TO THE EDITOR:

A long time ago, in a land far away, there lived a group of knights endowed with a unique calling. Servants to the King of this world, they were given the task of creating peace within the various lands. For centuries, a bitter war had been fought in one of the King’s kingdoms between two noble families. Both believed that they alone were the spokespeople for the King, that they were the sole and rightful rulers of the kingdom and that by their leadership, the land would overflow with prosperity and safety for all. To both families, the other side was the enemy - complicit in causing the divide. The knights, however, had been advised by the King, before sending them out, to continue loving and serving the people of this kingdom as he had done for them: regardless of their name or family allegiance. And so they did...at least for a while until, one day, the knights began to quarrel amongst themselves.

After this fissure, knights could be found in both families, misplacing their allegiance to the King with allegiance to one of the two noble lines. At first, some of the knights tried remaining separate from the families, but eventually, different moral issues became championed and the knights were enticed to pick a side, each family promising the possession of righteousness and truth.

Gifted with the magical ability of Listening and the task of Peacemaking, maybe they could have restored balance to the world. But lo’, the knights were led astray, believing that their family was righteous and the other utterly evil, beyond redemption - ironically, a lie stemming from neither family, but the ruler of a far-away world, wishing for the kingdoms to destroy themselves. If only the knights had remained loyal to the King by continuing to serve everyone, regardless of their allegiance.

Brody Hed,

Becker, MN