Willy Wonka and the Kingdom of Heaven

Recently the song from Willy Wonka came to mind:

“Come with me and you′ll be

In a world of pure imagination

Take a look and you'll see

Into your imagination….

If you want to view paradise

Simply look around and view it.

Anything you want to, do it.

Want to change the world?

There's nothing to it.”

When I read the lyrics, it gives me a deeper appreciation of the wisdom of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, which is in some ways a retelling of The Prodigal Son, as well a message from Spirit about the power of our mind to shape what we see and experience in the world.

Charlie, the main character, represents what is needed to return to the Kingdom of Heaven. Honesty and humility is what allows Charlie to “win” the prize of being the inheritor of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, which depending on how you see it and what you expect of it could either be the Kingdom of Heaven or the world of temptation and suffering. This world changes based on our imagination, for what we believe we perceive.

The movie shows that only children can be recipients of the golden ticket, just as Jesus says, “Only as a child can you enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Yet it is also as children (i.e., our Wounded Self) that we are lured by the temptations of the world. This is why the accompaniment of an adult (i.e., Loving Parent) is necessary, to help the child discern what actions are healthy and loving. All of the children who enter Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory are lured by temptation and as a result find themselves in precarious situations. All the adults who accompany them are shown to be equally vulnerable to temptation.

When Willy Wonka later accuses Charlie of stealing the “Fizzy Lifting Drinks” Charlie doesn't deny it, and decides to return the “Everlasting Gobstopper.” It may be said that we in our Wounded Self often seek out the experience of “Fizzy Lifting Drinks” (substances and behaviors that are pleasurable and which alleviate discomfort) and the “Everlasting Gobstopper” (lasting inner peace). Charlie, gave in to this natural human inclination, but was honest about it, and was willing to give back the “Everlasting Gobstopper.” He returned what was false, a pseudo-experience of God, for what was true—keys to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory (i.e., the Kingdom of Heaven).

 What a story to tell kids and adults alike. We are all bound to seek in the world the treasures that are inherent within. And regardless of how deep into the world’s illusions we go, God’s love is always here, waiting for us to return.