How Power and Love Got Separated..
HOW POWER AND LOVE GOT SEPARATED
In the beginning of time it happened as follows:
Power and love were born as twins. Their mother’s name was wisdom, and courage was their father. The two children were inseparable, and wherever they appeared, they brought along life in fullness. Where there was fight or war, they could calm the people involved, bring about peace between the different groups and nations. Power and love distributed the goods of the earth in a just manner, making the poor rich and the rich happy. Whenever the twins found a place to be in any of the houses, everything changed for the better. In this way they were walking around the globe.
One day they met envy on their path. Envy was beautifully adorned and looked great. His clothes were shining in the afternoon sun, and his jewellery was glittering.
‘’I always see you walking behind love’’, envy said to power. You will never get anywhere if you continue like this! Come with me. You will be bigger and stronger. You will soon realise: People will kiss your hands and feet, they will try to please you by all means, they will even sell their own souls just to possess you.
Being dazzled, power thought about it for a short while. Then she said to love: listen, envy is right. Let us separate ourselves for the time being. If both of us go their own way, we can develop ourselves independently from the other. None of us is dependent on the other; nobody needs to take care of the other. I would like to learn all that envy can teach me. Maybe we will meet each other later.
Even before love could answer, power and envy had disappeared. Love could still see how envy allowed power to go first. Love stood powerlessly at the roadside and cried. Without her sister twin, love experienced herself as weak and without any strength. She felt that she could not live alone. Coming like a shadow, fear enclosed love with darkness, the fear to loose one’s path, to be hurt, not to be understood.
In the meantime power enjoyed her new freedom and independence. She never felt disturbed by her new companion envy, who always kept one step behind and gave power the preference. Power realised that she became bigger and bigger. With her appearance grew also her coldness. She enjoyed it that people were frightened of her or sacrificed everything to her to become her allies.
Power placed herself on a high throne and let herself be carried above the heads of people. She was pleased to be wildly acclaimed. Soon power had forgotten love. Power was surrounded by weapons and soldiers. She took away all peace and chased people from their home. Only those who sold their souls to her were allowed to stay close to her and feel safe. Envy always kept herself closely behind power.
Everything had changed in the world. Wars became more and more frenetic.
Love was too powerless to prevent it to happen. Many did not recognise her and mistook her to be egoism or weakness.
Love did no longer have the strength to put the bad back into place.
Greed and apathy grew everywhere and became more and more important.
Nature was threatened and plundered.
The world became cold and dark.
Humankind and animals began to feel the cold.
They got sick and died lonely.
At that point love decided to search power.
She set out on her way, although it was very far.
One day they met at a crossing. Power came along the way in a grand style.
Highly armed guards were standing behind and in front of her to protect her.
Power looked dark; she was wrapped in a thick, black coat. One could hardly see her face. The coat was covered all over with medals. To her left and her right side her titles were being carried to make people bow down to power.
With all her courage and her wisdom which love had inherited from her parents she stepped forward right in the middle of the road.
You do not look happy, said love and looked straight into the face of power.
Your eyes are dark. You used to shine and to be beautiful.
Get out of my way, said power, I do not know you! Do you remember how we walked together? Love asked. You had a light dress, you were dancing and jumping.
You could run with me to men and women, and everybody welcomed us with open arms.
We were peacemakers. All had everything in common. With me you were powerful without any weapons.
You did not need to protect yourself, and envy was not closely following you.
Let us walk again together. Send them all away.
I also need you, without you I am weak and powerless. Without you people do not believe me. They laugh at me, hurt and abuse me.
While love was speaking these and other words, power felt warmer and warmer.
Being also a child of courage and wisdom power slowly melted and became smaller and smaller until she was as big as love.
At that moment her heavy coat slipped off her shoulders and the medals broke on the floor. The guards fell down as if they were dead, and the titles flew away in the wind.
Hardly any time had passed; love and power were standing alone next to each other. They smiled at each other and then hugged each other.
Envy, who had been such a close companion, had disappeared and love was freed from the shadow of fear.
Since then both of them, love and power, walk together. They have become strong.
If you meet them one day, then call me that I can walk with you.
(Translated from German)
