Turning Pages

     The old man sits beneath the Truth Tree and watches the young ones at play. They chase and race, hide and seek, jump and laugh. How joyful is their innocence! He notices a small boy sitting not far from the playing children. The boy makes no move to join in the games but the old man sees such longing in the boy's eyes.
     He rises and walks toward the young one. "My son," he says as he nears him, "why are you not playing? Are you not feeling well?"
     "I am well, Sir, but I cannot play their games," the boy answers sadly.
     "And why not? Have they not asked you to play?" the old man asks quietly. He recognizes the young one and knows of the childhood illness that has rendered his legs almost useless. That he survived at all was nothing less than a miracle. 
     "Yes, they ask but they are just being kind. They know I cannot really play," the child says.
     "My son, are you afraid they will laugh at you?" the old man asks as he sits next to him.
     "Yes, Sir, I am. I know I do not walk as others do," he admits to the old man.
      "I know it has been difficult for you and I know that some have been unkind. It hardly seems fair, does it?" the old man says. "But sometimes we must give others a chance to show compassion and understanding, my son."
     "I do not want to be treated like a... like a..." the boys cannot say the word he is thinking.
    "Like a cripple?"  The old man says the words for him. 
     The boy looks at his legs, bent and misshapen, and he nods, "Yes, Sir, like a cripple."
     "My son, this might be hard for you to understand just yet but if you wish others not to think of you in that way, then you must not believe it yourself. Most people you will meet in life will react to your own perceptions of self and treat you as such. They will not mean to be unkind but they will be uncertain, unsure, of what is expected from them. Remember there are those with struggles who demand pity. This causes much confusion and is unfair to all, especially those of you who embrace the yearning for normalcy," the old man says and waits for the boy's response.
     "Are you saying I should accept that there are things I cannot do well, Sir?" the boy asks.
     "Not quite, my son. What I am saying is that you must not let it define you. Do not dwell on things you cannot do. Instead, concentrate on those things you can and always give your best effort. Do not use your struggles as an excuse. Do not seek attention for them as a means to gain acceptance. As I said, your struggles do not define you. What you do because of them, and despite them, will. Your heart defines you, my son, as does your perseverance  and determination. Never think yourself less than others but nor should you think yourself more. Never forget who you are or where your spirit has brought you. The imperfections others see are not your flaws. They are the flaws of those who make misguided judgements. Give yourself the chance to be all you can be. Give others the chance to see your strength and to learn from you. Believe in yourself. Remember too that a book is not read by looking at the cover. The pages must be turned even if it is difficult to do so," the old man tells the boy. 
     The boy nods and says, "Sir, thank you. I will never forget your words."
     As though on cue, one of the playing children walks toward them and says to the boy, "We wish you would play with us. We know running and jumping are not easy for you but we could play our games differently so you can join us. Please come to share our playtime with us."
     The boy looks at the old man who nods and says, "It is time to turn those pages, my son."
     The old man watches as the boy struggles to rise, smiles when the other child offers his hand in friendship and assistance, and weeps when all the children greet the boy with genuine acceptance.  He believes he has never enjoyed a new book as much as he is enjoying this one. He feels the spirit of the Creator sit beside him and knows he is enjoying it as well.