It would be the first night young Cha-Hoo would be staying up with his father to keep watch. A pitted feeling entered the gut of the Indian Chief. What stories would he now hear? What things might become aware to him this moonlit night? Lucky for him, there were no surprises. His son had been honest with him all along, and continues his honesty with his son Cha-Hoo.

Cha-Hoo is the son of Whan-Ton. Whan-Ton is the son of the Indian Chief. By the end, we learn that Whan-Ton is having his young son Cha-Hoo up all night with him for the first time to keep watch. During the night, Whan-Ton tells many truthful, heroizing, and humorous stories to his son about his own life and experiences, whom in turn tells many stories to his father. As Chief, the grandfather sits back and listens to the stories (aka lessons) his son tells the future Chief.

Even though some of the stories are heroizing and cause the Chief to want to say something about how situations could have been prevented, he holds his tongue and continues to listen. His grandson asks all the right questions. By the end of the story, it is obvious that the son Whan-Ton is ready to become Chief. Even though he’d made mistakes, he admits to them, teaches them to others, and allows them to laugh at his mistakes.

Because Cha-Hoo loves his father for his honesty, in times of discernment, he will remember that even though the stories made him laugh and cringe, Cha-hoo would have never wanted his father to tell them any other way – with plentiful lessons of not only surviving, but also of adventuring and how to better your chances of both along the way.

After a long and wonderful night spent around the fire with Whan-Ton and Cha-Hoo, the Indian Chief turned to his son and said, “You have good stories.” He says this with such pride and honor that the strength of his core increases, and his body feels new again, as if re-oxygenated after a deep sigh of relief.

His son felt the energy from his father’s emotions, and the sun peeked up over the vast horizon of fields and hills as far as the eye could see. A gentle mist embodied all that covered the land, creating a glisten of golden mirage upon the ground. The birds of early morning sung before a gentle breeze pushed the hair upon the backs of the Indian Chief, Whan-Ton and Cha-Hoo. Though they all survived together again, a day would come when they wouldn’t.

Better their chances of longevity and glory; stay strong together, with love and attention.

The son tells a good story, that’s why they commemorate Jesus and that’s why it feels so much better to stand out in the sunlight on a bright blue day than it does to stand anywhere in the middle of the night. The warmth is comforting.

Jesus, the son, could sure tell a story, and a story he told, likely in honor of his father. Jesus was a funny guy, always wanting to help people and see them smile. He went around cracking wise ones all the time. Occasionally, he would make a few people upset here and there. Back in Jesus’ day, there were people with no sense of humor either; it doesn’t just happen now! The majority of people Jesus knew and acquainted with thought it was the modern era and that Church rule wasn’t what it used to be anymore. The popular consensus was that it was okay to tell a joke to a complete stranger. Everyone should get it, after all, because, “That’s funny, I don’t care who you are.” ~ Larry the Cable Guy.

Eventually, it became such a hoot and riot that word spread of a duel, of sorts, taking place in a city far-far away. A vote, actually, about whether the subjects of Jesus’s jokes were funny or not. It involved both Jesus and the plaintiff facing it off, stating their arguments and then taking a popular vote. Unfortunately for Jesus, most of the people in the city far-far away had no sense of humor at all, so when the vote was taken, nobody understood Jesus’ point of view. He was a funny guy, and they all took everything too seriously. Jesus lost the vote, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a funny guy.

Humor works in mysterious ways. Even now, there is truth to Jesus’ story as well as many stories of other men and women that have been gifted a ticket to journey for a time in this world. As long as honesty is the first intention, all else becomes natural. Love guides the way.

Anyone can live as purely and honestly as the men depicted in this article. It does take courage, and a willingness to redefine yourself, if necessary, but all for the betterment of everyone. There is a process to this, and a certain inner strength you must find and build. Believing in yourself is key, so be honest with yourself and with others, both in words and in actions, so to transform yourself into a more comfortable you that lives honestly, fully, attentively, and purposefully.

Do not judge yourself, or others, to harshly. Lies create a shell around us, no matter where they originated. If you were trying to break out of your eggshell, wouldn’t you want people to be cheering you on instead of holding you down with shame or blame? One’s prior actions do not have to define them. The way they demonstrate themselves after is a more truthful depiction.

Release all blame, do not hold yourself or others guilty, understand how your actions and words affected others, realize how all people could be treated fairly, and how that, in turn, could affect the words and actions of others. If you wish them to treat you kindly, treat them kindly, with the same respect you hope to see them give you someday. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t; evaluate Jesus, after all. There is always tomorrow and another day, and light travels forever, shine bright.

Be patient with yourself and others. Trust takes not only time and trial, but also error and accomplishment.  These are the ingredients of humor, were it labeled like a box from the cabinet in your kitchen. Humor, being a necessary spice on your shelf, is as crucial a human ingredient as air. Without it, we all become too serious.

Though all the characters and depictions in this article are fictional, it proves to show how the simple use of a name or title alters your perspective. Honesty is in action and in our cognitive ability to recognize that there is no such thing as coincidence and that metaphorically there is a meaning to everything.

Amanda Jackson
02/07/2024

The Metaphorical