A Fable - Chapter 4

It took months for the king to recover from his injuries. During his recovery the queen was distracted from her normal activities with her son. In her place was a man considerably older and not nearly as attractive a countenance. His name was Tark Mees. But his years of life experiences had dressed him in patience, tolerance and humility. That was how he lived and what he taught.

Youth is impetuous and impatient. The prince was anxious to find answers to his questions. But anxious is the home of anxiety and what is quickly found is quickly forgotten. The old teacher taught the prince the power taking things in slowly, thoughtfully and thoroughly.

As the prince studied the teachings offered by the old man, he began to form questions of his own. One of the questions he asked nearly every day was, “Where is my mother?”  And the old man would answer, “She is managing the affairs of the kingdom. She will return when she is able. We have much to do during her absence. That is what you should be considering.”

Under the tutelage of the old man the prince grew taller and seemed to stand straighter. Each morning and each evening they would repeat the same words and physical exercises designed to help the prince reach the full potential of his capabilities. They would study the classic languages and letters, music, science and the spiritual teachings of Jesus, Buddha and other great teachers. But Tark Mees knew that the real growth of the prince had to be in the crucible of a public life.

Tark Mees went to the queen and asked her if she would allow him to take the prince into the kingdom anonymously as his own charge to face life on its own terms. He needed to take what he had learned in his safe environment and apply it in the theater of real life. He needed to face the world as he really was if he ever hoped to know true freedom. And, most importantly, he had to face the world as a free man who knew his strengths and weaknesses. He needed to deal with how he looked, how he behaved, what he knew and what he needed to know before he could ever find his voice and his direction.

The queen’s face showed the terrible fear in her heart when she heard the mentor ask the question. But, she knew it was the truth. With a heavy heart, but with a rock solid faith in the things her son had been taught and trust in the character she knew he had, the queen assented. She knew, if he were to be all that he could, his weaknesses as well as his promise had to stand the test of assault, unfairness, ignorance and prejudice before he could know the power of agreement and a following of like minded cohorts.

With the queens permission Tark Mees went back to the castle to tell the prince about their new adventure. He knew there would be fear but he believed there would be excitement as well.  What they were about to do was the essence of life itself. Is it not what we all do? We take what we have been taught along with the prejudice of our family of our superior qualities and potential and launch out into the world with what we have to see what we are. There we find those who agree and those who do not. What matters most, perhaps, is that we never stop learning, and the words that Tark Mees and the prince repeated each morning and each evening, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

 The Beginning

 ©Herb Ratliff, November 30, 2012, All Rights Reserved