A Boy and His King

This is the tale of two boys who grew up in the same village in the shadows of the same castle ruled by the same king.  The two boys had different mothers, different friends, and a different way of looking at their same king.

One bright summer day, the two boys met in the field between the castle and the village.  As boys typically do, they became fast friends and began running around sword fighting and dreaming of what it would be like to be a knight, and this is when their friendship almost fell apart.

Being a knight meant protecting the king and advancing his kingdom.  For one boy, Thadeus, this was no problem.  He loved the king.  For the other boy, Sheamus, this was a real problem because he could not stand the king.

So, as boys do, they began to have the mother-said conversation.

"My mother said he was mean and heartless."

"Mother told me he was generous and caring."

"My mother said he would kill you if you do anything wrong at all."

"Mother said he was gentle and gracious."

"My mother said he is never around when the village really needs him."

"Mother said that he is always here and wants nothing but the best for us."

Sheamus huffs and asks Thadeus, "Well, what do you know?"

"Well, Sheamus, I know the king.  I've met him in person.  He was really nice to me.  I've actually eaten at his table and slept in his castle.  He loves me like my mom and dad love me."

"You...you know the king?  How did you meet him?  Weren't you scared?"

Thadeus looked at the ground for a moment thinking how to answer this question.  He was a little scared, but not for the reasons Sheamus meant.  And scared really wasn't the right word.  He was in awe of the king because he was, after all, the king, and he knew kings held great power.  He wanted his new friend to know the king the way he did.  He didn't like that someone would think this wonderful man to be heartless and cruel.

Thadeus answered, "I was a little nervous because I wanted to please him.  My mom and dad had always said such wonderful things about him, and I wanted him to know how much we loved him, how much we appreciated all that he has done for us."

"Ok, but HOW did you get to go into his castle?  We are just small, poor peasants who mean nothing to him.  Why would he have people like us eat his wonderful food?"

"We asked.  He wants us to ask him to join him at his table.  He prepares food and drink enough for the whole village in the hopes that we will all come and eat with him.  And he doesn't look at us like peasants.  He told us that we are like sons and daughters to him and will inherit his kingdom.  All his riches are ours, too.  You just have to ask."

Sheamus was completely stumped.  This did not sound at all like the king his mother and father had told him about.  He wanted to know this king.  He wanted to be around this king.  He would gladly and proudly serve this king as a knight of the realm.  More than anything, he wanted his parents to hear this news.

Stories don't always have happy endings.  Sheamus' parents never did believe the stories he told them, but his heart was set on knowing the king the way Thadeus did.  He finally did, and it was better than he could have ever imagined.

Are we letting wrong perceptions of God keep others from His table?