Great Expectations ~Charles Dickens~

We read this book in English class and it gave me a whole new perspective on life.

.Parallels.

STAGE ONE: INNOCENCE

Running down the cobblestone streets,

Chasing appreciation and love,

Pip saw the beauty in the world.

Running on jungle trails,

Chasing more appreciation and love,

I saw the beauty in the world.

Running through life, growing up to fast,

Chasing true appreciation and love,

Ollie saw the charade beauty played in the world.

STAGE TWO: INNOCENCE DESTROYED

In Pip's chase,

He met a star that guided him into pride, and conceit.

His priorities twisted: 

Those he had loved, he betrayed, 

Those that condemned him, he worshiped.

And he was destroyed.

In my chase, 

I encountered a part of myself that I had hidden: a dark, sick part.

My priorities twisted:

Those I had cherished, I pushed away,

Those I embraced, had disgusted me.

And I was destroyed.

In Ollie's chase,

Innocence seeped out from his life, with every drink, girl, and choice.

A ship twisted his priorities:

Those he loved, he loved.

And the enemy, himself, he hated.

And he was destroyed.

But our stories didn't end there.

No, then hope met redemption, and 

Here we are.

STAGE THREE: REDEMPTION

Pip changed how he viewed love.

Love is not based on status or worth,

But because others have loved us first.

I changed how I viewed love.

Love is not gratification, 

But contentment.

Ollie changed how he viewed love.

Love is not selfishness,

But sacrifice.