Secret Ingredient

In Kung Fu Panda (directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne, DreamWorks, 2008, 1:07:55–1:09:41), Po, is said to become the Dragon Warrior, a legend. The key to this transformation from slobby, practically gluttonous panda to fearsome leader of Kung Fu is said to be contained in the Dragon Scroll, which must be earned. Upon obtaining the scroll, Po finds that it is blank, which everyone finds confounding. It is not until Po has a conversation with his father about their “secret ingredient soup” that Po understands the meaning of the blank scroll: there is no simple trick to become who you are meant to be. Much like Po as the Dragon Warrior, there is no secret ingredient to achieving an authentic relationship with God. The answers have always been before us.