IT’S A PHRASE that originates in the Arabic folk tale “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp”. It’s what the genie said to the boy who conjured him. It is meant as a declaration of gratitude for having been released from the prison of the lamp, one that the genie makes in earnest. He will, up to the limit of three wishes, obey the boy.
Today, more often than not, when we use the phrase we mean it sarcastically, as a way of indicating that someone has us over a barrel. As autonomous modern humans, most of us have learned to be uncomfortable with ceding our behavior to the whims of others and to feel resentful when circumstances conspire to place us in the control of others. And even when we say or hear “Your wish is my command” spoken with the earnestness of the genie, we know that there are limits to any obedience, even if a great debt is owed.
When I was still a young boy, I was taught that there might be fairy creatures offering us three free wishes. We should always be wise enough to think it over very well and select the best wishes for our very own. Sure, there will always be classic stupidities regarding fairy-wishes. We are all human beings and don’t belong to the fairy category.
Your wish is my command! And, there is someone who wishes at first a strong health, and – sure, he or she receives it, because good fairies never hesitate. And now and then? Here he is, for example, the healthy man is like a boulder in the surf, but surrounded by a world of war, flames and so-called military conflicts. But this man is still alive and as fit as a fiddler. Why should he wish for a strong health?
In many fairy tales we can also find the one with unassuming manners, inconspicuous, poorly dressed-up, a little bit silly, mostly disregarded and easily to be overlooked. This guy has only one wish, such as eternal salvation and bliss with a little stool in heaven besides God.
If all human beings on this entire globe could be all around happy, which means to say: nobody must go hungry any more, nobody must be despairing, nobody must be worried about wars and catastrophes, and everybody could be able to enjoy health and happiness without bearing trials … yes, if … then we wouldn’t need fairy-wishes.
Real life looks different. Real life is not a fairy tale. We need prayers and should be more respectful and friendly to each other.
Each one of us has his or her own three wishes. Me too. One of them is: I wish for peace on earth!
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