BY STEVE H. PETR

NCE UPON A TIME THERE was a happy kingdom, and many sought to be citizens in it, including one handsome, clever Native Canadian named White Eagle. But the king of this kingdom had published a royal decree that no one could become a citizen of the kingdom unless he or she had been born into it.

There was nothing in White Eagle's life worthy of blame, and he tried to enter the kingdom on his own terms. One day he addressed the gatekeeper: "I, White Eagle, am ready to surrender my native costume and take on the dress of the people of the kingdom. I will put away all my paintings, my colors, my decorations, my ornaments, my headdress, if you let me in."

The gatekeeper answered that while the king would appreciate White Eagle's good will and action, he could not break the law and let White Eagle into the kingdom.

Then White Eagle tried another tack: "I, White Eagle, will change the way I speak. I will never use any crooked word or speak an untruth. I will never swear or curse. I will not take the name of your God in vain. I will speak the pleasant language of the people of the kingdom—just let me enter."

But the gatekeeper was unyielding.

So White Eagle used one last argument: "I, White Eagle, renounce my origin. I repudiate my cultural heritage, my forebears, my tribe. I accept the king's culture, his heritage, his titles. He can rename me and call me no longer White Eagle, but Mr. Smith, Mr. Johnson, Mr. X, Mr. Saint—anything. Just let me into the kingdom and let me join the happy people. I promise to follow all the statutes, decrees, and regulations of the kingdom."

The gatekeeper replied, "Truly, you can do all the things you've mentioned, but you will never gain entrance into the kingdom based on your human behavior. Citizenship in this kingdom is granted only to those who are worthy."

"But how can I become worthy?" White Eagle asked in frustration.

"You cannot enter the kingdom until you satisfy the king's fundamental requirement: You must be born again."

"Then I will be!" exclaimed White Eagle. And by a miracle known only to those whose hearts have been transformed by faith in God's grace, White Eagle became an honored member of the kingdom of happy people.

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Steve H. Petr writes from Waterloo, Ontario. Before their retirement, he and his wife, Stana, served congregations in the Czech Republic and Canada. Petr often used this parable to explain the plan of salvation to his native listeners.