Weekly Meditation

Dad, I know there is one big world, but there are still seven continents, and one of them is Antarctica! -- 8 year old philosopher, Will.

Will’s father doesn’t know what brought on this piece of wisdom. They were hiking in the Colorado Rockies and he just blurted it out. To understand what Will is trying to tell us is not an easy task. Luis says that in order to understand the messages found in Jesus’s parables we have to work at it. I think it is the same with this Willism; and what is not important is my interpretation; but yours.

Will also went to an Apache reservation on his vacation and after seeing the poverty and living conditions of those few American Indians who remain said, “No wonder they were so mad at us.” So perhaps Will was thinking about how close we came to destroying a culture, a unique continent of life. Will is reminding us that we should not be trying to force all to be the same, but instead celebrate our differences.

I bet we all have an Antarctica in our life. Someone or group of people who are distant, cold and foreboding. They frighten us. Rather than turn away from them, Will says explore. If we do we will be fascinated and enriched with new understanding.

Or maybe Will just likes Antarctica. What do you think?