Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves.

"The Lesson": Yes, my fretting, Frowning child, I could cross The room to you More easily. But Ive already Learned to walk, So I make you Come to me. Let go now There! You see? Oh, remember This simple lesson, Child, And when In later years You cry out With tight fists And tears Oh, help me, Godplease. Just listen And youll hear A silent voice: I would, child, I would. But its you, Not I, Who needs to try Godhood.

But I know that the despair that these young people ? and older people, too ? face is so huge, and the extreme response is suicide. Their self-destructive, self-loathing is so strong that they just can't live with themselves, and that is just untenable.

"The Lesson": Yes, my fretting, Frowning child, I could cross The room to you More easily. But I’ve already Learned to walk, So I make you Come to me. Let go now— There! You see? Oh, remember This simple lesson, Child, And when In later years You cry out With tight fists And tears— “Oh, help me, God—please.”— Just listen And you’ll hear A silent voice: I would, child, I would. But it’s you, Not I, Who needs to try Godhood.

"The Lesson":

Yes, my fretting,
Frowning child,
I could cross
The room to you
More easily.

But I’ve already
Learned to walk,
So I make you
Come to me.

Let go now—
There!
You see?

Oh, remember
This simple lesson,
Child,
And when
In later years
You cry out
With tight fists
And tears—
“Oh, help me,
God—please.”—
Just listen
And you’ll hear
A silent voice:

I would, child,
I would.
But it’s you,
Not I,
Who needs to try
Godhood.

I suggest that the representation of women deserves a much higher consideration in our religious discourse. When words are presented as if they come directly from God, they can have monumental impact on our psyches, our spirits, our hearts, and our relationships. Women are given, in story at least, first place in the lifeboats, but often in more common circumstances we are consigned to the back of the bus.