Pinocchio’s Prize: The Velveteen Equation (Part 2)

“How long should you try? Until.” Jim Rohn

We all have dreams. Some of us seem to have to work so much harder and longer than others to reach our goals, however. Consider, if you will, Pinocchio. Incomplete, or so he thought, he was loved, cherished, and cared for by a kind old man who wanted a son. Pinocchio had much that many would covet; but he wanted more.

Its funny, I’m sure, when we hear about some people and their dreams and then watch the choices they make. Some people want to be debt-free, but continue to make poor financial decisions. Some people long to be married, but make themselves so unpleasant that it would be unlikely for anyone to want to be their friend, let alone their spouse for a lifetime. On and on it goes with the human race. We are so ridiculously foolish sometimes, it seems that it would take nothing short of an act of God to turn us around and get us going on the right path again.

But wait, who is this little fellow tagging along wherever Pinocchio goes? We could all use a tangible Jimminy Cricket sometimes. Like Pinocchio, we often get distracted along the way by things that seem easier, more popular, less restrictive, and more fun. Somehow, sooner or later……many times much later, we realize that none of these things was worth the time we invested or the many things (and people) we lost along the way. It’s easy to picture Pinocchio, locked in a cage in Stromboli’s wagon as it rolls down the road while his father, Gepetto, trudges through the rain and the dirty streets looking for him. How embarrassing it was when he was caught in his lies and truancy and procrastination and idleness, time and time again. After all that he put himself and his father through, Pinocchio finally made good by persevering, hoping, and ultimately sacrificing himself and his selfish desires to save his father from the dreaded whale, Monstro.

What is the prize that Pinocchio won? Was it his long-awaited dream of becoming a real boy, or was it something else entirely?

“And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father! Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ. But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with and understand and know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist].” Galatians 4:6-8

(To Be Continued…)