In the movie The Lion King, Rafiki gives some insight into the life of a lion cub named Simba. Simba’s father (Mufasa) who was king of the jungle was succeeded by his father’s younger brother Scar. Desperate for having lost so much of what he had, Simba longed to see and talk to his father forever. He meets the ape named Rafiki. A conversation between them changes Simba’s life. Rafiki said that he knows Mufasa and will show Simba.
He takes Simba and crosses many forests and creepers and comes to a river bank. Rafiki asks Simba to look at the water by spreading the grass in the water saying ‘here is your father’. Simba looked at the river with a great desire. He saw the reflection of his youthful face. ‘It’s my reflection, not my father, looking up Rafiki replied.
Rafiki: No. Look harder.
[Rafiki touches the water which causes waves that change Simba’s reflection into Mufasa]
Rafiki: You see? He lives in you.
Mufasa’s Ghost: [From above] Simba.
Simba: Father?
Mufasa’s Ghost: [He appears in the sky as a group of stars] Simba, you have forgotten me.
Adult Simba: No. How could I?
Mufasa’s Ghost: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of life.
Adult Simba: How can I go back? I’m not who I used to be.
Mufasa’s Ghost: [Now fully formed in the sky] Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king. Remember who you are.
Saying this, Mufasa disappeared into the stars. In his later realization, Simba is rising to kingship just like his father, who defeated his father’s assassins.
Even though it is an animated movie, it has some living sentences and truths which is the reason why this movie is so popular. Rafiki and Mufasa do this here by bringing out a big conviction with some small words. If we consider the first sentence of Mufasa, You See He Lives in You, gives a great conviction. Although we know the reason, this is something that we often do not understand. Amidst the isolation and hardships of life, we often feel lonely. We always forget who lives inside us. If our heavenly Father dwells in us, then why should we fear? We even have the testimony in the Holy Scriptures. “He created man in his own image and likeness” (Genesis 12:13). It is through constant prayerful dialogue that we must discover the divine element that resides in each of us.
After that, Mufasa asks Simba, “Because you have forgotten who you are, so you have forgotten me.” Simba is afraid of Scar because of this forgetfulness. When we face with problems in our life, we forget who we are. We need to understand the truth that God is also hidden in us. This realization makes you stronger to face whatever hurdles come into your life. Then he says, ‘You are my son and the one true king. If there is still much left to achieve in life, as His children, we can definitely acquire it; We are His son/daughter.
There are only problems that can be solved with this realization in our lives. The Highest, the Almighty has surely given His children the self-confidence and great strength to face and overcome all the great difficulties and privations on this earth. It is easy to jump over the iceberg of undissolved sorrows in those great moments of realization when one opens one’s eyes to heaven and listens to His words. The only thing a father loves most is his children. If the embers of that one good conviction are covered with ashes in the mind, surely it is time to kindle them with prayer. It has to be done no matter how far back or forward you have to go for this. Only then will we be able to understand and accept the great graces given by our Father from our own faith. For all this there is only one verse that we should always remember, You See, ‘He Lives in You.’