stars

Why we have hope on Earth

This is a story about why we have hope on Earth. It is adapted from a Zapatista folk tale.

 

Once upon a time a few days ago, way up high in the sky, high above the heaven of darkness and light of the universe the stars were hanging around, as stars tend to do. Basking in all their glory of colour, diversity, wisdom, love, energy, cooperation and starryness

 

They jumped, skipped and played as stars do. They worked hard too. Shining bright. Sharing all their glory of colour, diversity, wisdom, love, energy, cooperation and starryness with the heaven of darkness, light of the universe, and the Earth of wonder below.

 

One day, the stars got together and went to see the Star Guide and they said:

‘Hello Star Guide, we’re going to go down to Earth and check out what’s going on down there. It’s a bit boring always hanging around shining our glory of light all day and night. It’s time for a change of scene’.

‘All right, see you later then. Enjoy the journey and let me know when you’re back’ replied the Star Guide.

So the stars hit the road. Some taking the low road, others the high road. Some turning left and others right, coming from above and below, they danced and shined their glory all the way to Earth.

With the speed of what seemed like the blink of an eye the stars were back. Home. High in the sky, above the heaven of darkness and light of the universe.

Puzzled the Star Guide asked, ‘Hey what’s up? I thought you were going to Earth. For a change of scene. It’s a bit boring around here and all that’.

‘We’ve gone and come back already. It was terrible down there’

 ‘Ooohh no, no, no. Those humans are a mess. They are scared, greedy, petty, controlling, violent, self-centred, small-minded. It’s heart-breaking to watch their interactions. They misunderstand and hurt each other a lot. Ooohhh no, no, no. We didn’t like it. At all. So we came home’.

‘I see’ said the Star Guide, gazing upon the stars. Enjoying the glory of their colour, diversity, and … wait, stop! The little green star was missing, ‘Where’s the green star’?’

‘Oh she decided to stay on Earth, and nothing we said could convince her otherwise’ reported the other stars.

So the Star Guide took to the road, journeying to Earth to check in with the green star. Finding her the Star Guide asked ‘What are you doing? All your mates have come home, why haven’t you’?

 ‘Ooohhh no, no, no. These people are a mess. They are scared, greedy, petty, controlling, violent, self-centred, small-minded. It’s heart-breaking to watch their interactions. They misuderstand and hurt each other a lot. I just can’t leave them, they need help! So I think I’ll stay and lend them a hand.’

‘I see’ sighed the Star Guide. ‘Well, if anyone can help them — accompanying their journey to becoming better people and building a better world, and give them hope — I reckon it’s you, Esperanza.’ (*)
(*) Esperanza is a feminine Spanish name and it means ‘hope’.

And so the little green star, called Esperanza, stayed with us, and that’s why today we have hope on Earth.

And what about you? What do you hope for? How do you put hope into action?

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This story celebrates Advent 2014 and is part of Chatsworth Road community art installation, Following the Star,  organised and inspired by my handy and energetic friend and colleague Lynda (among others). I’ve never prepared an outside art piece before and just walking up there I thought the wind and rain might rip it to bits, so let’s hope Our Lady the Virgen of Guadelupe uses her super powers to hold it together for 13 more days.

now on display Chatsworth Road corner with Clifden Road

You may distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon my work, as long as you credit me for the original creation and do not use for commercial purposes. You must use the same Creative Commons licence on any derivative works.

want to know more?

London Mexico Solidarity Group — facilitates the exchange between theLondon and Mexico activist communities. Together building relationships of mutual respect and support with groups resisting neo-liberalism and building another world for all. Also member of the UK Zapatista Support Network and Euro-Zapatista Network.

  21 December 2012 –Zapatista March of Silence, the sound of your world crumbling and ours rising …

Lessons in organization and dignity — analysis of the 21 December 2012 Zapatista March of Silence

20 years of Zapatismo — London Mexico speaks on  Circled A radio show