, unlike so many others, didn't discard his childlike qualities like an old, stained t-shirt, but instead, embraced them and put them out there for all the world to see.

Jim was once quoted as saying, "The most sophisticated people I know - inside they are all children." And I would add to that, the ones who make the biggest imprint on the world - the ones who leave the world a better place - are the ones who realized they never stopped being a child. Jim's work and the fact that it remains so powerful to this day is living proof of that.