We're All Divine Inside

As I've read excerpts from Pope Francis' recent messages, I've thought of this story often lately.   Inspired by four year old Ella, who is now thirteen, its essence may be more important today than it was when I originally wrote it.  

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I have been a contestant in the Princess Game. No, I’ve not been secretly filming a new reality show.  Ella one of our favorite kids asked us over so we could play her new board game.

I, Snow White, lost repeatedly to Ella and Cinderella, who's also known as Uncle Jerry.

At the evening's end as Cinderella and I prepared to walk home, Ella asked me to come upstairs. At the top of the steps she whispered, “I want you to have my b.”  

Never had a runner up in a contest received such a special gift. Ella had many soft, silky blankets she called b’s but this was one of her first.  It was her favorite.

I may have lost the Princess Game but I floated down the street feeling like a queen, my prize the little worn blanket.

Regardless of the distressing events in the world that day, that night I slept peacefully with the b, symbolic of profound love and trust, at my side.  I was perfectly content b-ing despite my loosing that night.

The next morning, with coffee in one hand and the b in the other, I realized it was covered with pictures of children, children of many cultures. Each tan, brown, white and black baby floated on its own little cloud. Despite their racial differences, each cloud was the same and each child was content. None were looking around comparing to see who had the bigger or better cloud. Then I looked more closely and realized each child on Ella’s b had wings. Each child was an angel.

I wondered, ‘When do we change? When do we start competing and accumulating clouds, thinking one won’t suffice? When do we decide we need bigger and better wings? More importantly, when do we forget our wings altogether?’

 

It seems we slowly trade our wings for things. We buy the illusion that security can be purchased through the right schools, cars and zip codes while wearing the latest haircuts, clothing and styles. We’ve social security for our later years, security systems for our homes and Homeland Security for our country. Somehow we forget that real security is an inside job. 

If we remembered regardless of class, color or creed, that everyone is created in God’s image, hunger would be inexcusable and poverty unacceptable. Corporate, political and personal misuse of power would cease. People would be seen from the bottom of our hearts not for their impact on the bottom line. Differences would be embraced rather than used as the basis for wars.

 

All too often instead of thinking for ourselves and considering the complexities of life, we listen to sound bites, mental fast food, and follow leaders, who seem at times to want us to forget our wings. Labeled and separated into liberal/conservative, rich/poor, educated/ uneducated, black/white, we become vulnerable, more easily controlled and pitted against one another. Left unchecked our attitudes and stereotypes further separate us.

True security isn’t found in possessions or positions, looking like Cinderella or being born a Rockefeller. It doesn’t reside in winning board games or war games, contests or conquests. Nor is it found in turning over our minds to politicians and the media.

 

Real security comes from remembering that like the winged children on Ella’s blanket, we’re all divine inside. 

 Dawn! the Good News Muse, reposted 8 January 2014

dawn@imaginetheshift.com