It is not difficult to imagine moving out of one setting and into another, unless we are presently struggling within the setting we are in ...in the heat of the moment, in fear of the outcome, or without cause for hope.

Creating an imaginary world to avoid reality may work for a short while, but long term it becomes either a psychosis or something that may be even worse ...called business as usual, unaffected and indifferent.

One is considered a type of mental illness, while the other masquerades as contentment or complacency ...there being a hesitation to diagnose it as apathy.

And it depends much upon whether you are unable to cope with reality, or whether you've become comfortable ...and choose not to look at those who may not be.

And while some may think others are 'plotting' against them, still others care little about these things ...and are only looking to increase their 'lot'.

Contentment is healthy when it is unconditional, as God would have it. And there's something to be said of the saying, "It's better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all." There's also another saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." We must attempt it, and with God, we can love ...and it will never be lost. But, it's different with the various definitions that we use to cheapen love. And without God's version of contentment, we often think we have it until we are adversely affected ...losing it if it impacts us instead of others.

Within the familiarity of so-called advanced societies, we have Presidents and Prime Ministers ...and we look at Kingdoms and Dynasties within books and various forms of entertainment, primarily movies.  We allow our imaginations to accept how things once were with warriors and castles ...not really questioning why, or how we've come to take for granted the advancement of our local police and standard American neighborhoods.

"High society' seldom concerns itself with what might be going on in other parts of the world.  But, the fact is, though some societies are quite advanced, others are still struggling to emerge to pre-eminence ...and still others don't really care, as long as their personal strivings are met with some degree of satisfaction.

Of course, what we mean by 'advancement' can be disputed ...nevertheless, we will advance with this story.

This Cinderella lives with her parents in a standard, middle class neighborhood in America. And she commutes from home to a local community College.

Cinderella is taking a variety of basic courses, not knowing what she is interested in. But, she knows she isn't interested in Barry.

Most people like Barry, and he is a fine young man.  He attends the same church as Cinderella.  He is not really outgoing, and could never be accused of being intrusive. Most of the church members like Barry, and his quiet demeanor ...except Cinderella.  

Barry sees himself as a typical college student.  He wears blue jeans and tennis shoes, his best for church.  His hair is a bit long, but appears shorter than it actually is because of the curls.

Cinderella sees Barry differently.  To her, his curls are more like a squirrels nest.  She knows where he lives because she'd overheard him answering some basic questions of interest that her parents asked him, inclusive of the fact that he lives in a trailer park. There are many reasons for why she's convinced she doesn't like him ...but perhaps the greatest reason is that she senses that he likes her.

Barry is very patient, and he doesn't get discouraged easily. He also feels that those who understand love the most can also withstand rejection. Barry continues to live his life as if nothing phases him. He lives a fairly routine life, working maintenance for the County on the day shift. After work he also does mostly maintenance ...on the simple one-story house he'd recently purchased. And he attends church Wednesday night for prayer group and a Bible study on Fridays.

After three years, Cinderella and Barry get married, and her parents agree it is a very sensible thing to do. They look forward to living a healthy and balanced life together.

The first additions to the family come by the names of Joshua and Caleb ...twin baby boys.

Six years later, it's twins again, by the names of Moriah and Mary.

The children are more than a handful ...but also a heartful. And as they grow, Cinderella and Barry look forward to them becoming strongly independent and upstanding individuals some day.

As both girls become twelve, the older twin boys continue to watch after their younger sisters.  This allows Cinderella to have more time on her hands ...and she looks to fill that time.  And the church somehow seems to feel that it is their role to fill the majority of that time.

The church leaders had voiced a need for more Christian activity ...and many outreach programs are organized.

County inspections are coming up ...so, Barry is needed, and he works quite a bit of overtime.  His is not able to make it to the extra church functions, but Cinderella doesn't mind ...she is beginning to think she has more fun without Barry.  She feels that Barry is sort of an embarrassment.

Cinderella likes going out to eat, but she keeps envisioning how Barry always stuffs his mouth and eats too much.  To her, he also kind of looks like a squirrel when he eats, stuffing his cheeks like that.

And nobody fancies to the squirrelly misfit misbehaviors while rallying around and raving about whom everyone is nuts about. And that whom just happens to be Jack. The 'new' guy at church is also very outgoing, and begins to attend all the functions. The strange thing is ...that even the married women seem to be interested in this single guy.  And Jack doesn't seem to mind stirring the pot either.

What is really happening here?  To them, nothing at all ...just honest Christian fellowship.

A two-week long missions trip is organized for the end of the month, inclusive of Easter.

Again, Barry can't get time off ...as this time there has been an outbreak of the flu at the County, and they are shorthanded.

Joshua and Caleb know how much Mom is looking forward to it, and they encourage her to go on the trip ...assuring her they will take care of their younger sisters.

Cinderella decides not to go ...as there are too many school functions the children are involved in.

Suddenly, they say they are able to switch the mission trip from spring to summer.

The children once again insist that Mom go.  Cinderella excitedly exclaims, "We can all go ...I mean, the four of us!  I know Dad has to work ...but the rest of us can go."

Spring has turned to Summer, and the mission trip is in full swing. Barry looks for a postcard, but none arrives. He asks at church, but they all have the same news ...none.

At the end of three weeks, Barry is at wits end ...when finally he gets a letter, from some island in the Pacific.

He'd thought they were going to Africa, but somehow they'd landed in the Pacific. In the letter, she said she's never been happier, and she and the children ...weren't coming back?!?

Barry checks with the church custodian, and he talks with someone there at church who'd gone on the trip ...and they say that everyone had gotten back a couple of days ago, and "Didn't Cinderella notify you of her change of plans?"

Barry can't control his emotions, "Change of plans!! What change of plans?!"

"Well, ...Jack and your family took a different flight!"


Barry almost screams, "They did what!!"

"You can check it out on Facebook ...and see if Jack has posted anything. Lots of the people have posted things about their trip."

Barry is not on Facebook ...but he is told he can come to church and look on their computer.  Barry is not very good with computers, so he asks for assistance.

By the time Barry gets to the church, the Pastor is also hovering over the computer, mumbling, "Some people are so bold, and they don't care what they post on Facebook."

Thankfully, it showed where Jack was at.  The disturbing part was that he posted what he was doing. He bragged about coming back to the U.S., to pick up another girl ...that he was tired of Cinderella.

Barry wished the authorities could pick up Jack, but he was sure that Jack would be nowhere to be found.  But, his main urgency was not in finding Jack ...it was finding his wife and children.

Barry packs a few of his things, and heads to the airport ...to make arrangements to fly to the last address posted on Facebook, in the Pacific.

When Barry arrives on the mainland, he questions around.  

Frustrated, he is about to leave ...though not knowing what his next step should be. Perhaps he had mistakenly arrived on the wrong island.

A young native girl approaches him.  Her English is surprisingly good compared to the others he had attempted to talk to, "Someone told me you were looking for someone."

The young girl says her name is Onithe Petit Jean, and she knows a place where many families go ...but most don't return. She points out to sea to an island he can't see, "I know you may not believe me, but it is out there."

Barry has no choice ...but to believe someone, "Who can I trust to take me there?"

Onithe hesitates, also wondering if she can trust him, "I have a small boat ...and I can take you there.'

Barry eagerly says, "Thank you ...but why do you think my family is there?"

Onithe winces, "Because I escaped from there?"