Will You Take the Invitation?

Antonine de Saint-Exupery said his book, The Little Prince, was an invitation, not
a lesson. I believe the invitation is to find your true self within the pages of this
remarkable book. Each of us believe we know ourselves better than anyone else. But I
fear the only thing we really know is superficial facts; dislikes, likes, wants and needs.
What this book invites us to do is search deeper and think and ponder and delve into
the recesses of our hearts to find out what we need, to make us really whole,
appreciative and caring individuals.

"The only things you learn are the things you tame,"
Taming is loving, and one can only love through time spent with someone. Truly
loving another person takes many moments of learning about them. When you tame a
wild animal, hours and hours are spent with the animal. During this time you are
learning more about each other and reinforcing each other. The fox feels developing a
friendship is a person's reward for spending quality time with someone and becoming
aware of details the acquaintance over looks. Looking beyond the face into the heart
can one only see through the taming process.

"All the stars will be wells with a rusty pulley. All the stars will pour out
water for me to drink...."  Saint-Exupery is inviting us to listen, really listen to all sounds that enter our
being. These sounds can be associated in such a way to bring comfort, happiness and
yes, sometimes sadness. But, the alternative is even more sad; having no associations
and therefore emptiness. So, when the pilot hears the creak of any rusty pulley,
thoughts of his friend come flooding forward. These thoughts quench his ache for a
friend he once knew; like water sustains us, so does friendships. Friendships made
only through the taming process.

Friendships are based on emotions through time. Can one see this friendship

develop? Maybe the answer to the question is yes, however what the two individuals
see in each other may be invisible to the naked eye. "One sees clearly only with the
heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." Saint-Exupery invites us to believe in
and hold on to the things that are invisible to the naked eye. These invisible traits are
the most important, or at least should be. The invisibility of the trait is it's appeal. but,
one can not enjoy it's appeal if one does not believe in it's existence. The fact that you
believe without seeing shows the amount of faith you allow to grow within. This faith
leads to long lasting friendships. However, this invisible faith can lead to more than
friendships, it can lead you to eternal happiness.

When one thinks of eternal happiness, God is at the center. God and everything
that surrounds this supreme being, is invisible to the eye and yet millions of people for
thousands of years have believed. The power of this kind of blind faith is miraculous.
Maybe Saint-Exupery is also inviting his readers to choose a religious faith knowing it
could lead to eternal happiness. The little prince could symbolize Jesus walking on
earth spreading the good news of love. The little prince, like jesus, saw only the good in
everyone and through his actions showed love, compassion and devotion. When the
time came for Jesus to leave earth, his human body was crucified. The little prince left
earth in a similarly agonizing way. And yet, both left those who loved them wiser and
more devoted than before they arrived.

What is Saint-Exupery's invitation? I believe the invitation is simple. Read, reread
and ponder. Whatever you discover within the pages will be yours and only yours to do
with what you wish. But maybe every now and then you might look up at the stars on a
clear summer night and laugh.