When we held Owen Meany above our heads, when we passed him back and forth-so effortlessly-we believed that Owen weighed nothing at all. We did not realize that there were forces beyond our play. Now I know they were the forces that contributed to our illusion of Owen's weightlessness; they were the forces we didn't have the faith to feel, they were the forces we failed to believe in-and they were also lifting up Owen Meany, taking him out of our hands. O God-please give him back! I shall keep asking You.
The passage reflects on the experience of playing with Owen Meany, where the childlike belief in his weightlessness symbolizes the innocence and simplicity of youth. The act of passing Owen back and forth creates an illusion of lightness, as the children do not recognize the deeper forces affecting their lives and their understanding of reality. Their innocence prevents them from grasping the complexities and challenges that lie beyond their immediate experience.
This realization dawns on the narrator, who acknowledges that there were spiritual and existential forces at work that they failed to comprehend at the time. The plea to God for Owen’s return signifies a longing for the simplicity and connection of childhood, as well as a recognition of the profound weight of life's experiences. This passage captures the interplay between belief, innocence, and the impact of unseen forces in shaping their lives and relationships.
