:: Edgeliving: Master Jim and slave marsha ::

:: Saturday, November 15, 2003 ::

You Have Chosen...

Master Jim's post, "The Arena," is about choosing. About choosing to step into the arena of Mastery and slavery, even though we know we might fail. About choosing to try, because at least then we never have to wonder, "What if...."

i've been thinking about choosing, too... about one of the choices we make after we've stepped into the arena.

i'm a big fan of the Indiana Jones movies. One of my favorite scenes is the one where Indy and his father are searching for the Holy Grail, the cup which tradition tells us Jesus Christ used at the Last Supper. After the usual adventures, Indy and his father at last find the hiding place of the Holy Grail, guarded by an ancient Crusader. And of course, those of you who have seen the movie know that by this time in the story, Indy's father is seriously injured and dying, and only a drink from the Holy Grail holding the Water of Life will save him.

So, our hero Indy has to grab the Grail and take his father a drink of the Water of Life. The problem is, the Grail is "hidden" in plain sight -- there are hundreds of cups laid out along a shelf, any one of which could be the Holy Grail. There are tall cups, short cups, engraved cups, bejeweled cups, gold cups, silver cups. How to choose the right one?

No Indiana Jones story is complete without evil Nazis, of course, and this one is no exception. This time, the evil (but hot) Nazi woman demands the right to choose the Holy Grail, and the evil (and creepy) Nazi guy demands to be the first to drink of the Water of Life and gain immortality. So, Evil But Hot Nazi Woman makes her choice -- a gorgeous gold and bejeweled chalice. It is, in her words, "The cup of a king!"

Evil And Creepy Nazi Guy fills the chalice from the Water of Life, drinks...and, of course, dies a horrible, shriveled-up death.

The ancient Crusader guarding the Grail looks at what is left of Evil And Creepy Nazi Guy and says, "He chose... poorly."

Now it's Indy's turn. He looks and looks... struggles.. starts to choose and then stops... until finally, he makes his choice. The cup he chooses is plain brass. Not a bit of engraving or a single jewel. It is nearly invisible in the glittering throng of chalices laid out before him.

But Indy sees the infinite value in this simple cup. He knows Jesus Christ was a carpenter -- and as Indy says, "This is the cup of carpenter." Indy fills it from the Water of Life and drinks.

The ancient Crusader responds, "You have chosen... wisely."

For it is the Holy Grail. The cup that looks least like it should be the most valuable thing in all of Christendom, the one that no one would choose from among the glittering, priceless cups, is the Holy Grail.

So, marsha, you may be asking, what does this have to do with slavery? It's this: as slaves, once we make the choice to enter the arena of Mastery and slavery, we are faced with choosing who we will serve from a glittering array of possible Masters. And too often, i see slaves who are mislead by the external trappings into believing that they have found the Holy Grail of Masters.

Too often, we as slaves choose... poorly.

Finding the one we can serve truly is the Holy Grail for slaves. We want to find him or her, we long for that day. In our heads, we build up images of what our Owner will look like and act like. Because of that, too often, I see slaves snatch the first flashy, beautiful, bejeweled "cup" that comes to their hand, without thinking.

But the Holy Grail of Masters is not always the Master everyone is looking at or talking about. He or she is not always the one wearing the most leather or the hottest clothes. He or she is not always the one with the best body. And make no mistake about it, the Holy Grail of Masters is not always the one with the most slaves hanging around him or her.

Look hard for your Holy Grail. Do not be mislead by the glitter and the gleam. Don't neglect to look at the simple "cup, " the plain "cup." The quiet Master. The one who does not constantly seek the spotlight for him or herself (or for his or her slave). The one who goes about his or her Mastery with reserve, with dignity. Who lives it as a life, rather than playing it as a game for the amusement of the community.

Search carefully for your Holy Grail. Make your choice carefully.

And may each of us as slaves choose... wisely.

--slave marsha

:: 11:38 AM [+] ::
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