Reading Time: 23 minutes
Level of Difficulty: 2
Summary:
There was
one clear shining star that used to come out in the sky before the rest. A child and his sister always looked
out once again and say, "God bless the star!" before they slept.
But his sister passed away while she was still very young. Then, his
little brother, mother, and his daughter
died one after the other. When his family member passed away, he always dreamed of the open star, and of the company of angels,
and the train of people. Finally, the
star shone again, but this time it shone upon his grave.
Feedback/Comment:
Although this story is pretty short, it actually implicates an abundant of meaning and symbols. It is a little bit difficult to totally understand the story because of its abstraction. But I can not admire this short story’s artistic conception and implication more. I am touched beyond words. Man's bitterest sorrows are separation and death. We always feel suffering and depressed when we have to leave our friends and family. It can well be imagined how painful someone we extremely love passes away. Some people may think it is too lonely and sore to keep on living without him or her, even wishing angles could also bring them to Heaven. However, death is a part of our life we have to live with. It is an inevitable process to everyone around the world even though we really don't want to let them go. Maybe we can change our attitude toward death and think in another way. I believe that everyone’s life is doomed. The length of life can not be compelled. I will try hard to view the death of someone important to me as a reasonable course. They just went to Heaven in advance and awaited me. We could get together and embrace each other again when I also enter Heaven in the future. The child in the story experienced his family members’ passing away again and again. Although he desired his sister to take him, it was not the time for him to give up his life. But as time went on, he was reunited to his family eventually.
Discussion Issues:
1. What does the meaning of
the shining star to the child？
2. Why don’t the child’s sister take him to Heaven？
