The Parable of the Kite

There once lived a girl, so faithful and true,
With so much potential, so much she could do.
Her favorite pastime was spent in the park-
Flying her kite, from dusk until dark.
Her father had built it, a bright, sturdy frame,
It seemed to hold up when the strong whirlwinds came.
It had a long tail, and what joy it could bring,
As it flew through the air, tightly held by the string.
Her father had warned her, to hold on quite tight,
The trial of the wind could put up a big fight.
This daughter grew restless, just watching it fly,
She wanted to see it see it soar deep in the sky.
One day she decided that it wasn't fair,
To punish the kite, and to hold back the air,
The kite deserved more than the same point of view,
if she just let it go, it could fly away too.
Because she was struggling-life was so hard,
She longed for the freedom to let down her guard.
Rules and commandments were causing such strife,
They just held her back, there was much more to life!
In just a brief instant, she cut off the string,
she took a deep breath as the air caught the wing.
It spiraled; it turned and quite soon she had found
Her precious kite mangled and crushed on the ground.
She then heard her father, his voice calm and true,
My child these commandments are given FOR you
to help you and guide you and keep you a flight,
Just as the string has preserved your invaluable kite.
I love you. I need you. Your precious to me.
If you keep my commandments, they help make you free!
Free to fly high, free from the sorrow,
Free to awake without guilt for tomorrow.
My daughter, please know that I'm sending my love,
I'll guide you; I'll hold you with strength from above.
As I hold your sting, I won't let you down,
I promise, in heaven, that you'll get your crown!
-Stacy Schofield Hair

At one point in my life I remember thinking the exact same thing. But I guess it was more "that seems like a lot of fun, I wish I could go and do that." But its really the same thing isn't it? it starts out that way, then we decide to try it once. Then we decide its okay every now and then. And soon our lives are spiraling out of control, like the kite in the poem. Think about it, at some point in all of are lives don't we think at least once, "I want to do that" or "all these commandments are keeping me from having fun".

I remember meeting a man who I was told used to be a very good christian. No smoking, no drinking, shared the love of christ with every one. He had a family and a son. When I hade met him he was divorced, homeless, addicted to alchohol, always drunk, and in and out of jail. I found it hard to believe he was anything different.

Yes, that is an extreme example, but it certainly shows the point of how our lives can spiral out of control if we stop following the commandments our father in heaven has given us

When you stop and think about how all the commandments bless our lives it puts a new meaning on the scripture in ST. John 8:32

"Ye shall know the truth,and the truth shall make you free."