When I was growing up, I was a voracious reader who adored books and trips to the library. I read almost every book in the children's section...and read my favorite books at least twice.
On one of my trips to the library, I checked out a book called The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I then read the story of an aviator who has crashed in the Sahara Desert, where he meets the title character of the book. The little prince is an insatiably curious child who leaves his home, Asteroid B6-12, and his beloved rose to visit many asteroids and planets before finally ending up on Earth. On his journey, he meets many people including the Vain Man, the King, the Businessman, and the Drunkard. The little prince also meets a fox, who says that the little prince must "tame him" before they can become friends.
At first, I hated that book.
I remember complaining to my mom that the book "didn't make any sense". She actually read it and explained the story to me, and I decided it wasn't such a horrible book after all.
But it wasn't until a few months ago, in preparation for the release of The Little Prince movie, that the themes of book struck me as applicable now more than ever before. When the little prince asks the fox the definition of "tame", the fox replies that it means "to create ties". He tells the prince how this may be accomplished - the little prince must be patient. He has to come and see the fox each day. At first, they cannot talk; they may only watch each other. But each day, the little prince can come a little closer until they become friends.
This line in particular caught my attention:
Today it is easy to find "friends" through school, work, social events, or the internet. But how many of these can truly be called friendships? You may know someone's favorite band or place to eat. You might even have gone out for coffee or taken a trip to a mall together. But do you really know them? Do you know their struggles, their insecurities, their joys, their quirks? Do you know their greatest fear? What about their goals? What about their dreams?
Before texting and instant messaging, the only ways of communication were face-to-face and perhaps a phone call. Today our technology has brought many people together - some of my best friends live in other states and I would not have met them had it not been for the internet. But technology has also separated many people. I once saw this photo (ironically shared on social media):
Perhaps young people today feel so alone and empty because they truly are alone and are empty. We've traded real relationships, which take time and effort, for superficial figures on a computer screen. Instead of having several good friends, we have hundreds or even thousands of "friends" on Facebook and "followers" on Twitter.
Perhaps it's time to rediscover the art of true friendship. Like the little prince, we must learn that to understand others and form meaningful bonds, we must first create ties. This is more than a simple acquaintance or a casual friendship. This requires diligence, effort, and responsibility.
You see, the prince eventually realizes that he has also formed ties with his beloved rose back on his home planet. Before he leaves earth, the fox teaches the prince one last truth: "You are responsible, for ever, for what you have tamed."
Perhaps we shy away from true friendships because we are afraid to be held accountable. Or maybe it seems too much to put the effort into becoming close to someone who will probably hurt us anyway.
Ultimately, we can only be truly fulfilled by having a relationship with God, who will never hurt us or let us down. But we were not made to be alone, either. For Christians, it is especially important that we be accountable to each other and truly love each other. And you can't love what you don't understand.
Perhaps, instead of trying to be friends with everybody, we should seek to create long-lasting relationships with a few. Perhaps, instead of going to a movie with a friend, we should have a meaningful and heartfelt conversation. Perhaps, instead of adding yet another friend on Facebook, we should rediscover the art of true friendship by "creating ties".
On one of my trips to the library, I checked out a book called The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I then read the story of an aviator who has crashed in the Sahara Desert, where he meets the title character of the book. The little prince is an insatiably curious child who leaves his home, Asteroid B6-12, and his beloved rose to visit many asteroids and planets before finally ending up on Earth. On his journey, he meets many people including the Vain Man, the King, the Businessman, and the Drunkard. The little prince also meets a fox, who says that the little prince must "tame him" before they can become friends.
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At first, I hated that book.
I remember complaining to my mom that the book "didn't make any sense". She actually read it and explained the story to me, and I decided it wasn't such a horrible book after all.
But it wasn't until a few months ago, in preparation for the release of The Little Prince movie, that the themes of book struck me as applicable now more than ever before. When the little prince asks the fox the definition of "tame", the fox replies that it means "to create ties". He tells the prince how this may be accomplished - the little prince must be patient. He has to come and see the fox each day. At first, they cannot talk; they may only watch each other. But each day, the little prince can come a little closer until they become friends.
This line in particular caught my attention:
"One only ever understand what one tames. People no longer have the time to understand anything. They buy everything ready-made from the shops. But there is no shop where friends can be bought, so people no longer have friends. If you want a friend, tame me!"
Before texting and instant messaging, the only ways of communication were face-to-face and perhaps a phone call. Today our technology has brought many people together - some of my best friends live in other states and I would not have met them had it not been for the internet. But technology has also separated many people. I once saw this photo (ironically shared on social media):
echnology brings us closer to those who are far away, but far away from those who are close
- Read more at: http://emilysquotes.com/technology-brings-us-closer-to-those-who-are-far-away-but-far-away-from/
- Read more at: http://emilysquotes.com/technology-brings-us-closer-to-those-who-are-far-away-but-far-away-from/
“Technology brings us closer to those who are far away, but far away from those who are close.”
- Read more at: http://emilysquotes.com/technology-brings-us-closer-to-those-who-are-far-away-but-far-away-from/
- Read more at: http://emilysquotes.com/technology-brings-us-closer-to-those-who-are-far-away-but-far-away-from/
“Technology brings us closer to those who are far away, but far away from those who are close.”
- Read more at: http://emilysquotes.com/technology-brings-us-closer-to-those-who-are-far-away-but-far-away-from/
- Read more at: http://emilysquotes.com/technology-brings-us-closer-to-those-who-are-far-away-but-far-away-from/
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| [source] |
Perhaps young people today feel so alone and empty because they truly are alone and are empty. We've traded real relationships, which take time and effort, for superficial figures on a computer screen. Instead of having several good friends, we have hundreds or even thousands of "friends" on Facebook and "followers" on Twitter.
Perhaps it's time to rediscover the art of true friendship. Like the little prince, we must learn that to understand others and form meaningful bonds, we must first create ties. This is more than a simple acquaintance or a casual friendship. This requires diligence, effort, and responsibility.
You see, the prince eventually realizes that he has also formed ties with his beloved rose back on his home planet. Before he leaves earth, the fox teaches the prince one last truth: "You are responsible, for ever, for what you have tamed."
Perhaps we shy away from true friendships because we are afraid to be held accountable. Or maybe it seems too much to put the effort into becoming close to someone who will probably hurt us anyway.
Ultimately, we can only be truly fulfilled by having a relationship with God, who will never hurt us or let us down. But we were not made to be alone, either. For Christians, it is especially important that we be accountable to each other and truly love each other. And you can't love what you don't understand.
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So timely! The kids and I are reading this very book right now (we just got to the mini-chapter where the prince arrives to Earth and still doesn't see anyone, just the snake), so I appreciate your thoughts!
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