Oh Beautiful Sun

There once was a village, the people of this village were a peaceful tribe.  They lived in a peaceful existence with the earth, moon, stars and most of all the sun.  The sun was the center of their existence.  They recognized the importance of the sun as it rose in the sky and shown down the bountiful rays of heat and energy that sustained all life.  Many of there rituals were based on the worship of the sun. 

One of the traditions of the village was to celebrate the coming of age of their youth.  They would dress the child up on the marking of the 12th season of their life.  Adorning them with beads made from clay and baked in the sun, painting their skin with symbols that represented the stars, the moon, the earth and most of all the sun.  the child would then be escorted by the village elder to a place high on the side of a mountain, a pedestal for all to see.  They village would chant, and dance in the honor of the child as the sun rose into the sky uniting the child with the sun for all time.

It happened one day that a child was born, a beautiful daughter who was born to a proud mother an father.  The girl relished in the land and was very favored by all, all that is but the Sun herself.  The Sun was jealous that the girl was receiving some of the attention that should have been saved for her, after all she was the Sun and all should rejoice in her splendor.

By the time the 12th season was upon this well loved child she was indeed a sight to be seen.  She had hair of gold, which was rare in this tribe, some said it glowed like the sun, which did not pleas the sun at all.  Her skin was soft and golden as well.  The girl was thrilled that her turn had come, the time when she could stand tall in front of her people and be accepted by the sun.  This she longed for with all of her heart.  The sun was the most precious thing to her, the beautiful sunsets, and the power and splendor that was the sun. 

It was with these events in mind that when she awoke early on the morning of her celebration she could barely contain her excitement.  Her mother and aunts painted symbols to represent the stars, earth, moon and above all took extra care in creating the most splendid sun on her forehead that blended with her golden hair which gave the appearance of extending from the sun as waves of radiant sunlight.  Her father and brothers and uncles adorned her with hand woven bracelets, necklaces and anklets made from beads.  Her moment had arrived and it was with great joy that she stood at the elders side and began the trek up the mountain.

When the sun came out to shine on the village she saw the villagers lined up below and exclaimed, oh how radiant am I.  It was then that she first noticed the girl standing on the pedestal below.  The child was so beautiful that the sun paused in the sky, then with a rage of jealousy the sun dimmed.  The sun dimmed until the girl was no longer visible to the village who stood below to welcome her to adulthood.  It dimmed until the girl could no longer see the village, and was left standing alone atop of a mountain.  The girl began to cry softly to herself, and was left ever wondering what she had done to earn the disdain of the sun.  She would spend the rest of her life trying to figure out why the sun would hate her, a daughter of the sun worshipers, so much.

The sun came out the next day, shining brighter than ever.  The villagers were thrilled and cried out to the sun with delight.  They would never be able to see the truth as it was masked by the splendor that was the sun.

STU - 2011