The Great Secrets of Life

“Sometimes all you hear about is the hate, but there is more love in this world than you could possibly imagine.” – The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

There is always plenty of bad news to go around.  Today, nearly a quarter of US adults have a mental health condition that affects their health and well-being.  As a result, over 2 million people attempt suicide every year, while 50,000 others are successful in their attempts.  Globally, one in five people suffers from depression, a hopelessness that reveals itself in poor mental health, addiction, and violence.  The lack of resilience to the demons that haunt them is made worse by an absence of connectedness and a need for love and belonging. 

In Charlie Mackesy’s 2019 award-winning illustrated children’s book, “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”, Mackesy shares messages of hope and friendship during a voyage across the wild between a boy and three creatures he meets along the way as they begin to ask each other questions about their existence.  The result is a recognition that life’s journey is both difficult and beautiful.  Also adapted into an Oscar-winning animated short film, Mackesy wrote his book following the tragic and unexpected death of a friend. 

As the boy wanders the wilderness, looking for a place called home, he feels an immense sense of uncertainty.  His travails along the way make clear that struggle is a lifetime feature.  As he meets up with each companion, the benefit of reciprocity becomes evident.  The mole saves the fox from a trap, even though the fox could kill him, only to be saved by the fox when he falls into the river.  As each shows their strengths and weaknesses, they realize that friendship and belonging are necessary to make the journey through life more bearable.

Navigating the open expanse, witnessing sunshine, snow, and storms, they recognize that there are seasons to life, times of surviving and thriving, from beauty to warmth, to coldness, and to fear.  And while everyone is scared at times, they agree that having companions along the way makes them feel less afraid.  And, if they spend less time listening to their fears, they will also be less fearful.  Storms, too, will come and go.  As they face each challenge, by simply putting one foot in front of the other, they can find their way out.  Then, recognizing how hard it was and how far they have come, helps to build resilience for the trek ahead. 

One lesson they discover is that how they react to each event can make a difference.  Rather than reacting bitterly, they can choose to be sympathetic.  They also affirm to be kind, not just to others, but to themselves.  In fact, they debate the idea of unlearning bad behavior, or at least learning to forgive not only themselves, but others. 

They soon realize that no one has the perfect life, and that looks can be deceiving.  They see that in the swans as they glide effortlessly in the water, when, instead, they are frantically paddling underneath just to stay afloat.  So, while someone else’s life might look easy, we simply don’t know what they are experiencing privately. 

Mostly, they learn that it is not reaching the destination that matters, but the journey itself.  By surrounding ourselves with caring friends, we can be assisted in our own ventures.  Life’s meaning is therefore found in the relationships that are made along the way. 

Jesus, during his Sermon on the Mount, provided nine blessings for a more pleasing life.  Attempting to cultivate inner virtues in his followers, Jesus provided words of hope and comfort.  Known as the beatitudes, these teachings guided followers on how to live an ethical life as they sought their eternal reward. 

To make themselves feel better, many people will seek happiness using pills and injections, surgeries, and fancy clothes.  But after learning the great wisdom of Mackesy’s book, we see that by celebrating small joys and deep friendships, we no longer have to delude ourselves with such trivialities.  Life is for the living, beautiful or difficult.