The Act of Thomas tells the story of a heavenly prince who agrees to descend to earth on a dangerous quest to retrieve a pearl from a deadly dragon. As the prince prepares to leave, his father, the king, pleads with him to remember his mission and resist distractions. His mother, the queen, takes his glorious, heavenly robe. She promises to keep it safe for his return and kisses him goodbye.
He transitions to earth and determines his strategy. He is so different from other people and becomes a little discouraged, so the prince decided to conform so he didn’t stand out quite as much. He finds a city near the dragon’s lair and adapts to the life of an ordinary citizen. Engrossed in maintaining his cover, the prince soon forgets his mission.
Seeing the prince’s dilemma, his parents begin strategizing. They write their son a beautiful letter reminding him not only of his mission, but of who is really is—a prince of heavenly parentage. They select a trusted messenger who begins the journey to redirect the prince’s mission.
After some searching, the messenger finds the prince and gains his trust. At an opportune time, the messenger delivers the letter to the prince. Overwhelmed, the prince reads and internalizes the letter’s contents. Memory stirs and he remembers his heritage and his mission.
With the help of his messenger friend, the prince strips off the conforming city garb and steps into his unique power. He goes to the dragon’s lair and, through stratagem, unsettles the dragon’s power, slays it, captures the pearl and returns triumphantly to the heavenly realm and to his parents’ joyful reception. His mother meets him with his heavenly robe and he regains his princely status. All ends well.
However, he jeopardized his journey by becoming distracted.
Distractions from Our True Natures and Our Missions
In “Why Do We Think We Have To Go It Alone?” I commented that
Satan not only seeks to isolate today’s women by whispering that we need to suffer in trials, weaknesses, and sorrows alone, but also drives wedges in relationships to keep us so distracted that we fail to enlarge our souls to see and respond to the needs of others. In that distraction, we also fail to recognize our own need for the Savior and others in our lives.
A friend asked me to extrapolate.
Just as the prince thought he’d accomplish his mission easier by fitting in with those around him, I see myself and others seeking the comfort of conformity. Instead of pursuing talents and spiritual gifts given me for my purpose, I find myself preoccupied with the tantalizing talents and gifts of others. I waste time craving others’ gifts instead of marching down my own path.
Sometimes, I am so focused on the fulfilling path and obvious purpose of someone else that I downplay the divinity and importance of my own path and purpose.
Sometimes, distraction comes in complacency in the journey. Sometimes it comes through obsession on one aspect of the journey to the neglect of others.
Distractions of Anxiety and Superiority
But the biggest distractions I encounter in myself and other women come in two camouflaged attributes of pride—anxiety and superiority. Anxiety compares worth (based on a personal judgment of others) and frets about not being enough, doing enough, performing well enough to measure “up” to some definition of success.
Conversely, superiority compares worth (based on a personal judgment of others) and concludes that others don’t measure up to your efforts, expectations, standards, and performances.
Clothed in anxiety or superiority, every traveler becomes so embroiled in judging self and others that the strait and narrow path becomes clouded with mists of darkness. Distraction reigns. Time and opportunity are wasted until a traveler “comes to himself” by meekly turning to the Lord.
With eyes fixed on the Lord, the Holy Ghost testifies of true identity and purpose. The dragon is identified and slain. The pearl is extracted. And the traveler returns to a divine home amidst shouts of victory to the waiting arms of heavenly parents.
Marianne Williamson defied distractions and invited all to do the same by embracing our talents, gifts, weaknesses, strengths, and personal journeys.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Each of our paths matter and have eternal significance. Let’s move forward without distractions or pettiness!
Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage…and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.
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