What happens when you’re given everything but still, they long for more? That’s the question at the heart of “The Stairs and The Mirror,” a story written by Eli Aringay and beautifully illustrated by his son, Ezekiel David E. Aringay. This father-son collaboration brings to life a powerful allegory about faith, choice, and redemption, wrapped in a tale that’s relatable no matter where you are on your spiritual journey.

 

The story begins in the City of Creation, a place built with care and love by a King, His Son, and a Great Guide. Life is rich and full for its inhabitants, yet curiosity and disobedience lead them to open a gate they were strictly told to keep shut. What follows is a spiraling descent into chaos, illness, and despair as they come face-to-face with the consequences of their choice. This isn’t just another parable about right and wrong, it’s a deeply human story. How often do we see something enticing and ignore the risks? How many of us try to fix our mistakes on our own, only to end up exhausted and broken? You will feel like you’re reading your own story in a way. It’s like someone’s asking for your help, but the person you’re helping thinks, just one more favor won’t hurt. You know the saying, “Kamay ang binigay, buong braso ang kinain.” And you, as someone who genuinely wants to help, continue and only to later find yourself trapped in the consequences of your own kindness. The chains in this story aren’t just metaphors. They’re painfully real.

 

Aringay’s storytelling isn’t heavy-handed, making it accessible for kids and meaningful for adults. You’ll find yourself questioning your own "stairs" and the things you try to climb to prove your worth, and reflect on the "mirrors" in your life that reveal who you truly are.

 

“The Stairs and The Mirror” reminds you to stop, look in the mirror, and let go. Because sometimes, the way up isn’t about climbing harder but trusting the hand that’s reaching down to you. It isn’t just for children or people who “have it all together.” It’s for anyone who’s felt stuck or lost and that no matter how far we’ve wandered, there’s always a way back. And sometimes, the way back isn’t about walking harder or climbing higher… It's about being still and letting life find you.