LAST weekend we had a friend and her young daughter staying with us.

This gave me the excuse to go to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

As is so often the case in children's stories, very deep truths lie hidden. In one scene Harry and his friend stand in front of a magic mirror. The mirror reveals to them their deepest desires. In Harry's case, his desire is to be reunited with his parents who have been killed. The only problem is that the mirror, even though it is magic, cannot make these wishes come true.

I was left wondering what the mirror would show up if I were to stand in front of it. Would it show my desires to be good? Would it show my deepest desires to be evil? Would I be found out, as it were, if I stood in front of this mirror which could only tell the truth?

Most of us, most of the time, are only ever half-aware of our deepest desires. We go through life trying to fulfil our wishes without really knowing what they are. No wonder life can feel so unsatisfying at times. We end up spending all our energy trying to gain something for ourselves when it is not even our deepest desire.

In many religious traditions, people go away on retreat. A retreat is a time away alone, perhaps with a spiritual guide, when you can look inwards to find out what your deepest desires are. If your desires prove to be honourable, well and good. If they prove to be evil, or selfish, then they need to be laid aside.

But Harry Potter's mirror also teaches another truth. It teaches that, even if our deep-down desires prove to be good, we should not cling to them. Harry's desire was to be reunited with his parents. But to cling to tightly to that desire would be to miss out on life here and now. Even a good desire can ruin our life if we think of nothing else.

One of the classical teachings of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions is that we should not cling to our desires, no matter how good they are. We should sit tight to them and engage in life here and now. Even good desires can kill the soul if we cling to them too tightly.

Many Christian writers have also pointed out that the deepest desire of all human beings is the desire for God. It is because we never get down to that depth that our lives are wasted in pursuing more superficial things. We are restless and unsatisfied because there is a void in our hearts than can only ever be satisfied by the fullness of God. Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.

Michael Williams

Vicar of Bolton Parish Church