Waiting

sleeping beloved

The Triumphant Entry

I love the image of our Sleeping Beauty claiming her rightful place beside her bridegroom.  I imagine her entering with joyful tears in her eyes.  After all this time, she is finally going to be united with her true love.  This, this is what she has been waiting for…and I can’t help but think that it is so much sweeter because of the wait.

As I say that, I’m acutely aware of how painful the waiting can be.   For while we wait, we must grapple with the possibility that what we hope for may not come true…

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sleeping beloved

The Waiting Time

This is where the story gets a little strange.  The first half of Perrault’s version is our “standard” Sleeping Beauty tale…but this?  This seems more in line with Shrek than any “standard” fairy tale.  I mean, the prince is half ogre!  Unlike our loveable Shrek, however, ogres in the 17th century were children-eating creatures (although somehow our prince manages to escape those cravings…the text says nothing about him being an ogre or wanting to eat his own children.  He’s the quintessential “good guy”). 

Yes, our prince has much to worry about, and he is right to tarry in the claiming of his bride…

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