Once upon a time ....
Actually, there is no time ... there is just an Essence. Don't ask me what an Essence is, just read on.
This story begins with ..., Wait!
This story does not have a beginning. We cannot define 'beginning'. There is no concept of beginning or end. Remember, there is no time. But there is substance, so there must just be forever.
Not the forever 'we' talk about:
"I'm forever forgetting to clean the garage."
"It's taking forever for him to call."
"The meeting seemed to go on forever."
We are not talking about our normal use of the word 'forever' ...but, forever and ever.
The word 'we' was used three, now four times. I wrote the word and you read it, so I guess 'we' are admitting that 'we' do exist. So when you pick up this book to read, only you and I exist for sure ...no baby crying, no spousal ignoring, or shirking your duties.
What I'm saying is, there are times when you should not be pretending only you and I exist, so find a time when it is appropriate for only you and me to exist, okay?
So it's just you and me, right?
ix.
Wrong!! ... not yet.
Remember, there are just forever and this 'Essence'. So let us start there.
But that's the problem ...what is 'start'? For there to be a 'start', there has to be 'time' ...some event.
No problem, let's just create time.
Wait a minute!!
(You're right, if there's no time, then there's no minute.)
There's no choice at this point, so JUST WAIT!!
We can't create time because 'we' aren't here yet. And that's the biggest problem we've encountered so far: 'We' think 'we' are in charge of it all. But we forget that there's just an 'Essence'.
That's it!! The Essence, in the very beginning ...wrong again!
The Essence always was ...and is. Anything that didn't always exist, and then begins to, must be the beginning, and that in itself brings about the concept of time.
Now we are getting, I mean, the story is getting somewhere. The Essence creates the "once upon a time".
Finally, the story begins. And since we don't come into the picture immediately, at this point the Essence has to tell the story. But since we don't usually understand what we can't see, the Essence has to soon create us. But we don't commonly see that which is in darkness either, so that will be taken care of first to avoid further confusion. We have to get out of darkness so we can start reading this story.
x.
So the Essence creates an event, and certain 'beings' are part of that event also, not seeing the event, but seeing the resulting creation, inclusive of themselves. But we humans are not part of this event. These 'beings' would dazzle us with their splendor if we were here ...but, none of us are.
Then something happens! It would move us from aspiration to dreaded fear, if we were there to see it. It does not at all appear to be good.
Suddenly, everything that was, ceases.
But if it ceases to be, then why the presence of the question?
To be certain, a big pause just took place. Fear still dominates the unknown ...though the chaos has succumbed to nothingness.
Everything is in darkness. There is no direction. Doubt riddles any thought or purpose.
Questions without answers do not ease this moment of uncertainty, as waiting without hope breeds insanity, wondering when the violent madness may strike again. And any past splendor, joy, or good seems in need of reassessment or redefinition ...perhaps all along just part of the treachery.
Now what!?!
It is as if someone suddenly releases the pause button.
There is Light. Everything becomes clear. There is no darkness to be found. Things resume motion ...rapid motion. Things take form under restored direction. Eagerness is for the revelation of renewed purpose. And there is the feeling that this purpose is good.
One thing is very clear. The change is the result of the Light. And this change brings celebration, in song.
This song is not shared by all ...as darkness is given its place. Yes, the song disturbs some ...but the Light defines where darkness can roam.
The focus of the creative force is frighteningly restrictive at this point, to those who had aforehand experienced such vast freedoms. Yet, this minuscule part of the universe is where the understanding of this focus will be realized. Life itself can only be measured by comparison and contrast; otherwise theoretically it could go almost unnoticed.
Among the familiarity of life eternal is an unfamiliar temporary existence. Creatures whose existence can scarcely be worth mention, provide an insignificant variation of form and function. Yet, life eternal is brought to this place.
There is one creature upon whom a definite significance is to be bestowed, with a purpose that's difficult to comprehend. This 'selection' supposedly has both a temporary existence and an eternal nature. Temporary existence, though seemingly of less importance, must actually be a key function of yet unknown nature. Up until now, there's been no concern …no limitations. The introduction of this new creature breeds a nagging curiosity.
Wrong!! ... not yet.
Remember, there are just forever and this 'Essence'. So let us start there.
But that's the problem ...what is 'start'? For there to be a 'start', there has to be 'time' ...some event.
No problem, let's just create time.
Wait a minute!!
(You're right, if there's no time, then there's no minute.)
There's no choice at this point, so JUST WAIT!!
We can't create time because 'we' aren't here yet. And that's the biggest problem we've encountered so far: 'We' think 'we' are in charge of it all. But we forget that there's just an 'Essence'.
That's it!! The Essence, in the very beginning ...wrong again!
The Essence always was ...and is. Anything that didn't always exist, and then begins to, must be the beginning, and that in itself brings about the concept of time.
Now we are getting, I mean, the story is getting somewhere. The Essence creates the "once upon a time".
Finally, the story begins. And since we don't come into the picture immediately, at this point the Essence has to tell the story. But since we don't usually understand what we can't see, the Essence has to soon create us. But we don't commonly see that which is in darkness either, so that will be taken care of first to avoid further confusion. We have to get out of darkness so we can start reading this story.
x.
So the Essence creates an event, and certain 'beings' are part of that event also, not seeing the event, but seeing the resulting creation, inclusive of themselves. But we humans are not part of this event. These 'beings' would dazzle us with their splendor if we were here ...but, none of us are.
Then something happens! It would move us from aspiration to dreaded fear, if we were there to see it. It does not at all appear to be good.
Suddenly, everything that was, ceases.
But if it ceases to be, then why the presence of the question?
To be certain, a big pause just took place. Fear still dominates the unknown ...though the chaos has succumbed to nothingness.
Everything is in darkness. There is no direction. Doubt riddles any thought or purpose.
Questions without answers do not ease this moment of uncertainty, as waiting without hope breeds insanity, wondering when the violent madness may strike again. And any past splendor, joy, or good seems in need of reassessment or redefinition ...perhaps all along just part of the treachery.
Now what!?!
It is as if someone suddenly releases the pause button.
There is Light. Everything becomes clear. There is no darkness to be found. Things resume motion ...rapid motion. Things take form under restored direction. Eagerness is for the revelation of renewed purpose. And there is the feeling that this purpose is good.
One thing is very clear. The change is the result of the Light. And this change brings celebration, in song.
This song is not shared by all ...as darkness is given its place. Yes, the song disturbs some ...but the Light defines where darkness can roam.
The focus of the creative force is frighteningly restrictive at this point, to those who had aforehand experienced such vast freedoms. Yet, this minuscule part of the universe is where the understanding of this focus will be realized. Life itself can only be measured by comparison and contrast; otherwise theoretically it could go almost unnoticed.
Among the familiarity of life eternal is an unfamiliar temporary existence. Creatures whose existence can scarcely be worth mention, provide an insignificant variation of form and function. Yet, life eternal is brought to this place.
There is one creature upon whom a definite significance is to be bestowed, with a purpose that's difficult to comprehend. This 'selection' supposedly has both a temporary existence and an eternal nature. Temporary existence, though seemingly of less importance, must actually be a key function of yet unknown nature. Up until now, there's been no concern …no limitations. The introduction of this new creature breeds a nagging curiosity.
xi.
The breeding ground is this ridiculous orb. This orb, scarcely important enough to be named, is called Earth. This appears to be the only focus now. It seems the function of everything else is as an immense backdrop. But, why? Is this Earth to be presented as a stage scene; to a bit play of cruel entertainment? And how long can this torment of unanswered questions go on?
This Earth is populated with life in such a limited capacity, called plant life and animal life. The animal life exercises a preference called pairing. The pairing draws no significance to the uninterested observer, yet it is told that the pairing always brings together male and female. But the observer's curiosity goes well beyond this. And there's an uneasy feeling about this whole thing.
Curiosity's focus hones in on the significance of the newly introduced eternal creatures who join an already base order of function. These eternal creatures, called humans, also have affections to be paired up as male and female.
Beyond imagination, this staggering insignificant detail on this orb ...is incomprehensible. Why is life limited to this singular orb within such a vastness of space? Such restrictiveness is maddening! Yet, the male and female humans are made to believe they are not restricted. They are told they can have the fruit of any tree that they want.
What!?! What is happening now? What crudeness is being formed out of the mud? The sun has barely risen on this sixth day of creation, and it's time to play in the mud?
Well, that was different ...all that to just form one more male human, and to set him upon a high rock to oversee the activity below?
Now what? Nothing like getting a little soiled ...a special bit of care for just a bunch of trees. They all look the same ...well, except for a couple of them. And why is this place out of the way, where others can't access it? This place is set apart for an obvious special purpose, but what is that purpose?
That muddy male human looks from his rocky ledge over to the guarded area. From this vantage point the only forms of life he can see is plants.
Suddenly, he is carried, as if by a wind, to that area.
The wind seems to have dried the mud somewhat ...and he can just brush the dirt off. As he does that, he is given a sort of commission to tend to the area. He had just begun familiarizing himself with the area outside the guarded area, with a bit of instruction and knowledge ...and now he is placed in a new position.
He doesn't quite understand ...outside this guarded area he had a sense of purpose as he observed what was around him, and learning of their interactions. And outside the guarded area he had witnessed that everyone was a bit more free ...as they didn't have to tend to any plants, and they could freely eat all they wanted. On the other hand, he's told he isn't allowed to eat from one of the trees. Yet, he is told he is special, that he was not just created, but that life was actually breathed into him. Thinking about all this, he has to catch his breath.
There is much less around him now, and he wonders what his new sense of purpose fully entails. And he doesn't understand this special significance of breath that he has. Holding his hand up to his face, it does not seem as fresh as holding a fruit up to his nose, that is for sure.
He doesn't have to wait long, and two of each of the creatures called animals are also introduced to this area, making life a bit more familiar and interesting. Yet, only one human ...he seems to be the only human reserved with the right to roam here. It sort of seems like a privilege, but does he alone have purpose? Does he alone have direction? And he doesn't feel he likes this 'alone' thing.
Suddenly, he is carried, as if by a wind, to that area.
The wind seems to have dried the mud somewhat ...and he can just brush the dirt off. As he does that, he is given a sort of commission to tend to the area. He had just begun familiarizing himself with the area outside the guarded area, with a bit of instruction and knowledge ...and now he is placed in a new position.
He doesn't quite understand ...outside this guarded area he had a sense of purpose as he observed what was around him, and learning of their interactions. And outside the guarded area he had witnessed that everyone was a bit more free ...as they didn't have to tend to any plants, and they could freely eat all they wanted. On the other hand, he's told he isn't allowed to eat from one of the trees. Yet, he is told he is special, that he was not just created, but that life was actually breathed into him. Thinking about all this, he has to catch his breath.
There is much less around him now, and he wonders what his new sense of purpose fully entails. And he doesn't understand this special significance of breath that he has. Holding his hand up to his face, it does not seem as fresh as holding a fruit up to his nose, that is for sure.
He doesn't have to wait long, and two of each of the creatures called animals are also introduced to this area, making life a bit more familiar and interesting. Yet, only one human ...he seems to be the only human reserved with the right to roam here. It sort of seems like a privilege, but does he alone have purpose? Does he alone have direction? And he doesn't feel he likes this 'alone' thing.
He doesn't have to wait long though. From his own being …the female is created.
These two eternal creatures alone ...stand separate from all others as they enjoy this guarded area, and it doesn't seem to be lonely anymore. The playful activity of the animals are often not even noticed as they gaze at one another. Having everything they need, they have no desire for anything else ...or anyone else. They are content.
xii.
The male and female are happy to communicate with each other. Nothing else seems to affect them. They only have affections for each other at this time. Though only the male had seen outside the guarded area.
Was he tempted by what he had seen outside the guarded area? Or is it more effective to tempt the imagination, the curiosity of what one has not seen?
And is it harmless to imagine things that are not actually true?
What about outside the guarded area?
The significance of that progression covers much time, inclusive of the influence of the two. The humans quickly find their own purposes. They divide into their own groups. They also desire each other's affections, but in groups which they call kingdoms and cities. They move from cooperation to corporations, from family loyalty to corporate loyalty, and then to no loyalty at all.
How about going back to the first corporation? That would lend to more understanding. But, that would require going way back to even before the darkness.
Okay, the thought came up ...so those thoughts will be explored, of how it may have been before the darkness.
The person who began this first corporation, heads the meeting ...and invites comments.
The most vocal member speaks up, "I'd like to try my own hand at this."
He senses the corporate head's disapproval, and quickly rephrases his statement, "What I'm really saying, is that I'd like to be a light unto you, per say; a chip off the old block. We could all be representatives in our own sectors. I'd like to take the responsibility of representing you, if you'd allow me to have my own sector."
The corporate head does not reflect disappointment in his tone, "But the corporation belongs to everyone. If anyone or everyone should separate themselves to individual singular sectors, then it would deny the mutual freedoms you all now have."
The vocal member persists, "I would gladly give up those freedoms to be able to represent you the best way I can in a single sector. I don't have a desire for all the freedoms of the corporation. I only desire to proudly represent you the best way I can. And I feel I can best demonstrate that in a single sector."
The male and female are happy to communicate with each other. Nothing else seems to affect them. They only have affections for each other at this time. Though only the male had seen outside the guarded area.
Was he tempted by what he had seen outside the guarded area? Or is it more effective to tempt the imagination, the curiosity of what one has not seen?
And is it harmless to imagine things that are not actually true?
What about outside the guarded area?
The significance of that progression covers much time, inclusive of the influence of the two. The humans quickly find their own purposes. They divide into their own groups. They also desire each other's affections, but in groups which they call kingdoms and cities. They move from cooperation to corporations, from family loyalty to corporate loyalty, and then to no loyalty at all.
How about going back to the first corporation? That would lend to more understanding. But, that would require going way back to even before the darkness.
Okay, the thought came up ...so those thoughts will be explored, of how it may have been before the darkness.
The person who began this first corporation, heads the meeting ...and invites comments.
The most vocal member speaks up, "I'd like to try my own hand at this."
He senses the corporate head's disapproval, and quickly rephrases his statement, "What I'm really saying, is that I'd like to be a light unto you, per say; a chip off the old block. We could all be representatives in our own sectors. I'd like to take the responsibility of representing you, if you'd allow me to have my own sector."
The corporate head does not reflect disappointment in his tone, "But the corporation belongs to everyone. If anyone or everyone should separate themselves to individual singular sectors, then it would deny the mutual freedoms you all now have."
The vocal member persists, "I would gladly give up those freedoms to be able to represent you the best way I can in a single sector. I don't have a desire for all the freedoms of the corporation. I only desire to proudly represent you the best way I can. And I feel I can best demonstrate that in a single sector."
xiii.
The corporate head looks over the membership, then back to the one who had addressed the group, "I still contend that we could each best serve by all having the freedoms presently bestowed upon us, but if you venture to say you'd like to try it this other way, I will ask for a vote of the membership."
The corporate head looks over the membership, then back to the one who had addressed the group, "I still contend that we could each best serve by all having the freedoms presently bestowed upon us, but if you venture to say you'd like to try it this other way, I will ask for a vote of the membership."
After the vote is held, the corporate head addresses the entire membership, "One third of you agree that you'd like to try the change. That is a large number. I will therefore assign special tasks in assigned sectors to those who voted for the change. I ask only that the third remain while I pass out the assignments. Everyone else is dismissed."
The third remains while the corporate head assigns the various sectors, "Here, you may look over the description of your sectors. Remain here, and I will return to give you a more specific description of the duties and responsibilities of each sector."
The corporate head leaves. He stops temporarily outside the meeting place, and hands a stack of papers to one of his messengers before departing.
The vocal one watches the corporate head depart before he addresses the third left behind, "I would venture to say that though we have our own sectors now, we stand within a difficult arrangement unless we band together. We can hold our own meetings and vote on the activities we deem important for our new positions."
The messenger hurries to find the corporate head.
The messenger soon realizes that the corporate head is already waiting for him. The other two-thirds of the membership are there also. The messenger somehow feels the corporate head already knows. The corporate head invites comment, "What do you think? Do any of you want to join and have your own sector? And explain your reasons to me."
xiv.
Those who wish to speak take a turn, listing reasons:
"You've given us freedoms to everything there is within the corporation. I am grateful for that. I've always been happy to serve you. I'm content with the corporate arrangement."
"I too am happy with the arrangement. I don't need to build a name for myself. Everything began with you. You built it up. We could never manage the corporation as you have. We still drink from the wells of prosperity of what you've solely invested. You put life into the corporation. Trying to separate from your ideals would surely take from what we now have. How could we ever trust anyone else to handle even a portion of the corporation with as much care as you have?"
"You are the corporation. How can we not accept that? Our loyalty is to you, to the corporation. Pride comes by us trying to show you what we can accomplish …as if we are doing it on our own. In reality, we can accomplish nothing without you. Pride is an excuse; lacking insight. We need to show gratefulness, not independence."
"Our own desires would only bring exclusiveness."
xv.
The meeting stretches on and on ...and on. Everyone who wishes to speak has a turn and more than adequate opportunity to voice their feelings on the manner. Only the messenger, who'd entered in the back, is eager to speak.
The messenger hesitates, "It is a grievous thing, those who've separated themselves from you. I believe I am who I am because of you. All my praise and thanks go to you. I could never imagine leaving your side, let alone bringing word of what would come of those who'd desire to do so."
The corporate head turns from the crowd and speaks, "I would have suggested it myself if there were no harm in it; but I know what seed sprouts from its core when sown in corruption. It bears fruit that delights in every way, but the appetite will never again be quenched. You could search forever and there'd be no more gratefulness tomorrow than there was earlier today. A decision was made today, and there is no spirit of sorrow. What we've experienced is a spirit void of transformation. They've experienced the fullness and turned away from it."
The corporate head turns back to the crowd, and then focuses directly at the messenger, "Tell them what you overheard today."
The messenger repeats exactly what he had heard, then adds, "I see that they have decided to form their own rules and eventually their own corporation. I just can't believe they wouldn't realize it would be to their own demise. There is no transfer of sovereignty. I see contentiousness, not inner peace. There is no inner peace in deciding to draw life away from you." The messenger pauses before concluding, "But one more thing I realized when I came to report to you. You already knew. You know us better than we know ourselves. You knew before today who sincerely followed you and who didn't. You knew the third would depart."
xvi.
Wait! This could be the late 1900's as I remember it, or the present 2000's. Or is it the beginning of time? Or the end, and who would know it? Is this the first millennium, the last millennium, one in between, or inclusive of past, present and future? Is the head of the corporation symbolic or is it a corporation as we know it today? Or could it represent a head of a country, an international organization, or merely a head of household?
What did my husband mean by all of this? Okay, maybe I don't need to know. The spirit of it all ...the motivation, the commitment, or the lack of it is all the same.
I remember him speaking of a disaster drill he had to go through in the prison. The lights had gone out and it was so dark. Everything was at a standstill ...like I am with this writing. When you are in complete darkness, you search for answers. But you find little comfort. I'm also finding little comfort here. It's real difficult to think, let alone write. It was sweet of my daughter to try to write it for me. She showed a lot of interest for quite some time, gathering facts and news clippings. But then when it came time to write, I guess she struggled just like I am ...but in a different way. Her way is so healthy. She has the proper zest for life. I try to encourage her in those beautiful ways that she is unlike me.
I told her to join her cousin on their adventure; that I'd write the book. But even if I forget about everything else that went on, it's still ...I mean, I can't. And even if I could, I don't know whether that was the prologue and this should be the beginning chapter, or whether he intended for there to be two beginnings. But there has to be only one beginning ...or is that just a distraction, and perhaps we should focus only on 'our' beginning.
The meeting stretches on and on ...and on. Everyone who wishes to speak has a turn and more than adequate opportunity to voice their feelings on the manner. Only the messenger, who'd entered in the back, is eager to speak.
The messenger hesitates, "It is a grievous thing, those who've separated themselves from you. I believe I am who I am because of you. All my praise and thanks go to you. I could never imagine leaving your side, let alone bringing word of what would come of those who'd desire to do so."
The corporate head turns from the crowd and speaks, "I would have suggested it myself if there were no harm in it; but I know what seed sprouts from its core when sown in corruption. It bears fruit that delights in every way, but the appetite will never again be quenched. You could search forever and there'd be no more gratefulness tomorrow than there was earlier today. A decision was made today, and there is no spirit of sorrow. What we've experienced is a spirit void of transformation. They've experienced the fullness and turned away from it."
The corporate head turns back to the crowd, and then focuses directly at the messenger, "Tell them what you overheard today."
The messenger repeats exactly what he had heard, then adds, "I see that they have decided to form their own rules and eventually their own corporation. I just can't believe they wouldn't realize it would be to their own demise. There is no transfer of sovereignty. I see contentiousness, not inner peace. There is no inner peace in deciding to draw life away from you." The messenger pauses before concluding, "But one more thing I realized when I came to report to you. You already knew. You know us better than we know ourselves. You knew before today who sincerely followed you and who didn't. You knew the third would depart."
xvi.
Wait! This could be the late 1900's as I remember it, or the present 2000's. Or is it the beginning of time? Or the end, and who would know it? Is this the first millennium, the last millennium, one in between, or inclusive of past, present and future? Is the head of the corporation symbolic or is it a corporation as we know it today? Or could it represent a head of a country, an international organization, or merely a head of household?
What did my husband mean by all of this? Okay, maybe I don't need to know. The spirit of it all ...the motivation, the commitment, or the lack of it is all the same.
I remember him speaking of a disaster drill he had to go through in the prison. The lights had gone out and it was so dark. Everything was at a standstill ...like I am with this writing. When you are in complete darkness, you search for answers. But you find little comfort. I'm also finding little comfort here. It's real difficult to think, let alone write. It was sweet of my daughter to try to write it for me. She showed a lot of interest for quite some time, gathering facts and news clippings. But then when it came time to write, I guess she struggled just like I am ...but in a different way. Her way is so healthy. She has the proper zest for life. I try to encourage her in those beautiful ways that she is unlike me.
I told her to join her cousin on their adventure; that I'd write the book. But even if I forget about everything else that went on, it's still ...I mean, I can't. And even if I could, I don't know whether that was the prologue and this should be the beginning chapter, or whether he intended for there to be two beginnings. But there has to be only one beginning ...or is that just a distraction, and perhaps we should focus only on 'our' beginning.
xvii.
In the beginning there was only the Essence. And would I suppose he eventually created me so I could write this story and pass it on to others? Or is that all wrong? I feel the story was meant to be told, but it's too confusing to be certain. It's too dark to read. You read on without me. But don't add anything. Though it seems like I'm already adding a lot. Maybe the Essence should tell the story.
Okay, the Essence creates the beginnings of all that we see. And of course, we are created so we can see it. Now that we can see, we can really begin the story ...assuming somewhere along the way we learn to read.
This is becoming way too philosophical. We need some understanding, but let's not critique the story, let's just tell it. Or let's have the Essence tell it, as we agree.
xviii.
In the beginning there was only the Essence. And would I suppose he eventually created me so I could write this story and pass it on to others? Or is that all wrong? I feel the story was meant to be told, but it's too confusing to be certain. It's too dark to read. You read on without me. But don't add anything. Though it seems like I'm already adding a lot. Maybe the Essence should tell the story.
Okay, the Essence creates the beginnings of all that we see. And of course, we are created so we can see it. Now that we can see, we can really begin the story ...assuming somewhere along the way we learn to read.
This is becoming way too philosophical. We need some understanding, but let's not critique the story, let's just tell it. Or let's have the Essence tell it, as we agree.
xviii.
This story spans the past, present and future. Yet there is no claim of accurate representation of the past...nor of the present.
As for the future, it is not intended to be prophetic.
To what claim then, is this story?
Categorically, this is a fictional story.
But it cannot be denied that its intent is to bring thought to that which is not fiction.
Once upon a time …
The Essence created the beginnings of all that we see ...and also created were some things that we cannot see.
The things that we cannot see are very interesting. But on the other hand, they often tend to scare us. This is particularly so because we don't understand what we cannot see. And anyway, there are things we just probably wouldn't understand, so it's better not to tell us. At least not until the proper time. So let's focus on what we can see.
Can you see a conflict here? The Essence has created me and everything else; therefore it is not my story to tell, but rather the Essence's story. You may agree with that, especially since the Essence sees the things we don't see and sees them precisely as they were created, in having created them. And obviously my knowledge of that is limited. But then there's 'my nature' emerging. I want more than to be a reader.
I want to be an author. I want the story to be more interesting. What should scare me, actually intrigues me.
Would I claim to see that which I cannot see? Would I try to take over the story from the Essence? In essence, would I try to appoint myself in the position of the Essence?
At this point you don't know who is telling the story, but the story will proceed more rapidly from here on.
7
The nature of one of the 'beings' was introduced during the attempt to steal the authorship of this story. But that's for you to sort out.
Not to contradict what was already stated, the Essence was forever ...and "once upon a time", created time. Other 'beings' other than ourselves were created also. These 'beings' were created unlike us in many ways. They were created with much power and were created to never die.
But the essence of one of the 'beings' wanted to be like the Essence. In wanting to be like the Essence, this 'being', in essence, was much unlike the Essence. And this 'being' had no knowledge of what was going to happen.
In opposing the Essence, this 'being' convinced other 'beings' to join in the opposition. Joining in this opposition, they were merely exercising their rights to a difference of opinion ...another point of view. Rather harmless, right?
The Essence addresses this Opposition Leader, "I created you with all of your power and all of your splendor, why would you oppose the one who made you everything you are?"
The Opposition Leader (T.O.L.) does not answer the question, but instead answers with a question, "What are You, my Creator, going to do ...uncreate me?"
The Essence: "How does one answer a question with a question? Why did you choose to go against me?"
T.O.L.: "I chose to go against you because you created me with the ability to choose. Why didn't you create me as a star, to shine as you command and do nothing else?"
The Essence: "That contradicts my very essence. The act of willingly, by choice, doing what you are intended to do, brings light to one aspect of my absoluteness …not to be taken lightly."
TOL remains silent.
The Essence: "You were given the most splendor of all the 'beings' that I've created. That should have brought about, at least, some form of thankfulness, not ungratefulness. After all, I am the Essence who created you. Everything was made possible by me, including the choice. All I desired of you was for you to reflect that portion which I had given you. Should that not create reason and purpose enough?"
The things that we cannot see are very interesting. But on the other hand, they often tend to scare us. This is particularly so because we don't understand what we cannot see. And anyway, there are things we just probably wouldn't understand, so it's better not to tell us. At least not until the proper time. So let's focus on what we can see.
Can you see a conflict here? The Essence has created me and everything else; therefore it is not my story to tell, but rather the Essence's story. You may agree with that, especially since the Essence sees the things we don't see and sees them precisely as they were created, in having created them. And obviously my knowledge of that is limited. But then there's 'my nature' emerging. I want more than to be a reader.
I want to be an author. I want the story to be more interesting. What should scare me, actually intrigues me.
Would I claim to see that which I cannot see? Would I try to take over the story from the Essence? In essence, would I try to appoint myself in the position of the Essence?
At this point you don't know who is telling the story, but the story will proceed more rapidly from here on.
7
The nature of one of the 'beings' was introduced during the attempt to steal the authorship of this story. But that's for you to sort out.
Not to contradict what was already stated, the Essence was forever ...and "once upon a time", created time. Other 'beings' other than ourselves were created also. These 'beings' were created unlike us in many ways. They were created with much power and were created to never die.
But the essence of one of the 'beings' wanted to be like the Essence. In wanting to be like the Essence, this 'being', in essence, was much unlike the Essence. And this 'being' had no knowledge of what was going to happen.
In opposing the Essence, this 'being' convinced other 'beings' to join in the opposition. Joining in this opposition, they were merely exercising their rights to a difference of opinion ...another point of view. Rather harmless, right?
The Essence addresses this Opposition Leader, "I created you with all of your power and all of your splendor, why would you oppose the one who made you everything you are?"
The Opposition Leader (T.O.L.) does not answer the question, but instead answers with a question, "What are You, my Creator, going to do ...uncreate me?"
The Essence: "How does one answer a question with a question? Why did you choose to go against me?"
T.O.L.: "I chose to go against you because you created me with the ability to choose. Why didn't you create me as a star, to shine as you command and do nothing else?"
The Essence: "That contradicts my very essence. The act of willingly, by choice, doing what you are intended to do, brings light to one aspect of my absoluteness …not to be taken lightly."
TOL remains silent.
The Essence: "You were given the most splendor of all the 'beings' that I've created. That should have brought about, at least, some form of thankfulness, not ungratefulness. After all, I am the Essence who created you. Everything was made possible by me, including the choice. All I desired of you was for you to reflect that portion which I had given you. Should that not create reason and purpose enough?"
8
TOL: "You mean, I was created only to be thankful? I would thank you to leave me alone."
The Essence: "I will leave you alone for a time. You will learn what it means to be grateful. But you will also learn that you are powerless to escape my presence."
The far reaches of the universe shrink away.
TOL: "So you are stripping me of my splendor."
The Essence: "Only that which you did not appreciate." Countless galaxies melt away.
TOL: "You are taking me to the lowest ...no, what you are doing is the lowest."
The Essence: "We haven't even begun."
TOL: "What have you done? You've taken me beyond recognition. You are hiding me beyond the very fabric of existence. I cannot exist in this sort of isolation. And what is this misfit star? The other stars are beholding its simple domain and singing, but I cannot even share the faintest note."
The Essence: "I have sent you to what you may consider an insignificant speck in the universe because that is what you have thought of me and of the splendor I had set apart for you. You will see my choice of 'beings' there, called Humans. You will learn from them. They will teach you what it is like to be thankful."
TOL is angry that he'd been escorted to this insignificant speck in the universe where he is to learn. But his only motivation is to find the purpose, so he can strive against it and bring accusations of injustice.
TOL sees many types of creatures he had not seen before, but they are of no interest to him. He only wants to see the two types called human beings.
It doesn't take long before he convinces himself that he's figured it all out. The human beings pair up somewhat similar to the other creatures, but in sharp contrast to the other creatures …they are the ones with the eternal spirit.
TOL hasn't quite figured out their purpose, but if they don't have one, maybe he can lend a hand.
TOL: "You mean, I was created only to be thankful? I would thank you to leave me alone."
The Essence: "I will leave you alone for a time. You will learn what it means to be grateful. But you will also learn that you are powerless to escape my presence."
The far reaches of the universe shrink away.
TOL: "So you are stripping me of my splendor."
The Essence: "Only that which you did not appreciate." Countless galaxies melt away.
TOL: "You are taking me to the lowest ...no, what you are doing is the lowest."
The Essence: "We haven't even begun."
TOL: "What have you done? You've taken me beyond recognition. You are hiding me beyond the very fabric of existence. I cannot exist in this sort of isolation. And what is this misfit star? The other stars are beholding its simple domain and singing, but I cannot even share the faintest note."
The Essence: "I have sent you to what you may consider an insignificant speck in the universe because that is what you have thought of me and of the splendor I had set apart for you. You will see my choice of 'beings' there, called Humans. You will learn from them. They will teach you what it is like to be thankful."
TOL is angry that he'd been escorted to this insignificant speck in the universe where he is to learn. But his only motivation is to find the purpose, so he can strive against it and bring accusations of injustice.
TOL sees many types of creatures he had not seen before, but they are of no interest to him. He only wants to see the two types called human beings.
It doesn't take long before he convinces himself that he's figured it all out. The human beings pair up somewhat similar to the other creatures, but in sharp contrast to the other creatures …they are the ones with the eternal spirit.
TOL hasn't quite figured out their purpose, but if they don't have one, maybe he can lend a hand.
9
TOL sees their insignificant display of function and immediately decides to confront the Essence.
TOL: "I see you have given this one type of creature an eternal spirit like I have, but they have no power and no splendor. They are not much better than those other creatures you have created. What good can they find in being created?"
The Essence: "You never did understand, but I've put you here to learn."
TOL: "How am I to learn? Are you going to show me this worthless spirit, to teach me what I am to become because I opposed you?"
The Essence: "No, you were created the way you were created. You will never become a human, nor any other creature."
TOL: "So how am I to learn from those human beings and their mindless activity?"
The Essence: "Just observe. Allow your mind to be filled with what you see."
TOL: "I've already filled my mind with my greatest desires, but you took that away. Now you want to leave me with this empty hope."
The Essence: "Sometimes it's best to empty yourself before you are filled."
TOL: "Like you tried to fill my mind? I found much more freedom and gratification in having my own thoughts."
The Essence: "Did you just have your own thoughts? Or did you do the very thing you are attempting to accuse me of ? You find fault in the freedoms I give and in my filling your mind. Yet when you freely chose to go against me, you didn't just have your own thoughts. You filled many others like yourself with thoughts against me."
TOL: "So, are these creatures going to have a choice? Or are they going to do your bidding only?"
TOL sees their insignificant display of function and immediately decides to confront the Essence.
TOL: "I see you have given this one type of creature an eternal spirit like I have, but they have no power and no splendor. They are not much better than those other creatures you have created. What good can they find in being created?"
The Essence: "You never did understand, but I've put you here to learn."
TOL: "How am I to learn? Are you going to show me this worthless spirit, to teach me what I am to become because I opposed you?"
The Essence: "No, you were created the way you were created. You will never become a human, nor any other creature."
TOL: "So how am I to learn from those human beings and their mindless activity?"
The Essence: "Just observe. Allow your mind to be filled with what you see."
TOL: "I've already filled my mind with my greatest desires, but you took that away. Now you want to leave me with this empty hope."
The Essence: "Sometimes it's best to empty yourself before you are filled."
TOL: "Like you tried to fill my mind? I found much more freedom and gratification in having my own thoughts."
The Essence: "Did you just have your own thoughts? Or did you do the very thing you are attempting to accuse me of ? You find fault in the freedoms I give and in my filling your mind. Yet when you freely chose to go against me, you didn't just have your own thoughts. You filled many others like yourself with thoughts against me."
TOL: "So, are these creatures going to have a choice? Or are they going to do your bidding only?"
10
The Essence: "They will have a choice just like you had."
TOL: "Had? You mean I won't be able to express my views like I did before? You are going to silence me? If you do that, then they will have no real choice; will they? A choice is not a choice unless there is more than one thing to choose from."
The Essence: "They will have a choice."
TOL: "So you will allow me to teach them about choices?
The Essence: "You are filled with accusations. You are constantly judging me as unfair. Would I allow you to warp the meaning of justice and consider that a fair choice? ...Certainly not!"
TOL: "Let us both present our views and let them be the judge."
The Essence: "You continue to suggest this and that, as if the way I am handling things is unjust. But you are no judge. The most significant judging you will do is in judging yourself."
TOL: "That is what I wanted all along. But you say that without allowing me to do it. If I am to judge myself, then I judge myself to have all my freedoms returned."
The Essence: "I'm not allowing that. You will be judged through the one I will show you."
TOL: "How can I judge myself and be judged by someone else at the same time?"
The Essence: "You will be the judge of the choice you make. The standard by which you will be judged will come through this Man."
The Essence takes TOL to a special place. The Essence creates a Man and breathes his own breath into the Man.
TOL: "So the judgment you will fairly execute upon me will come through this man? "
The Essence: "Yes, through this Man. He will live here and you will live here."
The Essence: "They will have a choice just like you had."
TOL: "Had? You mean I won't be able to express my views like I did before? You are going to silence me? If you do that, then they will have no real choice; will they? A choice is not a choice unless there is more than one thing to choose from."
The Essence: "They will have a choice."
TOL: "So you will allow me to teach them about choices?
The Essence: "You are filled with accusations. You are constantly judging me as unfair. Would I allow you to warp the meaning of justice and consider that a fair choice? ...Certainly not!"
TOL: "Let us both present our views and let them be the judge."
The Essence: "You continue to suggest this and that, as if the way I am handling things is unjust. But you are no judge. The most significant judging you will do is in judging yourself."
TOL: "That is what I wanted all along. But you say that without allowing me to do it. If I am to judge myself, then I judge myself to have all my freedoms returned."
The Essence: "I'm not allowing that. You will be judged through the one I will show you."
TOL: "How can I judge myself and be judged by someone else at the same time?"
The Essence: "You will be the judge of the choice you make. The standard by which you will be judged will come through this Man."
The Essence takes TOL to a special place. The Essence creates a Man and breathes his own breath into the Man.
TOL: "So the judgment you will fairly execute upon me will come through this man? "
The Essence: "Yes, through this Man. He will live here and you will live here."
11
TOL: "And the one who pleases you the most wins. Of course this man will please you more. He is subservient by his nature, having no knowledge. He has no real freedoms, but he doesn't know it. He doesn't know what he is missing. You've restricted him in a way that you've restricted me, but he has no knowledge of power or splendor. He doesn't even know he is restricted. Put a restriction on him or let him know he is restricted and he will not delight in you."
The Essence interrupts, "You want me to put a restriction on him to see how he acts? I will tell him he can't eat the fruit off that tree."
TOL: "Of course, you give him so much food to eat, he doesn't even hunger, why would he even want to eat that fruit when he has more than enough to eat without it?"
The Essence: "You had more than enough and wanted more."
TOL: "But I had knowledge of it. And I felt it within my grasp. I imagined I was you. It was the best feeling!"
The Essence: "There's a difference between sharing what is yours and taking what is not yours. Giving someone something that they don't have is different from taking something away from one person so another can have it."
TOL: "This man doesn't even realize what he doesn't have."
The Essence: "That fruit is not his to have. I will tell him he can't have it. That is his restriction. One further restriction for you is that you can't touch the Man. If he eats the fruit, it will be his own decision, not by any coercion from you. If he eats the fruit, he will take away from his relationship with me and have knowledge what it is like to be like you."
The Essence puts forth the restriction to the Man, but then quickly takes the Man on a tour of this special area. The Essence points out the different animal creatures to the Man and describes them by nature, attributes and character.
TOL: "And the one who pleases you the most wins. Of course this man will please you more. He is subservient by his nature, having no knowledge. He has no real freedoms, but he doesn't know it. He doesn't know what he is missing. You've restricted him in a way that you've restricted me, but he has no knowledge of power or splendor. He doesn't even know he is restricted. Put a restriction on him or let him know he is restricted and he will not delight in you."
The Essence interrupts, "You want me to put a restriction on him to see how he acts? I will tell him he can't eat the fruit off that tree."
TOL: "Of course, you give him so much food to eat, he doesn't even hunger, why would he even want to eat that fruit when he has more than enough to eat without it?"
The Essence: "You had more than enough and wanted more."
TOL: "But I had knowledge of it. And I felt it within my grasp. I imagined I was you. It was the best feeling!"
The Essence: "There's a difference between sharing what is yours and taking what is not yours. Giving someone something that they don't have is different from taking something away from one person so another can have it."
TOL: "This man doesn't even realize what he doesn't have."
The Essence: "That fruit is not his to have. I will tell him he can't have it. That is his restriction. One further restriction for you is that you can't touch the Man. If he eats the fruit, it will be his own decision, not by any coercion from you. If he eats the fruit, he will take away from his relationship with me and have knowledge what it is like to be like you."
The Essence puts forth the restriction to the Man, but then quickly takes the Man on a tour of this special area. The Essence points out the different animal creatures to the Man and describes them by nature, attributes and character.
12
The Essence: "See these birds, how they float and soar!"
The Man: "I'd like to float and soar."
The Essence: "I made you low to the ground. Not as low as some, but still low to the ground. That is called humble. That is a good thing."
The Man: "Thank you for making me humble."
The Essence: "As you have seen, some have great sight, but better to have insight. And better to be distracted like the sheep, yet easily directed, than to be focused in the wrong direction."
The Man: "Thank you for showing me the right direction."
The Essence: "The huge elephant is not only graceful, but sensitive too. The deer's attentiveness gathers in the surroundings. They all benefit more from knowing, not guessing. There are others considered wild, yet eager to yield and obey. Attentiveness and meekness are good character traits."
As the Essence shows the Man all the animals, it is a very instructive day; the Man being shown each with a description of attributes, nature, and character.
The Man observes, "These animals you have created in pairs and they delight in one another. Do you have a partner for me that you are saving for last to show me?"
The Man finds delight in this guided tour. But this casual delight infuriates TOL. And to make it worse, TOL feels that the Essence has created some of these animals with characteristics that TOL himself has; while pointing out to the Man other creatures that have better character. But all are lowly to TOL because none have the character of power and splendor that he once had.
Each time the Essence does this character comparison, TOL deepens his anger. He despises this place.
The Man: "I have thoroughly enjoyed this day."
The Essence: "The day is not done. Take a rest and when you awaken, I will have a special gift for you."
The Essence: "See these birds, how they float and soar!"
The Man: "I'd like to float and soar."
The Essence: "I made you low to the ground. Not as low as some, but still low to the ground. That is called humble. That is a good thing."
The Man: "Thank you for making me humble."
The Essence: "As you have seen, some have great sight, but better to have insight. And better to be distracted like the sheep, yet easily directed, than to be focused in the wrong direction."
The Man: "Thank you for showing me the right direction."
The Essence: "The huge elephant is not only graceful, but sensitive too. The deer's attentiveness gathers in the surroundings. They all benefit more from knowing, not guessing. There are others considered wild, yet eager to yield and obey. Attentiveness and meekness are good character traits."
As the Essence shows the Man all the animals, it is a very instructive day; the Man being shown each with a description of attributes, nature, and character.
The Man observes, "These animals you have created in pairs and they delight in one another. Do you have a partner for me that you are saving for last to show me?"
The Man finds delight in this guided tour. But this casual delight infuriates TOL. And to make it worse, TOL feels that the Essence has created some of these animals with characteristics that TOL himself has; while pointing out to the Man other creatures that have better character. But all are lowly to TOL because none have the character of power and splendor that he once had.
Each time the Essence does this character comparison, TOL deepens his anger. He despises this place.
The Man: "I have thoroughly enjoyed this day."
The Essence: "The day is not done. Take a rest and when you awaken, I will have a special gift for you."
13
The Man falls asleep and the Essence moves about.
Anger clouds TOL's thoughts. He shatters his silence, "You've created this Man to have delight in you! He scarcely had time to gather knowledge of anything outside the guarded area! He can only communicate with you because you have not given any of these creatures in the guarded area the language we have. And you've kept him guarded from all the others who are like him; whom he otherwise would be able to communicate with. You are keeping a hedge of protection around him and keeping him all to yourself. You don't allow him to have the same companionship as the other creatures. He has even asked you if you were saving up a partner for him and you side-stepped the issue. You said you'd give him a gift later. What, …a basket of fruit?"
The Essence: "I am going to give him a Woman."
While TOL is consumed by his anger, the Essence creates a creature called "Woman" from the very essence of Man.
The Woman looks into the Man's eyes. The Man looks into her eyes; still in a dreamy state, yet knowing he is awake.
The Man: "The Essence said I was to have a gift when I awoke, but never did I think I'd get such a wonderful gift."
The Woman feels the joy dancing within his eyes. And his smile brings about her first smile.
The Woman: "Tell me about the Essence."
The Man takes her by the hand, "This is a wonderful place. I will show you all the animals, but first I must show you the tree from which we cannot eat. Follow me."
TOL tries not to let anger cloud his thoughts. The Essence is going to judge him through this Man, yet this Man has, to his own limited knowledge, everything to satisfy his hunger. And now he has a Woman to be his companion. Is TOL's judgment based on whether the Man obeys or not, concerning a stupid little thing he is asked not to do? Is the Essence trying to say this worthless creature is better than TOL himself, based solely upon his restraint from eating the fruit of one tree?
14
TOL is certain he can get the Man to eat the fruit if he can only talk to him. Yet the Essence forbids him from touching the Man. Only the Essence and this Woman are allowed to talk to the Man. It is not a choice. The Essence orders the Man what to do and the Man in turn orders the Woman. Such a convenient arrangement.
TOL witnesses something quite different though. The Man is not ordering the Woman. The Man is finding delight in leading a tour throughout the area and showing the woman all the different creatures, just like the Essence had done with the Man.
The Essence is pleased. The Essence observes the Man's joy as the Man points out the different animals to the Woman. The Man is in a very happy spirit. The man does not remember the character lessons of all the animals, but he has much time to learn. Meanwhile, the Essence is pleased with the joy the Man is showing.
The Man sings with joy:
Eagle's eye, soar high above
The Man falls asleep and the Essence moves about.
Anger clouds TOL's thoughts. He shatters his silence, "You've created this Man to have delight in you! He scarcely had time to gather knowledge of anything outside the guarded area! He can only communicate with you because you have not given any of these creatures in the guarded area the language we have. And you've kept him guarded from all the others who are like him; whom he otherwise would be able to communicate with. You are keeping a hedge of protection around him and keeping him all to yourself. You don't allow him to have the same companionship as the other creatures. He has even asked you if you were saving up a partner for him and you side-stepped the issue. You said you'd give him a gift later. What, …a basket of fruit?"
The Essence: "I am going to give him a Woman."
While TOL is consumed by his anger, the Essence creates a creature called "Woman" from the very essence of Man.
The Woman looks into the Man's eyes. The Man looks into her eyes; still in a dreamy state, yet knowing he is awake.
The Man: "The Essence said I was to have a gift when I awoke, but never did I think I'd get such a wonderful gift."
The Woman feels the joy dancing within his eyes. And his smile brings about her first smile.
The Woman: "Tell me about the Essence."
The Man takes her by the hand, "This is a wonderful place. I will show you all the animals, but first I must show you the tree from which we cannot eat. Follow me."
TOL tries not to let anger cloud his thoughts. The Essence is going to judge him through this Man, yet this Man has, to his own limited knowledge, everything to satisfy his hunger. And now he has a Woman to be his companion. Is TOL's judgment based on whether the Man obeys or not, concerning a stupid little thing he is asked not to do? Is the Essence trying to say this worthless creature is better than TOL himself, based solely upon his restraint from eating the fruit of one tree?
14
TOL is certain he can get the Man to eat the fruit if he can only talk to him. Yet the Essence forbids him from touching the Man. Only the Essence and this Woman are allowed to talk to the Man. It is not a choice. The Essence orders the Man what to do and the Man in turn orders the Woman. Such a convenient arrangement.
TOL witnesses something quite different though. The Man is not ordering the Woman. The Man is finding delight in leading a tour throughout the area and showing the woman all the different creatures, just like the Essence had done with the Man.
The Essence is pleased. The Essence observes the Man's joy as the Man points out the different animals to the Woman. The Man is in a very happy spirit. The man does not remember the character lessons of all the animals, but he has much time to learn. Meanwhile, the Essence is pleased with the joy the Man is showing.
The Man sings with joy:
Eagle's eye, soar high above
Loyal peaceful, cooing dove
Lumbering bear, antlered caribou
Leap like a cat or kangaroo
Attentive as a deer, blind as a mole
Furry animals in trees, others in holes
One-hump camel or maybe two
Furry animals in trees, others in holes
One-hump camel or maybe two
Mammoth elephant to pigmy shrew
Giraffes so tall, up to the trees
Hyenas laugh …check out the monkeys!
Rooster crow and grizzly growl
Rooster crow and grizzly growl
Zebra stripes and spotted owl
Feathered bird that cannot fly
Squirrels and fish, they all will try
Cuddly bunny, not porcupine …
White stripe on black, watch for that sign!
Cuddly bunny, not porcupine …
White stripe on black, watch for that sign!
TOL is certain this delight will end. He repeats in his head the entire argument he had posed against the Essence. The Woman is gathering food for the Man and serving him with delight. But that will end. The moment she stops doing it, he'll still expect it. Then she will no longer delight in doing it.
TOL continues to contemplate these unfair conditions. This Man is worthless and afraid. The Essence has told him he will lose his worthless life-force if he eats of the fruit. And besides being afraid, how can Man desire something when there is no knowledge of it? This Man can't desire what he's never had; nor what he has no knowledge of.
15
TOL continues to rehearse his list of accusations. The Essence had said the tree contains the fruit of knowledge, but if they haven't eaten of it, there is not that knowledge. And if there is no knowledge, how can there be any desire of it? Without knowledge there is also no real vision of choice.
TOL waits in anxious anticipation for any change between the Man and the Woman. But the Man and Woman continue to delight in one another as they walk hand in hand. The Woman continues to follow after the Man and everything he does. And the Man has what TOL himself had desired, a follower of his own. The Man is satisfied as the Woman submits to him. She honors what he says. But what choice does she have? Who else does she have to listen to? The Essence spoke to Man, but only the Man speaks to the Woman. The Man had to tell the Woman what it was that the Essence had said. She has never heard a voice aside from the Man's.
Wait! The Woman doesn't know what another voice sounds like! And the Essence never said I couldn't touch the mind of the Woman, I only can't touch the Man. And the Man will no longer have his delight if the Woman doesn't follow him.
That's it! I will go to the Woman. I will show her my splendor and she will see there's much more to gain by following me instead of the Man. The Man will then feel desperate and afraid of losing his companion. So afraid, he will trade one fear for another.
TOL hesitates, momentarily contemplating that thought. The Woman was not created to understand nor feel the power or splendor. She has no knowledge of it or how it feels. She may be afraid.
The Essence thinks I need to learn. This time I will do the teaching. I will teach the Essence a thing or two. I will surprise the Woman. I will use my power, but not show it. I will use my power to speak through a creature. I will speak the Woman's language, not the creature's. She will be surprised because she has only heard the Man, not the Essence. I will confuse her and cast doubt in her mind. This will work! I will not hurry. I will choose just the right moment.
TOL waits. He watches as the Woman tries to please the Man. The Woman gets up early every morning and gathers fruit for the Man, so he has something to satisfy his hunger when he awakens.
What is the Essence trying to show me? That this Woman was created for the Man, to please him and to be satisfied with that? Am I supposed to learn that I was created with similar purpose and should have been satisfied with pleasing the Essence?
16
This Woman is a weak and despicable creature. TOL is beginning to hate her even more than the Man. She is a mindless follower. She has no knowledge of anything. But I will confound and confuse her. I will cause her to see things differently. She will doubt.
The Woman has only one admirable quality which I am confident she will soon demonstrate. She will choose the same as I did. She will choose against the Man just like I chose against the Essence. She will please herself and not the Man. She will want more than was given to her. She will desire the knowledge. And I will lead her to it.
TOL chooses his moment. He watches as the Woman once again gets up early in the morning. The Man is still asleep. The Woman begins to gather fruit for the Man. TOL surprises her by speaking through the mouth of a creature familiar to the guarded area. TOL (through the creature): "What are you doing?"
The Woman is surprised, but not afraid: "I didn't know you could talk?"
TOL: "And I didn't know you could talk. I am equally surprised. I think you are a fascinating creature. I was just interested in what you were doing."
The Woman: "I am just gathering fruit to eat."
TOL: "Why are you not gathering some of the best fruit?"
The Woman: "What do you mean?"
TOL: "Follow me." He draws her attention to a certain tree. "That fruit over there …it's the best! The Man will be very pleased."
The Woman: "But he said not to eat of the fruit of that tree or to touch it. He will not be pleased if I bring it to him."
TOL: "Why did he say not to pick the best fruit?"
The Woman: "Because if we do, the Essence will take away our life-force."
TOL: "You won't lose your life-force. See, I'm touching it. I was not able to speak your language, but one day I accidentally bumped into this fruit and suddenly I was able to speak like you. I have since experienced so many marvelous and wonderful things. The Essence doesn't want you to eat the fruit because if you do, you gain knowledge and become like the Essence."
17
TOL anxiously waits, as the Woman takes in what he had just said, "Certainly your Man will be pleased if you help him gain knowledge and become like the Essence, whom he regards so highly."
* * * * * * *
TOL is pleased with himself as the Woman gives the Man the fruit also. It is just as TOL had anticipated. The Man had feared losing his companion. This fear now bonds them together in rebellion against the Essence. And TOL finds great satisfaction in watching the couple suffer defeat as they are sent out of the guarded area. TOL had been angry, but getting even is much more satisfying ...and it brings with it a new air of confidence.
TOL: "A few short words to the woman and she follows. Then the man follows her. So, you wanted me to observe and learn? Let me see what the score is. The woman followed me, so that's one for me. The man followed the woman, so that's one for her. And no one followed you. That's zero for you. Anything else you'd like me to learn?"
The Essence: "You will learn much. You continue to challenge my righteousness. You will be certain to learn how futile that will be."
TOL: "Don't get all upset now. I'm merely doing the same as you. You try to enlighten me and I am trying to enlighten you. It's not my fault that you are confined to this sick nature of yours, this righteousness thing. You are the one who gave the choice. The way I see it, that decision prevents you from judging me. Your own righteousness forbids it."
The Essence: "Even though they didn't follow me this once, they are not pleased with their decision. Their desire to follow me will return."
TOL: "Of course, if you treat them with more care and privileges, they won't walk away from the good they have."
The Essence: "I have sent them out from under my guard. They will have the same privileges as everyone else."
TOL: "So, you are satisfied with having this one Man and Woman, and not at all concerned about the others?"
18
The Essence: "I'm concerned with all."
TOL: "You said I'm going to be judged through this one man and he failed your test. Don't tell me that you're going back on your word and saying you're concerned with all now. Now that the man has failed you, are you going to choose another? And how many times must the test fail before you realize none will follow you? Besides, you said I'd be judged through this man. And since you claim to be fair, I demand to be set free now."
The Essence: "No, I'm not going to choose another man. This man and woman will share with others all the knowledge and all the good I've given them. There will be a few who will follow them, and in turn, follow me."
TOL: "Will you also allow them to share the part of how they disobeyed you, and the consequences you gave them?"
The Essence: "I will lead them and they will lead others as they choose to; out of their own desires to tell others of me."
TOL: "So when they tell of how they had a delightful life and you changed all that, making them work and experience pain simply because they disobeyed you, what do you call that? I don't call that really following you. They will only follow out of fear of consequences."
The Essence: "You haven't."
19
TOL hesitates for the slightest moment. Sometimes hesitation can be looked at as a strength; yet at this moment TOL considers it a weakness.
TOL: "I no longer need to fear. I don't even know why I'm arguing about how this man and woman will act or how the others will interact with them. You hold fast to your fairness, and you said I'd be judged through this man. He failed the test. That should free me of your judgment. I don't care what happens to any of the rest of these lowly creatures. Through your own word, I want off this orb."
The Essence: "I will show you what 'through this Man' means. Man and woman will bond in a certain way and they will bring forth a tiny Being that is much like themselves. They will become 'pair'ents of a 'being' which will come from them, 'through them'. They will spend many years before the 'being' develops into someone more fully like themselves. This 'being' will be called their child. And the man and woman will have to care for the developing child until it has matured and is able to make decisions independently. But they will be taught not to make decisions independent of me. The children will be led to follow me, and if others choose to follow, I will accept them also as my children."
TOL: "This is very clever of you to wait until now to tell me what 'through this Man' means. So now he has a child 'through' him. But it doesn't matter. I am certain that each man, given the choice, will become independent by separating himself from you. And when that child grows, as you say, into an adult, he will set an example to his children who will separate even more from you. I am confident that each will find occasion to disobey you."
The Essence: "You are overconfident and always so full of your accusations. You are so busy challenging me that you don't spend enough time challenging your own thoughts or choice of words."
TOL: "Okay, instead of accusing you of not telling the truth, I'll just ask you. When you told the Man that he'd lose his life-force if he didn't obey you, what did you mean by that? It's obvious that he didn't lose his life-force, so what did it mean?"
The Essence: "His unbroken relationship with me is his life-force. He separated himself from me with his disobedience. And even now his temporary life is waning."
20
TOL: "Yet he still has his eternal life-force, something he doesn't quite understand. But he didn't even have enough fear of what he did understand. You threatened to take away the Man's life-force if he didn't obey you. That really, really says it all, doesn't it? He still disobeyed you. He was willing to risk losing his life-force to go against you."
The Essence: "There will be those who are willing to give their whole life-force to obey me."
TOL: "And how often will it take for you to see that given the precise circumstances, everyone will find opportunity to go the route I did and rebel against you?"
The Essence does not answer ....time will answer.
*******
21
TOL witnesses the relationship between Man and Woman, and the bond they have. TOL witnesses the birth of their first child, then their second. They tell their children about the Essence and how they failed to restrain from the fruit of one tree. They tell of some of the fruits of their labor. They teach their children to give up the first fruits, and how to set them aside. Just like Dad & Mom were told not to eat the fruit from the best tree, they practice setting aside the best for the Essence, instead of reserving it for their own desires.
As the children begin to grow, the first child learns to raise crops, learning to work the hours of the sun. The second child sings songs as he tends to the sheep. By necessity, his job is to guard at night also, especially when the lambs come.
TOL speaks to the first young man, "How nice! You are preparing an offering to the Essence. What do you have to show?"
First child: "This is my show bread."
TOL: "I see you are giving the Essence your best of show. Whose bread is that over there?"
First child: "That's mine."
TOL: "None for brother? Or dad and mom?"
First child: "No, I save them some grain. They make their own bread."
TOL: "Where is the grain?"
First child: "In that bag over there."
TOL: "The bag is only two-thirds full."
First child: "It was full just yesterday."
TOL: "I think your brother has been feeding that pet lamb with some of your grain."
First child: "I will hide the grain from now on. And my brother will get the smallest portion."
22
A couple weeks go by and it is the day marked as the seventh. The second child returns with his flock after a long journey looking for new pastures. He is very hungry, but he knows his pet lamb must be hungry also. He sees the bread and offers some to his pet lamb.
At that very moment, his brother walks in, "What are you doing? That's my show bread."
Second child: "I am sorry. I didn't realize. I will bake you another loaf of bread."
First child: "Don't bother. The Essence is used to the way I make bread. I will not have you mess up my offering."
Second child: "I am really sorry. Please forgive me."
The second child hesitates, waiting for his brother's response. There is no acceptance to the apology. The second child slowly departs.
TOL reminds the first child of his dad's experience of disobeying the Essence, and how he almost lost his life-force. TOL is confident that he has the first child's attention.
TOL: "That show bread was for the Essence. Your brother took the Essence's bread. He is judging his life-force above the Essence. And look, he took your best bread, yet he will not offer his best. He is still saving his pet lamb."
TOL is about to bring that fact up to the Essence when the second child bursts into tears.
Second child; "I am so sorry. You are the Essence my dad and mom have told me about. How could I hide the truth from you? I have kept my best lamb, this pet lamb of mine."
The second child then offers his pet lamb to the Essence.
23
* * * * * * * *
The first child had built intolerance for his brother. Forgiveness was absent from within him, and he'd become a victim of it. He'd also made his brother a victim.
The Essence does not address TOL.
TOL knows the Essence is aware that he'd prodded the first child to turn against his own brother. The Essence addresses the first child instead, telling him he must leave the presence of his family.
The Man is hurt. The loss of one child is devastating enough, and now he will lose the other as that child is sent away. As a result of the pain of this intense loss, the Man stops calling out to the Essence.
The Man and Woman don't discuss it either. After a bit the Woman begins to feel it should be discussed, but the Man shows no desire to discuss it. And as time goes on, it becomes easier not to discuss anything at all.
The Woman is dealing with unbearable guilt. She feels it's all her fault. She seeks out the Man's approval, but feels attention is only given through his strong sense of responsibility. He doesn't want to discuss anything of substance, and merely speaks when spoken to.
The Woman feels she has to do something. Perhaps something out-of-the-ordinary will work. She is desperate for his approval.
She reminds him of how the Essence clothed them, providing a covering, after their disobedience. With this in mind, the Woman says her covering is not covering her like it once had, as it is getting worn and a bit worn out. She asks the Man to give her a gnu dress.
This animal has long black hair on its neck and back. Since he no longer seems to pay attention to her long black hair, she will transfer that worth for her own desire for it. Her gnu dress will be the mane attraction.
Her real desire though, is for another child. This time it will be nice to have a daughter. She could teach her precious daughter all about caring for herself, and always insisting upon a gnu dress.
The Woman has to wait many years though. And she begins to change the way she looks at things. She begins to think of her husband more, instead of concerning herself with whether he thinks of her.
When the time finally comes, the Woman decides she must live unselfishly. Upon the birth of their child, the Man and Woman, not expressing desires to each other, begin to nurture their third son.
24
The man and woman begin to set down rules and expectations for their third son. They travel about with their flock of sheep and share with others about the experience with their first two sons. They also share the experiences they've had with the Essence. Those who listen and try to follow with setting down standards for their own children, become friends and travel with the man and woman.
TOL hates the way the man and woman have set up rules and expectations for their child. It reminds him of the set expectations the Essence has for him. And TOL hates the way the child obeys, so helpless and dependent.
TOL despises the relationship of husband and wife, but worse is the parent and child relationship. The Essence has somehow created it so this disgusting child actually desires being told what to do by his dad. Yet when food is scarce on their journey, both the man and the woman make sure the child eats first. The man insists that the woman eat second, and he will even go without if there's not enough for all of them.
As the third child matures, TOL tries to get them to fear the different people they come upon in their travels. The Essence doesn't even address the fear because it doesn't exist at this point for the man and woman. The man and woman have a dual purpose in life. They aim at raising their children in the proper fashion, and they also tell others about the Essence.
They are eager to tell others, certainly not fearing anyone because of a mere difference in skin tone. Following the ways of the Essence is more than skin deep.
One family decides to travel with the man and woman. They have a daughter, and she marries the man and woman's third son.
TOL objects when the third son and his wife have a child, "So, this child is through the third child who is through the man and woman whom I am to be judged through. Through and through they continue to go against you. Yet, you continue to say he's not the one, he's not the one. If he disobeys you he's obviously not the one; yet neither will the next one be, or the next. Why don't you just give up? There will never be one."
** * * * * * **
After ten generations of through and through, the Essence has few followers. One man and his wife have three sons who take wives from three separate tribes. Only the eight of them follow the Essence at this time.
25
TOL wants to boast that he'd been right after all. Everyone has occasion to rebel against the Essence. And the rebellion feeds on itself …and thrives.
TOL feels that the Essence has not chosen to have been made available to the people. The whole earth has virtually turned away from the Essence. It has been quite some time now, since the Essence has made an appearance. But this time the Essence directly approaches TOL.
The Essence: "Have you seen what sort of existence the people have when they rebel against me? They have no consideration for each other, and they live in the most vile ways."
TOL: "Everyone seems to displease you. Some of the things you consider vile are actually just mutual benefit. After all, they are just lowly creatures. They have nothing better to do than show disregard for one another. On the other hand, you and I know what pleases us. We desire power and splendor. If they were like us, they would not bother with little disgusting things. How long will it take before you realize we all just want to live our lives? No one seems to live up to your standards except one man. And how long will that last? They ridicule him so thoroughly. Everyone considers him crazy, except his own three sons. Many say that his sons may grow to be even crazier than their dad. But what choice do they have? By your own design he is training up his children in the way they should go."
The Essence: "He is not crazy. He is obeying me."
TOL: "Then maybe it's you with the crazy expectations. You expect everyone to obey, and we simply don't want to. How long will it take you to realize that?"
The Essence then plans something that TOL doesn't expect. The eight who stand in obedience, endure long-suffering of much work and ridicule. Then to the surprise of TOL, the Essence takes away the guard from the guarded area. Was the Essence allowing access for all to the guarded area?
But before anyone can enter, a parade of animals exit the previously guarded area. Announced by an elephant's trumpet, they parade straight to the shelter of comfort provided for them by the eight who had endured such long-suffering for their sake.
The people scoff at the architectural skills of the eight, stating that the shelter will never withstand the activity of all the animals. But the Essence slams the door on their doubts, sealing the work with a bond none can destroy. And those outside the shelter have no idea what a calming influence the Essence brings to the animals.
Then as ridiculous as it seems to all the others, catastrophic changes dominate the entire scene.
TOL watches.
When it is over, TOL appears much satisfied.
26
TOL: "How many times are you willing to start over? You like starting over, don't you? You like demonstrating your power. I know I did. Really, the same thing pleases you and me. We desire that power, and enjoy using it."
The Essence: "You are nothing like me."
TOL: "Nothing in comparison to your power. You very adequately demonstrated that. The power of creation and the power of destruction. Such a pleasing cycle, isn't it? May I have a turn at it?"
The Essence: "You've already had a turn. You've committed to destroying from the inside-out. Through temporal means, you've worked to destroy that which is eternal. I destroyed that which is temporal to save that which is eternal. You focused on corrupting my followers as well as the entire earth. Since you won't refrain from your intrusions on my people, I have made it easy for you. There are only eight to focus on. But things will be different now. For the next three generations, the temporal life of man and woman will only be one half of what it had been, then the next, one half again. And the same will be true of the animals. Those mighty creatures, the reptiles, grow every year of their life. I will cut their life span in half, then in half again. They will grow to only half their size, then only half again ...then they will eventually only live one tenth of the years they once had, and little consideration will be given to that same creature that was once greatly feared, but now only one tenth of its size. And as I cut them down, I will let everyone know that I may do the same to any other that considers themselves mighty. As for my purpose, I will establish a mighty nation of people who will follow me as a child follows his father. And I will lead my people as a father leads his children."
The Essence departs, leaving TOL with his own silent fury. TOL hates being limited in what he can do. But maybe it will be easier now. He only has four men to concentrate on. TOL has had success with fruit. He will use grapes. With the heat of the day and the passage of time, the moment presents itself.
Once again TOL rises to the challenge and finds success and temporary satisfaction. TOL convinces himself that the Essence will not be able to create a nation of people to follow as a child follows his father. This one child is already on his way to report to his other two brothers against their father.
27
TOL is anxious for the Essence to witness this with him. TOL waits. The Essence's presence is not made known. But soon TOL is relieved that the Essence did not share in this moment. The two brothers do not share in the disrespect towards their father. The Essence does not share observations with TOL at this time, though the Essence does observe the two sons providing a blanket solution to the problem.
The Essence sees much in providing a covering with correct intent. But from a different perspective, TOL is driven to distort and expose everything the Essence holds sacred.
The one who'd disrespected his father soon has a son. The son learns to disrespect his grandfather and later his own father. The disrespect travels to third and fourth generations. They distance themselves emotionally, but live in close proximity, still in fear of venturing out from what their elders have taught them.
A meeting has been called. The eldest of the elders is not too fond of the meeting in the city, nor of the tower site. But he does feel it is important to say what he has to say.
The eldest of the elders steps to the upper platform. The entire tower appears to be a tower of people. All the terraces are packed with people within the "in lying" areas as well as the outlying areas. The men occupy the upper terraces and the women and children find their places below.
The eldest of elders claims the Essence speaks to him. Then he shares a story about a big boat that contained the beginnings of every living creature they will ever see on land. Some of the grandchildren and great grandchildren snicker, trying to hold back their laughter. One grandchild speaks up:
"You are laughing and many of you say that Grandpa is crazy, but you also tell a story about a big boat. You say you floated at the top of the earth. You say the waters have receded and the animals have spread out all these years. Why have we ourselves feared to spread out? Do we fear that if we don't stick together, the Essence will destroy us? And if this Essence saved my father and grandfather, then why couldn't we all be gathered together again and be saved?" (taking a big sigh) Why have we spent all this time building a tower? Why are we gathered together today? Couldn't the Essence just lift us up into the air from wherever we're at and spare us from any destruction below? Grandfather says it will never happen again the way of a worldwide flood, but father fears it may. Or maybe destruction will be from fire next time. We fear so many forms of destruction, but do you want to know what I believe ....or perhaps you don't want to know. but I feel I must say it anyway. I believe we're destroying life itself by not enjoying it."
The Essence approaches TOL.
But TOL doesn't wait, blurting out: "Are you disappointed that you weren't invited to this meeting? Well, I'm glad you could join us. It's proving to be very interesting."
28
The Essence: "What do you find of particular interest?"
TOL: "Most of them don't believe you floated a big boat with all those living creatures. They think the story is funny. Even some of the ones who believe this big boat story, join the others in laughter. You have a rather pathetic group you call believers. How can they believe you created the universe and not believe you could float a boat?"
The Essence: "Some believe I can do anything. There are a respectful few who believe I floated a big boat, and they would also believe I could float the very land they live on. Others would not believe even if I gathered up the believers into the air for all to see, or if I shook the very foundations of what they believe. And I will do just that. I will break apart this tower. I will shake their newfound foundations ...as they have left for ruin the ones I have set for them.
TOL: "Why can't you ever stay focused? There are some very important decisions they are about to make."
The Essence: "Oh, I know ...yet they don't know how they are really hurting themselves. And no, my decisions alone will not make them believe. Some day they will study all of what I've done, and see that I floated the very land they live on. They will fit it all together in their own way and say it took over billions of years to come into existence. They will also look at the divided masses of land which they'll call continents, and they will find a pattern by which I divided them. They will see that they fit like a puzzle, and they will figure out an understanding of how the continents floated over those millions upon billions. They will call it continental drift. But they won't believe I could float them. How will they explain where all the water has been going after the flood? They'd rather float their own ideas. They will say the flood never happened. They will only look at life as a puzzle for them to solve, instead of looking to me for every piece and the glory of it. I created the picture. I am the author of it. Would they think every piece just fell into place by itself?"
TOL: "This meeting has fallen into place quite nicely, but you are talking in riddles."
The Essence: "Things often appear in riddles if you're not patient enough for them to be revealed to you. For those who don't believe in me, I'll further confound their world with things they can't understand. They laugh and call my leader crazy. You will see the crazy ideas they will follow."
TOL continues to contemplate these unfair conditions. This Man is worthless and afraid. The Essence has told him he will lose his worthless life-force if he eats of the fruit. And besides being afraid, how can Man desire something when there is no knowledge of it? This Man can't desire what he's never had; nor what he has no knowledge of.
15
TOL continues to rehearse his list of accusations. The Essence had said the tree contains the fruit of knowledge, but if they haven't eaten of it, there is not that knowledge. And if there is no knowledge, how can there be any desire of it? Without knowledge there is also no real vision of choice.
TOL waits in anxious anticipation for any change between the Man and the Woman. But the Man and Woman continue to delight in one another as they walk hand in hand. The Woman continues to follow after the Man and everything he does. And the Man has what TOL himself had desired, a follower of his own. The Man is satisfied as the Woman submits to him. She honors what he says. But what choice does she have? Who else does she have to listen to? The Essence spoke to Man, but only the Man speaks to the Woman. The Man had to tell the Woman what it was that the Essence had said. She has never heard a voice aside from the Man's.
Wait! The Woman doesn't know what another voice sounds like! And the Essence never said I couldn't touch the mind of the Woman, I only can't touch the Man. And the Man will no longer have his delight if the Woman doesn't follow him.
That's it! I will go to the Woman. I will show her my splendor and she will see there's much more to gain by following me instead of the Man. The Man will then feel desperate and afraid of losing his companion. So afraid, he will trade one fear for another.
TOL hesitates, momentarily contemplating that thought. The Woman was not created to understand nor feel the power or splendor. She has no knowledge of it or how it feels. She may be afraid.
The Essence thinks I need to learn. This time I will do the teaching. I will teach the Essence a thing or two. I will surprise the Woman. I will use my power, but not show it. I will use my power to speak through a creature. I will speak the Woman's language, not the creature's. She will be surprised because she has only heard the Man, not the Essence. I will confuse her and cast doubt in her mind. This will work! I will not hurry. I will choose just the right moment.
TOL waits. He watches as the Woman tries to please the Man. The Woman gets up early every morning and gathers fruit for the Man, so he has something to satisfy his hunger when he awakens.
What is the Essence trying to show me? That this Woman was created for the Man, to please him and to be satisfied with that? Am I supposed to learn that I was created with similar purpose and should have been satisfied with pleasing the Essence?
16
This Woman is a weak and despicable creature. TOL is beginning to hate her even more than the Man. She is a mindless follower. She has no knowledge of anything. But I will confound and confuse her. I will cause her to see things differently. She will doubt.
The Woman has only one admirable quality which I am confident she will soon demonstrate. She will choose the same as I did. She will choose against the Man just like I chose against the Essence. She will please herself and not the Man. She will want more than was given to her. She will desire the knowledge. And I will lead her to it.
TOL chooses his moment. He watches as the Woman once again gets up early in the morning. The Man is still asleep. The Woman begins to gather fruit for the Man. TOL surprises her by speaking through the mouth of a creature familiar to the guarded area. TOL (through the creature): "What are you doing?"
The Woman is surprised, but not afraid: "I didn't know you could talk?"
TOL: "And I didn't know you could talk. I am equally surprised. I think you are a fascinating creature. I was just interested in what you were doing."
The Woman: "I am just gathering fruit to eat."
TOL: "Why are you not gathering some of the best fruit?"
The Woman: "What do you mean?"
TOL: "Follow me." He draws her attention to a certain tree. "That fruit over there …it's the best! The Man will be very pleased."
The Woman: "But he said not to eat of the fruit of that tree or to touch it. He will not be pleased if I bring it to him."
TOL: "Why did he say not to pick the best fruit?"
The Woman: "Because if we do, the Essence will take away our life-force."
TOL: "You won't lose your life-force. See, I'm touching it. I was not able to speak your language, but one day I accidentally bumped into this fruit and suddenly I was able to speak like you. I have since experienced so many marvelous and wonderful things. The Essence doesn't want you to eat the fruit because if you do, you gain knowledge and become like the Essence."
17
TOL anxiously waits, as the Woman takes in what he had just said, "Certainly your Man will be pleased if you help him gain knowledge and become like the Essence, whom he regards so highly."
* * * * * * *
TOL is pleased with himself as the Woman gives the Man the fruit also. It is just as TOL had anticipated. The Man had feared losing his companion. This fear now bonds them together in rebellion against the Essence. And TOL finds great satisfaction in watching the couple suffer defeat as they are sent out of the guarded area. TOL had been angry, but getting even is much more satisfying ...and it brings with it a new air of confidence.
TOL: "A few short words to the woman and she follows. Then the man follows her. So, you wanted me to observe and learn? Let me see what the score is. The woman followed me, so that's one for me. The man followed the woman, so that's one for her. And no one followed you. That's zero for you. Anything else you'd like me to learn?"
The Essence: "You will learn much. You continue to challenge my righteousness. You will be certain to learn how futile that will be."
TOL: "Don't get all upset now. I'm merely doing the same as you. You try to enlighten me and I am trying to enlighten you. It's not my fault that you are confined to this sick nature of yours, this righteousness thing. You are the one who gave the choice. The way I see it, that decision prevents you from judging me. Your own righteousness forbids it."
The Essence: "Even though they didn't follow me this once, they are not pleased with their decision. Their desire to follow me will return."
TOL: "Of course, if you treat them with more care and privileges, they won't walk away from the good they have."
The Essence: "I have sent them out from under my guard. They will have the same privileges as everyone else."
TOL: "So, you are satisfied with having this one Man and Woman, and not at all concerned about the others?"
18
The Essence: "I'm concerned with all."
TOL: "You said I'm going to be judged through this one man and he failed your test. Don't tell me that you're going back on your word and saying you're concerned with all now. Now that the man has failed you, are you going to choose another? And how many times must the test fail before you realize none will follow you? Besides, you said I'd be judged through this man. And since you claim to be fair, I demand to be set free now."
The Essence: "No, I'm not going to choose another man. This man and woman will share with others all the knowledge and all the good I've given them. There will be a few who will follow them, and in turn, follow me."
TOL: "Will you also allow them to share the part of how they disobeyed you, and the consequences you gave them?"
The Essence: "I will lead them and they will lead others as they choose to; out of their own desires to tell others of me."
TOL: "So when they tell of how they had a delightful life and you changed all that, making them work and experience pain simply because they disobeyed you, what do you call that? I don't call that really following you. They will only follow out of fear of consequences."
The Essence: "You haven't."
19
TOL hesitates for the slightest moment. Sometimes hesitation can be looked at as a strength; yet at this moment TOL considers it a weakness.
TOL: "I no longer need to fear. I don't even know why I'm arguing about how this man and woman will act or how the others will interact with them. You hold fast to your fairness, and you said I'd be judged through this man. He failed the test. That should free me of your judgment. I don't care what happens to any of the rest of these lowly creatures. Through your own word, I want off this orb."
The Essence: "I will show you what 'through this Man' means. Man and woman will bond in a certain way and they will bring forth a tiny Being that is much like themselves. They will become 'pair'ents of a 'being' which will come from them, 'through them'. They will spend many years before the 'being' develops into someone more fully like themselves. This 'being' will be called their child. And the man and woman will have to care for the developing child until it has matured and is able to make decisions independently. But they will be taught not to make decisions independent of me. The children will be led to follow me, and if others choose to follow, I will accept them also as my children."
TOL: "This is very clever of you to wait until now to tell me what 'through this Man' means. So now he has a child 'through' him. But it doesn't matter. I am certain that each man, given the choice, will become independent by separating himself from you. And when that child grows, as you say, into an adult, he will set an example to his children who will separate even more from you. I am confident that each will find occasion to disobey you."
The Essence: "You are overconfident and always so full of your accusations. You are so busy challenging me that you don't spend enough time challenging your own thoughts or choice of words."
TOL: "Okay, instead of accusing you of not telling the truth, I'll just ask you. When you told the Man that he'd lose his life-force if he didn't obey you, what did you mean by that? It's obvious that he didn't lose his life-force, so what did it mean?"
The Essence: "His unbroken relationship with me is his life-force. He separated himself from me with his disobedience. And even now his temporary life is waning."
20
TOL: "Yet he still has his eternal life-force, something he doesn't quite understand. But he didn't even have enough fear of what he did understand. You threatened to take away the Man's life-force if he didn't obey you. That really, really says it all, doesn't it? He still disobeyed you. He was willing to risk losing his life-force to go against you."
The Essence: "There will be those who are willing to give their whole life-force to obey me."
TOL: "And how often will it take for you to see that given the precise circumstances, everyone will find opportunity to go the route I did and rebel against you?"
The Essence does not answer ....time will answer.
*******
21
TOL witnesses the relationship between Man and Woman, and the bond they have. TOL witnesses the birth of their first child, then their second. They tell their children about the Essence and how they failed to restrain from the fruit of one tree. They tell of some of the fruits of their labor. They teach their children to give up the first fruits, and how to set them aside. Just like Dad & Mom were told not to eat the fruit from the best tree, they practice setting aside the best for the Essence, instead of reserving it for their own desires.
As the children begin to grow, the first child learns to raise crops, learning to work the hours of the sun. The second child sings songs as he tends to the sheep. By necessity, his job is to guard at night also, especially when the lambs come.
TOL speaks to the first young man, "How nice! You are preparing an offering to the Essence. What do you have to show?"
First child: "This is my show bread."
TOL: "I see you are giving the Essence your best of show. Whose bread is that over there?"
First child: "That's mine."
TOL: "None for brother? Or dad and mom?"
First child: "No, I save them some grain. They make their own bread."
TOL: "Where is the grain?"
First child: "In that bag over there."
TOL: "The bag is only two-thirds full."
First child: "It was full just yesterday."
TOL: "I think your brother has been feeding that pet lamb with some of your grain."
First child: "I will hide the grain from now on. And my brother will get the smallest portion."
22
A couple weeks go by and it is the day marked as the seventh. The second child returns with his flock after a long journey looking for new pastures. He is very hungry, but he knows his pet lamb must be hungry also. He sees the bread and offers some to his pet lamb.
At that very moment, his brother walks in, "What are you doing? That's my show bread."
Second child: "I am sorry. I didn't realize. I will bake you another loaf of bread."
First child: "Don't bother. The Essence is used to the way I make bread. I will not have you mess up my offering."
Second child: "I am really sorry. Please forgive me."
The second child hesitates, waiting for his brother's response. There is no acceptance to the apology. The second child slowly departs.
TOL reminds the first child of his dad's experience of disobeying the Essence, and how he almost lost his life-force. TOL is confident that he has the first child's attention.
TOL: "That show bread was for the Essence. Your brother took the Essence's bread. He is judging his life-force above the Essence. And look, he took your best bread, yet he will not offer his best. He is still saving his pet lamb."
TOL is about to bring that fact up to the Essence when the second child bursts into tears.
Second child; "I am so sorry. You are the Essence my dad and mom have told me about. How could I hide the truth from you? I have kept my best lamb, this pet lamb of mine."
The second child then offers his pet lamb to the Essence.
23
* * * * * * * *
The first child had built intolerance for his brother. Forgiveness was absent from within him, and he'd become a victim of it. He'd also made his brother a victim.
The Essence does not address TOL.
TOL knows the Essence is aware that he'd prodded the first child to turn against his own brother. The Essence addresses the first child instead, telling him he must leave the presence of his family.
The Man is hurt. The loss of one child is devastating enough, and now he will lose the other as that child is sent away. As a result of the pain of this intense loss, the Man stops calling out to the Essence.
The Man and Woman don't discuss it either. After a bit the Woman begins to feel it should be discussed, but the Man shows no desire to discuss it. And as time goes on, it becomes easier not to discuss anything at all.
The Woman is dealing with unbearable guilt. She feels it's all her fault. She seeks out the Man's approval, but feels attention is only given through his strong sense of responsibility. He doesn't want to discuss anything of substance, and merely speaks when spoken to.
The Woman feels she has to do something. Perhaps something out-of-the-ordinary will work. She is desperate for his approval.
She reminds him of how the Essence clothed them, providing a covering, after their disobedience. With this in mind, the Woman says her covering is not covering her like it once had, as it is getting worn and a bit worn out. She asks the Man to give her a gnu dress.
This animal has long black hair on its neck and back. Since he no longer seems to pay attention to her long black hair, she will transfer that worth for her own desire for it. Her gnu dress will be the mane attraction.
Her real desire though, is for another child. This time it will be nice to have a daughter. She could teach her precious daughter all about caring for herself, and always insisting upon a gnu dress.
The Woman has to wait many years though. And she begins to change the way she looks at things. She begins to think of her husband more, instead of concerning herself with whether he thinks of her.
When the time finally comes, the Woman decides she must live unselfishly. Upon the birth of their child, the Man and Woman, not expressing desires to each other, begin to nurture their third son.
24
The man and woman begin to set down rules and expectations for their third son. They travel about with their flock of sheep and share with others about the experience with their first two sons. They also share the experiences they've had with the Essence. Those who listen and try to follow with setting down standards for their own children, become friends and travel with the man and woman.
TOL hates the way the man and woman have set up rules and expectations for their child. It reminds him of the set expectations the Essence has for him. And TOL hates the way the child obeys, so helpless and dependent.
TOL despises the relationship of husband and wife, but worse is the parent and child relationship. The Essence has somehow created it so this disgusting child actually desires being told what to do by his dad. Yet when food is scarce on their journey, both the man and the woman make sure the child eats first. The man insists that the woman eat second, and he will even go without if there's not enough for all of them.
As the third child matures, TOL tries to get them to fear the different people they come upon in their travels. The Essence doesn't even address the fear because it doesn't exist at this point for the man and woman. The man and woman have a dual purpose in life. They aim at raising their children in the proper fashion, and they also tell others about the Essence.
They are eager to tell others, certainly not fearing anyone because of a mere difference in skin tone. Following the ways of the Essence is more than skin deep.
One family decides to travel with the man and woman. They have a daughter, and she marries the man and woman's third son.
TOL objects when the third son and his wife have a child, "So, this child is through the third child who is through the man and woman whom I am to be judged through. Through and through they continue to go against you. Yet, you continue to say he's not the one, he's not the one. If he disobeys you he's obviously not the one; yet neither will the next one be, or the next. Why don't you just give up? There will never be one."
** * * * * * **
After ten generations of through and through, the Essence has few followers. One man and his wife have three sons who take wives from three separate tribes. Only the eight of them follow the Essence at this time.
25
TOL wants to boast that he'd been right after all. Everyone has occasion to rebel against the Essence. And the rebellion feeds on itself …and thrives.
TOL feels that the Essence has not chosen to have been made available to the people. The whole earth has virtually turned away from the Essence. It has been quite some time now, since the Essence has made an appearance. But this time the Essence directly approaches TOL.
The Essence: "Have you seen what sort of existence the people have when they rebel against me? They have no consideration for each other, and they live in the most vile ways."
TOL: "Everyone seems to displease you. Some of the things you consider vile are actually just mutual benefit. After all, they are just lowly creatures. They have nothing better to do than show disregard for one another. On the other hand, you and I know what pleases us. We desire power and splendor. If they were like us, they would not bother with little disgusting things. How long will it take before you realize we all just want to live our lives? No one seems to live up to your standards except one man. And how long will that last? They ridicule him so thoroughly. Everyone considers him crazy, except his own three sons. Many say that his sons may grow to be even crazier than their dad. But what choice do they have? By your own design he is training up his children in the way they should go."
The Essence: "He is not crazy. He is obeying me."
TOL: "Then maybe it's you with the crazy expectations. You expect everyone to obey, and we simply don't want to. How long will it take you to realize that?"
The Essence then plans something that TOL doesn't expect. The eight who stand in obedience, endure long-suffering of much work and ridicule. Then to the surprise of TOL, the Essence takes away the guard from the guarded area. Was the Essence allowing access for all to the guarded area?
But before anyone can enter, a parade of animals exit the previously guarded area. Announced by an elephant's trumpet, they parade straight to the shelter of comfort provided for them by the eight who had endured such long-suffering for their sake.
The people scoff at the architectural skills of the eight, stating that the shelter will never withstand the activity of all the animals. But the Essence slams the door on their doubts, sealing the work with a bond none can destroy. And those outside the shelter have no idea what a calming influence the Essence brings to the animals.
Then as ridiculous as it seems to all the others, catastrophic changes dominate the entire scene.
TOL watches.
When it is over, TOL appears much satisfied.
26
TOL: "How many times are you willing to start over? You like starting over, don't you? You like demonstrating your power. I know I did. Really, the same thing pleases you and me. We desire that power, and enjoy using it."
The Essence: "You are nothing like me."
TOL: "Nothing in comparison to your power. You very adequately demonstrated that. The power of creation and the power of destruction. Such a pleasing cycle, isn't it? May I have a turn at it?"
The Essence: "You've already had a turn. You've committed to destroying from the inside-out. Through temporal means, you've worked to destroy that which is eternal. I destroyed that which is temporal to save that which is eternal. You focused on corrupting my followers as well as the entire earth. Since you won't refrain from your intrusions on my people, I have made it easy for you. There are only eight to focus on. But things will be different now. For the next three generations, the temporal life of man and woman will only be one half of what it had been, then the next, one half again. And the same will be true of the animals. Those mighty creatures, the reptiles, grow every year of their life. I will cut their life span in half, then in half again. They will grow to only half their size, then only half again ...then they will eventually only live one tenth of the years they once had, and little consideration will be given to that same creature that was once greatly feared, but now only one tenth of its size. And as I cut them down, I will let everyone know that I may do the same to any other that considers themselves mighty. As for my purpose, I will establish a mighty nation of people who will follow me as a child follows his father. And I will lead my people as a father leads his children."
The Essence departs, leaving TOL with his own silent fury. TOL hates being limited in what he can do. But maybe it will be easier now. He only has four men to concentrate on. TOL has had success with fruit. He will use grapes. With the heat of the day and the passage of time, the moment presents itself.
Once again TOL rises to the challenge and finds success and temporary satisfaction. TOL convinces himself that the Essence will not be able to create a nation of people to follow as a child follows his father. This one child is already on his way to report to his other two brothers against their father.
27
TOL is anxious for the Essence to witness this with him. TOL waits. The Essence's presence is not made known. But soon TOL is relieved that the Essence did not share in this moment. The two brothers do not share in the disrespect towards their father. The Essence does not share observations with TOL at this time, though the Essence does observe the two sons providing a blanket solution to the problem.
The Essence sees much in providing a covering with correct intent. But from a different perspective, TOL is driven to distort and expose everything the Essence holds sacred.
The one who'd disrespected his father soon has a son. The son learns to disrespect his grandfather and later his own father. The disrespect travels to third and fourth generations. They distance themselves emotionally, but live in close proximity, still in fear of venturing out from what their elders have taught them.
A meeting has been called. The eldest of the elders is not too fond of the meeting in the city, nor of the tower site. But he does feel it is important to say what he has to say.
The eldest of the elders steps to the upper platform. The entire tower appears to be a tower of people. All the terraces are packed with people within the "in lying" areas as well as the outlying areas. The men occupy the upper terraces and the women and children find their places below.
The eldest of elders claims the Essence speaks to him. Then he shares a story about a big boat that contained the beginnings of every living creature they will ever see on land. Some of the grandchildren and great grandchildren snicker, trying to hold back their laughter. One grandchild speaks up:
"You are laughing and many of you say that Grandpa is crazy, but you also tell a story about a big boat. You say you floated at the top of the earth. You say the waters have receded and the animals have spread out all these years. Why have we ourselves feared to spread out? Do we fear that if we don't stick together, the Essence will destroy us? And if this Essence saved my father and grandfather, then why couldn't we all be gathered together again and be saved?" (taking a big sigh) Why have we spent all this time building a tower? Why are we gathered together today? Couldn't the Essence just lift us up into the air from wherever we're at and spare us from any destruction below? Grandfather says it will never happen again the way of a worldwide flood, but father fears it may. Or maybe destruction will be from fire next time. We fear so many forms of destruction, but do you want to know what I believe ....or perhaps you don't want to know. but I feel I must say it anyway. I believe we're destroying life itself by not enjoying it."
The Essence approaches TOL.
But TOL doesn't wait, blurting out: "Are you disappointed that you weren't invited to this meeting? Well, I'm glad you could join us. It's proving to be very interesting."
28
The Essence: "What do you find of particular interest?"
TOL: "Most of them don't believe you floated a big boat with all those living creatures. They think the story is funny. Even some of the ones who believe this big boat story, join the others in laughter. You have a rather pathetic group you call believers. How can they believe you created the universe and not believe you could float a boat?"
The Essence: "Some believe I can do anything. There are a respectful few who believe I floated a big boat, and they would also believe I could float the very land they live on. Others would not believe even if I gathered up the believers into the air for all to see, or if I shook the very foundations of what they believe. And I will do just that. I will break apart this tower. I will shake their newfound foundations ...as they have left for ruin the ones I have set for them.
TOL: "Why can't you ever stay focused? There are some very important decisions they are about to make."
The Essence: "Oh, I know ...yet they don't know how they are really hurting themselves. And no, my decisions alone will not make them believe. Some day they will study all of what I've done, and see that I floated the very land they live on. They will fit it all together in their own way and say it took over billions of years to come into existence. They will also look at the divided masses of land which they'll call continents, and they will find a pattern by which I divided them. They will see that they fit like a puzzle, and they will figure out an understanding of how the continents floated over those millions upon billions. They will call it continental drift. But they won't believe I could float them. How will they explain where all the water has been going after the flood? They'd rather float their own ideas. They will say the flood never happened. They will only look at life as a puzzle for them to solve, instead of looking to me for every piece and the glory of it. I created the picture. I am the author of it. Would they think every piece just fell into place by itself?"
TOL: "This meeting has fallen into place quite nicely, but you are talking in riddles."
The Essence: "Things often appear in riddles if you're not patient enough for them to be revealed to you. For those who don't believe in me, I'll further confound their world with things they can't understand. They laugh and call my leader crazy. You will see the crazy ideas they will follow."
29
The eldest of elders addresses the entire group, but his eyes focus on his own son with an appeal:
"My son, my dear son, though you have the consequences of your wrongdoing, how long must the bitterness endure the generations? As I was quick to reveal the consequences, I was not as quick to teach forgiveness. Then you taught your own son not to respect me. Now he doesn't believe me or you. He doesn't believe what we have both seen. He believes the misdirection he's seen instead of the direction he has heard of. And that is where the true sadness comes in. We have both failed him. In his bitterness he can see the wrong in what we've done, yet he has no foundation for what is right. He understands that life should be enjoyed, yet with no foundation in the Essence. Where does that lead? A good heart without direction only leads to good intentions, eventually led astray and into destruction. When a sheep goes astray and becomes lost, we put all our effort into bringing that sheep back into the fold. We are doing a great wrong here, attempting to find our own solutions to the things of the Essence. We do not gather today in an attempt to find out what the Essence would have us do. Instead we gather together in our own strength as a result of our inner fears, of misdirection, and of finding comfort in our own numbers. As pairs of animals were directed by their Creator to gather together for the boat ride which many of you scoff at, their Creator has not since directed them to gather together again, nor has the Essence, our same Creator, directed us to do so. We had built the boat because we were directed to do so. Were we directed to build this tower? The animals would willingly spread out, as some have begun to, but we have stuck to our own wisdom and have only spread out conflict and confusion. To prolong this misdirection only furthers the confusion. Therefore, I am moving out of this city. I am moving out with my flock. Those of you who are of the flock will follow."
He works his way slowly through the crowd and joins his wife below. Two of his three sons begin their way towards the exit. One joins his wife and children on the bottom terrace, and they are joined by others. But the other son turns back and slowly works his way to the platform, silencing the loud mass of men:
"Let us make peace. My brother and I have been at odds for all these years. Let us establish our peace here. If we can only come together in peace, we can do great things. Don't let past guilt rule you, brother."
The eldest of elders addresses the entire group, but his eyes focus on his own son with an appeal:
"My son, my dear son, though you have the consequences of your wrongdoing, how long must the bitterness endure the generations? As I was quick to reveal the consequences, I was not as quick to teach forgiveness. Then you taught your own son not to respect me. Now he doesn't believe me or you. He doesn't believe what we have both seen. He believes the misdirection he's seen instead of the direction he has heard of. And that is where the true sadness comes in. We have both failed him. In his bitterness he can see the wrong in what we've done, yet he has no foundation for what is right. He understands that life should be enjoyed, yet with no foundation in the Essence. Where does that lead? A good heart without direction only leads to good intentions, eventually led astray and into destruction. When a sheep goes astray and becomes lost, we put all our effort into bringing that sheep back into the fold. We are doing a great wrong here, attempting to find our own solutions to the things of the Essence. We do not gather today in an attempt to find out what the Essence would have us do. Instead we gather together in our own strength as a result of our inner fears, of misdirection, and of finding comfort in our own numbers. As pairs of animals were directed by their Creator to gather together for the boat ride which many of you scoff at, their Creator has not since directed them to gather together again, nor has the Essence, our same Creator, directed us to do so. We had built the boat because we were directed to do so. Were we directed to build this tower? The animals would willingly spread out, as some have begun to, but we have stuck to our own wisdom and have only spread out conflict and confusion. To prolong this misdirection only furthers the confusion. Therefore, I am moving out of this city. I am moving out with my flock. Those of you who are of the flock will follow."
He works his way slowly through the crowd and joins his wife below. Two of his three sons begin their way towards the exit. One joins his wife and children on the bottom terrace, and they are joined by others. But the other son turns back and slowly works his way to the platform, silencing the loud mass of men:
"Let us make peace. My brother and I have been at odds for all these years. Let us establish our peace here. If we can only come together in peace, we can do great things. Don't let past guilt rule you, brother."
30
The crowd remains silent in anticipation. The one brother has made his decision and does not accept this invitation for peace. But the other two brothers embrace each other on the platform. The one who had offered peace addresses this one brother, along with the crowd:
"That's all I ever wanted was the support of my brothers. But the two of you were always so close to one another. Neither of you helped me feel accepted. It was as if you felt I was always in the wrong. You were never open to any of my ideas. But if we are just open to accepting how each of us feels, I'm sure we can reconcile and always arrive at some sort of compromise."
Suddenly the tower shakes. A cumulative gasp echoes throughout. As brick and mortar shake loose from the upper platform, people begin to scatter. More of the platform shakes loose, and they shove and push as they rush out the nearest of multiple exits. Masses of people trip and fall down the terraced building circumference, but they get up wailing and quickly descend the terrace. The men who reach the bottom help the women snatch the children up as they continue to run from the tower.
Unintelligible voices of panic fill the air. Yet those voices are not merely guttural moans and shrieks of terror. Swallowed up in confusion, unknowingly, groups of people begin to respond to the screams. People begin to separate in response to different voices, and the earth responds also, separating into multiple fractures.
This creates an ever widening gap as the terror-stricken women see their children swept up into another's arms. They are powerless to do anything about it. They don't even speak the same language anymore.
Someone who is a complete stranger to them calls out to them. Only a set amount of people understand them, and that select group finds no choice but to respond. Momentarily paralyzed with fear, their ears become active and they respond.
As the tower erupts with explosive fury, burning lava spews forth out of the tower, consuming it and filling the earth's fractures. The fiery lava closes in on their path. And a voice can be heard calling out:
"He was right, we must follow the animals! The Essence has shown them the way. Quick, follow the birds! They can sense danger from above."
Those who hear the speaker of that language, see the young man point, though they don't see any birds. Nonetheless, direction is given and they run with desperation, following the young man.
Another group runs from the clearing towards a group of trees. Several people begin to climb the trees. Another explosive blast of lava shoots into the air. A burning coal hits one young man on his arm. He runs so fast he startles an already frightened deer which had sought shelter in the woods. Before the deer can react, the young man leaps on the back of the deer. The deer runs wildly through the woods with the young man on the deer's back. A witness reports that the young man was hanging on for deer life. They take it as a sign, and run in the direction he was last seen.
The crowd remains silent in anticipation. The one brother has made his decision and does not accept this invitation for peace. But the other two brothers embrace each other on the platform. The one who had offered peace addresses this one brother, along with the crowd:
"That's all I ever wanted was the support of my brothers. But the two of you were always so close to one another. Neither of you helped me feel accepted. It was as if you felt I was always in the wrong. You were never open to any of my ideas. But if we are just open to accepting how each of us feels, I'm sure we can reconcile and always arrive at some sort of compromise."
Suddenly the tower shakes. A cumulative gasp echoes throughout. As brick and mortar shake loose from the upper platform, people begin to scatter. More of the platform shakes loose, and they shove and push as they rush out the nearest of multiple exits. Masses of people trip and fall down the terraced building circumference, but they get up wailing and quickly descend the terrace. The men who reach the bottom help the women snatch the children up as they continue to run from the tower.
Unintelligible voices of panic fill the air. Yet those voices are not merely guttural moans and shrieks of terror. Swallowed up in confusion, unknowingly, groups of people begin to respond to the screams. People begin to separate in response to different voices, and the earth responds also, separating into multiple fractures.
This creates an ever widening gap as the terror-stricken women see their children swept up into another's arms. They are powerless to do anything about it. They don't even speak the same language anymore.
Someone who is a complete stranger to them calls out to them. Only a set amount of people understand them, and that select group finds no choice but to respond. Momentarily paralyzed with fear, their ears become active and they respond.
As the tower erupts with explosive fury, burning lava spews forth out of the tower, consuming it and filling the earth's fractures. The fiery lava closes in on their path. And a voice can be heard calling out:
"He was right, we must follow the animals! The Essence has shown them the way. Quick, follow the birds! They can sense danger from above."
Those who hear the speaker of that language, see the young man point, though they don't see any birds. Nonetheless, direction is given and they run with desperation, following the young man.
Another group runs from the clearing towards a group of trees. Several people begin to climb the trees. Another explosive blast of lava shoots into the air. A burning coal hits one young man on his arm. He runs so fast he startles an already frightened deer which had sought shelter in the woods. Before the deer can react, the young man leaps on the back of the deer. The deer runs wildly through the woods with the young man on the deer's back. A witness reports that the young man was hanging on for deer life. They take it as a sign, and run in the direction he was last seen.
31
The elderly, and women with children cannot keep up, so having lost vision with their deer group they now seek desperately for another to follow. And the opportunity soon presents itself as one elderly man says he either saw a man riding a goat, or he saw a man-goat. He isn't sure. Nevertheless, they follow.
One woman trips and reaches out to break her fall. As she hits the ground, her hand falls around the throat of a snake. It hisses and just misses her face with that forked tongue drenched in saliva. She is afraid to let go and afraid to scream, so she grips the snake and runs. Others follow.
Another woman is frantically carrying three small children as she runs a distance, quickly setting them down before running back to retrieve her other three children. A year ago she'd had six baby boys born to her all at once. Again visibly pregnant, she is rumored to be expecting six more. All of her present six children are wailing. And anytime anyone approaches to help, they wail ever so more loudly, so much so, that no one helps the frantic young woman. They just watch in admiration as she runs back and forth waving her arms frantically after setting three children down, then running back to get the other three. During these panic moments this is not considered strange. This is strength of character. And it is this character that will lead this admiring group of spectators.
The lava is flowing slowly now, yet it is still flowing. Surprisingly, everyone escapes without loss of their life-force. But they keep moving on, in fear that the lava will overcome them.
They gather together in small groups in response to the voices they hear. The streams of lava flow and the dividing earth have separated them. The animals they had tried to domesticate, now are responding instinctively, it appears. Their keen senses and swift movements make them well-equipped for this sort of thing. And the swifter animals wait, almost as if poised for the moment to show their swiftness.
The people do not have instincts like the animals, but they share a will to survive. They move on and on. Mothers carrying babies, fathers carrying sons and daughters. The animals all appears to know where they are going. From cats, crocodiles, and cows ---to donkeys, dogs, frogs, and hogs ---even when it appears they are out of harm's way, the animals keep going. The people observe the animals. They study the animals' behavior. And they continue to follow the animals.
Others look to the one who'd first announced the language they now hear and have quickly come to understand. They feel this person is the one who had directed the animals. This person sees things they cannot see. He or she is the enlightened one.
They follow the enlightened one, and pay heed to many other things the enlightened one has said. Naturally, they join with those who speak the language they understand. They share what they had witnessed. As they join in groups to discuss and share their accounts, they become an enlightened group. Each comes up with their own and unique ideas, but each accepts the others' views, weaving together a much varied tapestry of events and beliefs. Their images and beliefs will later be carved and written in stone for others to see.
The elderly, and women with children cannot keep up, so having lost vision with their deer group they now seek desperately for another to follow. And the opportunity soon presents itself as one elderly man says he either saw a man riding a goat, or he saw a man-goat. He isn't sure. Nevertheless, they follow.
One woman trips and reaches out to break her fall. As she hits the ground, her hand falls around the throat of a snake. It hisses and just misses her face with that forked tongue drenched in saliva. She is afraid to let go and afraid to scream, so she grips the snake and runs. Others follow.
Another woman is frantically carrying three small children as she runs a distance, quickly setting them down before running back to retrieve her other three children. A year ago she'd had six baby boys born to her all at once. Again visibly pregnant, she is rumored to be expecting six more. All of her present six children are wailing. And anytime anyone approaches to help, they wail ever so more loudly, so much so, that no one helps the frantic young woman. They just watch in admiration as she runs back and forth waving her arms frantically after setting three children down, then running back to get the other three. During these panic moments this is not considered strange. This is strength of character. And it is this character that will lead this admiring group of spectators.
The lava is flowing slowly now, yet it is still flowing. Surprisingly, everyone escapes without loss of their life-force. But they keep moving on, in fear that the lava will overcome them.
They gather together in small groups in response to the voices they hear. The streams of lava flow and the dividing earth have separated them. The animals they had tried to domesticate, now are responding instinctively, it appears. Their keen senses and swift movements make them well-equipped for this sort of thing. And the swifter animals wait, almost as if poised for the moment to show their swiftness.
The people do not have instincts like the animals, but they share a will to survive. They move on and on. Mothers carrying babies, fathers carrying sons and daughters. The animals all appears to know where they are going. From cats, crocodiles, and cows ---to donkeys, dogs, frogs, and hogs ---even when it appears they are out of harm's way, the animals keep going. The people observe the animals. They study the animals' behavior. And they continue to follow the animals.
Others look to the one who'd first announced the language they now hear and have quickly come to understand. They feel this person is the one who had directed the animals. This person sees things they cannot see. He or she is the enlightened one.
They follow the enlightened one, and pay heed to many other things the enlightened one has said. Naturally, they join with those who speak the language they understand. They share what they had witnessed. As they join in groups to discuss and share their accounts, they become an enlightened group. Each comes up with their own and unique ideas, but each accepts the others' views, weaving together a much varied tapestry of events and beliefs. Their images and beliefs will later be carved and written in stone for others to see.
32
Some say they traveled for days, some say the journey lasted several months, and some feel it's already been a year or two. It is like a dream that seems to also occupy most of the night. It is a heavy burden for many of them, and while they had babbled much at the onset of the chaos, now they become more quiet and withdrawn, saying very little. That which they clearly remember, they fear to mention ...as it is felt that whatever force is causing all this, can hear everything spoken, and even knows of the unspoken. Many of these people have vivid memories, but now doubt themselves and dismiss it as their imagination. Some of them become detached from reality, while others still allow panic to dominate, most of them losing hope. However each chooses to react, most everyone realizes this is not a dream, it's an unpleasant reality ...but, one they rather not speak of.
As they settle, they build with strong and flexible materials. They build low to the ground, as they still fear large structures. The young often move further on, but they eventually settle too.
Every day since the collapse of the tower it has been overcast. But today the sun comes out. The enlightened one does not say anything, but stretches out prone to the ground. On this bright sunny day, most look to the sun as a sign of hope. But they can't be sure. They first have to look to the enlightened one. And they can't really tell if the enlightened one fears the appearance of the sun or is paying homage to it.
The enlightened one begins digging his fingernails in the dirt, gripping the earth. He usually instructs everyone what to do, but this sounds more like a desperate command:
"Get down, it's not over!"
Some had begun to doubt by now, and just stand watching. Then the earth shakes like it never had before! Immediately fear grips them again. They all drop to the ground and grip the earth.
As the earth begins to divide, the women are the most vocal. Yet they are powerless to do anything about it. They can barely stand. One mother figure looks across the divide as the land separates:
"My baby, my baby! Someone save my baby!"
A fleeting hope, yet she is certain she sees another woman pick up her child as the now distant continent floats away. She is thankful, and cries silently in hope that they will take good care of her child.
The husband is more possessive of his child. It is his only son. He will not be separated from his son. He screams to his wife as if it were her fault. He demands:
"Where is my son? What has happened to my son!"
The wife is visibly shaken, in every way possible. She can't endure her own pain, let alone the condemnation from her husband, and the guilt he is trying to place solely upon her. Her voice trembles. Her words to him are broken as she points to the drifting continent where their son is:
"There! In continent."
And her husband is ...as he grips the earth.
Finally it appears the animals have finished their journey. They search for homes. Most men and women had traveled with children, often someone else's children. They also are ready to settle, as they have traveled miles upon miles.
As they settle, they build with strong and flexible materials. They build low to the ground, as they still fear large structures. The young often move further on, but they eventually settle too.
Every day since the collapse of the tower it has been overcast. But today the sun comes out. The enlightened one does not say anything, but stretches out prone to the ground. On this bright sunny day, most look to the sun as a sign of hope. But they can't be sure. They first have to look to the enlightened one. And they can't really tell if the enlightened one fears the appearance of the sun or is paying homage to it.
The enlightened one begins digging his fingernails in the dirt, gripping the earth. He usually instructs everyone what to do, but this sounds more like a desperate command:
"Get down, it's not over!"
Some had begun to doubt by now, and just stand watching. Then the earth shakes like it never had before! Immediately fear grips them again. They all drop to the ground and grip the earth.
As the earth begins to divide, the women are the most vocal. Yet they are powerless to do anything about it. They can barely stand. One mother figure looks across the divide as the land separates:
"My baby, my baby! Someone save my baby!"
A fleeting hope, yet she is certain she sees another woman pick up her child as the now distant continent floats away. She is thankful, and cries silently in hope that they will take good care of her child.
The husband is more possessive of his child. It is his only son. He will not be separated from his son. He screams to his wife as if it were her fault. He demands:
"Where is my son? What has happened to my son!"
The wife is visibly shaken, in every way possible. She can't endure her own pain, let alone the condemnation from her husband, and the guilt he is trying to place solely upon her. Her voice trembles. Her words to him are broken as she points to the drifting continent where their son is:
"There! In continent."
And her husband is ...as he grips the earth.
33
The earth shakes for days upon days. Some say it has been a couple months. Some say thirty days, others forty. As the earth shakes, many contemplate the "Why …why me?" And wild ideas travel through the heads of many.
Suddenly the earth falls silent. It stops shaking. The land seems to have taken on a new shape. But the people aren't in the best of shape. They're still shaking. Their beliefs have long since been shaken. But now also is their trust shaken.
Not many express relief. Most are preoccupied with fear. Their belief now centers upon instability, tending to fear rather the calm before the greater storm. Can it actually get any worse than this?
Each land division holds its own unique language and its own unique response to that which they do not understand. Many have even lost that which comes naturally. Moms cease to smile.
Many moms attempt to gather their children together, but the children do not respond. The children seem to have lost their laughter and joy. Can anything bring them back? Nothing they try seems to help.
Each day is as the day before, anticipating change and fearing it. Then one day change comes. One man picks up several bird feathers off the ground. He pretends he has a tail, then holds them on the top of his head ...and he begins to dance. No one welcomes this behavior. What does it mean? Is it an indication that something bad is about to happen?
The moms do not smile. The children just stare. It is difficult to tell if anyone has any emotion left at all. But the one man continues to dance. He begins a frenzied game of peek-a-boo, holding the feathers in front of his face, then quickly pulling them away while making a strange face.
Suddenly one child laughs. The child's mom had forgotten what it was like to hear her child laugh. The mom smiles. Then she laughs too.
Several other men begin to dance. They imitate birds and animals of all sorts. Some spread out their arms as wings, gliding with each step. Others hop. And that almost forgotten sound fills the air ---the children's laughter.
The moms smile. They laugh with their children as the children join in the dance. Then the moms cry. But these tears are tears of joy.
A celebration takes place at this moment. And they decide to commemorate this day every year. But what they do not realize is that with each additional year, they will come to focus more on the dance and forget the joy. Sadly, in years to come, this will be considered only a guy dance ...or guidance. They'll establish a very serious tradition, but no real purpose will be passed on, and no real hope.
With no real hope, there is always a large present need. As the people still seek after leaders, some leadership is always readily provided. Enlightened ones still dominated the scene. They see the already present fear residing as a result of past events. And they work not only to maintain that fear, but to instill it. They seek to instruct the people as to what the Essence expects them to do. And they instruct the people to believe that they need to keep the Essence satisfied, so those past events won't happen again.
These enlightened ones then proceed to reveal the expectations of the Essence, what will satisfy and maintain peace. And the people listen. They listen because they hadn't listened to their elders, and now as a result they've had to face two horrible reminders of the consequences of that unbelief.
The earth shakes for days upon days. Some say it has been a couple months. Some say thirty days, others forty. As the earth shakes, many contemplate the "Why …why me?" And wild ideas travel through the heads of many.
Suddenly the earth falls silent. It stops shaking. The land seems to have taken on a new shape. But the people aren't in the best of shape. They're still shaking. Their beliefs have long since been shaken. But now also is their trust shaken.
Not many express relief. Most are preoccupied with fear. Their belief now centers upon instability, tending to fear rather the calm before the greater storm. Can it actually get any worse than this?
Each land division holds its own unique language and its own unique response to that which they do not understand. Many have even lost that which comes naturally. Moms cease to smile.
Many moms attempt to gather their children together, but the children do not respond. The children seem to have lost their laughter and joy. Can anything bring them back? Nothing they try seems to help.
Each day is as the day before, anticipating change and fearing it. Then one day change comes. One man picks up several bird feathers off the ground. He pretends he has a tail, then holds them on the top of his head ...and he begins to dance. No one welcomes this behavior. What does it mean? Is it an indication that something bad is about to happen?
The moms do not smile. The children just stare. It is difficult to tell if anyone has any emotion left at all. But the one man continues to dance. He begins a frenzied game of peek-a-boo, holding the feathers in front of his face, then quickly pulling them away while making a strange face.
Suddenly one child laughs. The child's mom had forgotten what it was like to hear her child laugh. The mom smiles. Then she laughs too.
Several other men begin to dance. They imitate birds and animals of all sorts. Some spread out their arms as wings, gliding with each step. Others hop. And that almost forgotten sound fills the air ---the children's laughter.
The moms smile. They laugh with their children as the children join in the dance. Then the moms cry. But these tears are tears of joy.
A celebration takes place at this moment. And they decide to commemorate this day every year. But what they do not realize is that with each additional year, they will come to focus more on the dance and forget the joy. Sadly, in years to come, this will be considered only a guy dance ...or guidance. They'll establish a very serious tradition, but no real purpose will be passed on, and no real hope.
With no real hope, there is always a large present need. As the people still seek after leaders, some leadership is always readily provided. Enlightened ones still dominated the scene. They see the already present fear residing as a result of past events. And they work not only to maintain that fear, but to instill it. They seek to instruct the people as to what the Essence expects them to do. And they instruct the people to believe that they need to keep the Essence satisfied, so those past events won't happen again.
These enlightened ones then proceed to reveal the expectations of the Essence, what will satisfy and maintain peace. And the people listen. They listen because they hadn't listened to their elders, and now as a result they've had to face two horrible reminders of the consequences of that unbelief.
34
Death is something that they fear greatly. The elders had not feared death, but focused more on the correctness of life. But now the others have many vivid memories of threats to their very existence. The lava flow and the splitting earth didn't take any lives. But the near fatalities brought vivid images. These images brought about new awareness, but no knowledge to understand them. The men had looked to the skies and what was happening to their precious tower. They had feared not only for their lives, but for what they were losing. The women hadn't looked to the skies, but for their children. That was their nature. But after the earth divided and the continents floated, both men and women had lost their sense of family. The women had lost their sense of partnership with their husbands, but were still trying to salvage something meaningful with their children. The men had not only lost their sense of family, but could barely salvage any sense at all.
Many of the men had no real instincts, so they had followed a kangaroo, panda, black bird, or bear. Or they had followed people who snorted and screeched like animals. These people seemed to have the same instincts as the animals and gave direction to a confused group of people. These were the enlightened ones. Others just had a knack for making others feel good. They knew how to enjoy life. These were considered gifted ones. If an enlightened one and a gifted one happened to get together; now that was something not well to be considered.
Old beliefs were abandoned and new ones were sought out. The prolonged fear of death gave much occasion for thought. Many scrambled for explanations and for meaning, which is good, there is always real meaning to be sought. But most of what was sought, ought not to have been sought. And almost all that they were seeking was in error. Error had brought on the events in the first place. And as is always the case with error, it can be corrected, or it can continue on and upward to absurd levels.
But some were not absurd, some were logical. Logical is not absurd, it's merely false too often. "Too often" tends to form patterns which in turn form beliefs. And these beliefs were: that 'order' defines these patterns and we must merely understand the order and live compatibly with it. It was their belief that they would be okay if they stuck together, as long as they didn't repeat the mistake of building cities. They would stick together as families, as clans and as tribes. They would stick together in these groups as long as they could live compatibly with nature; and could live within the boundaries that would satisfy and please the Essence. They would also follow those in tune with nature, the animals. And they depicted their beliefs on walls of rock.
Others thought that this was too simplistic and diverged to accept the illogical over the logical. These enlightened ones, or gifted ones, provided more than enough of that. When men and women are desperate for answers, it is not surprising that they'll accept almost anything. They are constantly in search of something new. Something they haven't already heard. And the greatest tendency is grounded in their greatest error.
Death is something that they fear greatly. The elders had not feared death, but focused more on the correctness of life. But now the others have many vivid memories of threats to their very existence. The lava flow and the splitting earth didn't take any lives. But the near fatalities brought vivid images. These images brought about new awareness, but no knowledge to understand them. The men had looked to the skies and what was happening to their precious tower. They had feared not only for their lives, but for what they were losing. The women hadn't looked to the skies, but for their children. That was their nature. But after the earth divided and the continents floated, both men and women had lost their sense of family. The women had lost their sense of partnership with their husbands, but were still trying to salvage something meaningful with their children. The men had not only lost their sense of family, but could barely salvage any sense at all.
Many of the men had no real instincts, so they had followed a kangaroo, panda, black bird, or bear. Or they had followed people who snorted and screeched like animals. These people seemed to have the same instincts as the animals and gave direction to a confused group of people. These were the enlightened ones. Others just had a knack for making others feel good. They knew how to enjoy life. These were considered gifted ones. If an enlightened one and a gifted one happened to get together; now that was something not well to be considered.
Old beliefs were abandoned and new ones were sought out. The prolonged fear of death gave much occasion for thought. Many scrambled for explanations and for meaning, which is good, there is always real meaning to be sought. But most of what was sought, ought not to have been sought. And almost all that they were seeking was in error. Error had brought on the events in the first place. And as is always the case with error, it can be corrected, or it can continue on and upward to absurd levels.
But some were not absurd, some were logical. Logical is not absurd, it's merely false too often. "Too often" tends to form patterns which in turn form beliefs. And these beliefs were: that 'order' defines these patterns and we must merely understand the order and live compatibly with it. It was their belief that they would be okay if they stuck together, as long as they didn't repeat the mistake of building cities. They would stick together as families, as clans and as tribes. They would stick together in these groups as long as they could live compatibly with nature; and could live within the boundaries that would satisfy and please the Essence. They would also follow those in tune with nature, the animals. And they depicted their beliefs on walls of rock.
Others thought that this was too simplistic and diverged to accept the illogical over the logical. These enlightened ones, or gifted ones, provided more than enough of that. When men and women are desperate for answers, it is not surprising that they'll accept almost anything. They are constantly in search of something new. Something they haven't already heard. And the greatest tendency is grounded in their greatest error.
35
Often the gifted ones or enlightened ones had nothing new to say. Everything appeared calm now. They did best when things were out of control. When most everyone had been running in fear and were out of control, they could relate. They had much to share during those difficult times. But now the earth is calm. And the people are beginning to calm down.
Certain of these gifted or enlightened ones cannot relate to this. They are the accepted leaders, yet they still have unresolved inner turmoil. Everyone else had stopped running, but now they want to run away. There is too much pressure. Men and women are coming to them for answers and they have nothing to say. They want to tell the others to leave them alone, but they can't cope with the disappointment and rejection others would burden them with if they'd announce they're quitting. So they continue to say something …anything!
Their thoughts run wild. It is too difficult to continue under this pressure. They will run away in the night. The others will be disappointed, but they will not be around to experience that disappointment. Not to worry though, those who mourn over lost leaders will soon be fulfilled. Other leaders will rise up. And they will have more staying power.
And that is certainly true. There are many who have a strong desire to lead. And some understand leadership better than others. All they have to do is wait for the followers to tire of the old leaders, or those old leaders to tire of the followers.
Some are chosen by the majority of the clan or tribe, but most often they choose themselves. The aspiring new leaders most often wait silently in the wings. The old leaders are often very popular, and they don't want to become unpopular by choosing to challenge the old leaders prematurely. That may be certain defeat for any future consideration of theirs. They will have to wait for something unexplainable to happen, and then create an explanation for it. It will be their only advantage, their opportunity.
All are lacking in wisdom and understanding, but they will offer an explanation slightly more believable than the absurd. They will connect several observable facts and mix those facts with what they want the people to believe.
One group who hadn't gone far before the earth shook, had followed a leader who himself had been scrambling for reason and purpose. He had cried out to the skies in his delirium. He had wanted answers, but none had been provided to him. He had looked to others, but they did not provide him the answers. So he had provided his own answers. And the others followed him.
He is now tiring of this leadership thing. It has gone on too long. But this night he will escape.
He takes much care in building a fire by the river. Now his followers gather around on one side of the fire, prepared to hear what he has to say. The leader has thought long. And now he is prepared to speak:
"Close your eyes and listen to the voices of the night."
36
The only follower who knew what really happened was truly not a follower. He did not close his eyes as the leader had commanded. He'd kept his eyes open and looked around to make sure everyone else had their eyes shut. He saw the leader jump into the river and get caught in the swift downstream current.
No one saw the desperation of the leader as he fought to survive. No one saw the intense struggle that preceded his eventual safety. The leader was successful with one last attempt at a branch extending out over the river's edge. And after dragging himself up the river's bank, the leader ran. He ran mile after mile, desperately trying to escape those needy people whom he had once led. Now he would tend to his own needs …foremost being the need to get away.
The false follower, who had kept his eyes open for opportunity, didn't see that the leader had survived. He only saw that the leader was gone and that meant he was no longer the leader. He also saw his opportunity and lost no time in hollering out:
"Is he gone? I had a vision …is it true?"
This time the false follower has his eyes shut. He is certain that everyone else will open theirs. And he is prepared to listen what the others have to say. He isn't quite sure yet whether everyone else had had their eyes shut.
One follower: "Perhaps he was taken up in the smoke. The fire has lifted him up to the heavens."
This was creative. He had built this fire so very meticulously, and then to be taken up with the smoke to the very heavens, hinting the approval of the Essence.
Another follower: "I heard the water splash. He's become one with the river."
Also very creative. He becomes a part of that which is still with us …a very dominant force in nature. And in essence, he would still be with us.
The false follower can listen no more. Each of these provides leadership qualities. Perhaps the others will look to one of them as the new leader. The false follower has to interrupt before it's too late. But he makes a point to keep his eyes shut as he speaks:
"These are all great ideas, but what really happened? Has anyone really witnessed how our leader disappeared?"
One follower speaks up: "How could we see? Our leader told us to keep our eyes shut!"
37
The false follower is certain that everyone else has their eyes open, but he keeps his shut. They all still hold great loyalty to their leader. He doesn't want to risk challenging their loyalty, but he knows he needs to take charge now:
"Yes, we all had our eyes closed. Anyone who didn't have their eyes closed would have to be cast out from our midst, as they would not be true followers. We must remember what he said. He said we should listen to the voices in the night. He had told me this earlier in the night and said that we should wait here if we don't hear the voices immediately. We are to wait until the fire burns down, after each and every ember has burnt out."
So they all wait. The fire burns through that night and into the next day. Approaching the night again, only the embers remain. Then something happens. The river begins to rise. It overflows the bank and eventually snuffs out the embers.
The false leader tries desperately to come up with a story of how the forces of the water have overcome the forces of the flame. But as he is devising what to say, the river continues to rise. Darkness fully engulfs the group with no light from a fire. As the waters from the rising river begin to engulf them, it suddenly happens. The voices of the night!
The night calls to them. It is not just one call, but an entire chorus. The chorus builds with intensity. But no one understands it. They don't know whether they are being invaded or rescued. And if rescued, then how? Were they to become a part of the river, or were they going to hear a voice they could understand?
The false leader does not want to become a part of a watery grave like his ancestors had talked about. He does not know how high the river will rise. But he does know he has to lead his people out of the water or he'll not have a people to lead.
Soon the people learn to be eager for the banks of the river to overflow. It brings the water they need to create a much needed fertile crop. It represents abundance …of a satisfied heart and stomach.
And eventually someone, the false leader, discovers the creatures of the night that sing out the chorus. They are strange amphibian creatures that live both in the water and on land. Very adaptable and the certain choice to worship. A creature that has mastered both environments.
38
As a matter of speaking, these frogs saved the false leader. At least they saved him from being discovered as false. And the false leader is unanimously chosen as the new leader.
So those …..
who chose
to refuse,
to continue to confuse,
were replaced …..
by those who gladly faced
those who unknowingly would receive
those with a deep dark desire to deceive.
People chose to worship the forces of nature. People chose to worship the animals. Or they chose other people …real or imagined, and the things made by their own hands; along with the prestige, position, and power associated with those people and their things.
New leaders came about through all sorts of varied means. Some of the new leaders were so successful that they were able to gain many followers. And though the burden to lead may become too much at times, leadership is not always in jeopardy if the choice is to not lead alone. Some of the leaders created rank and file positions to lighten their own load, without relinquishing their own positions.
But there were also those who shared in the great leadership qualities, though they did not do as well …through no fault of their own. They appeared to be doing everything the other leaders were doing, but it just wasn't working for them. The difficult fact to accept was that success often has nothing to do with anything we do …or don't do.
Most often it is matter of judgment, often risk-taking, and a lot of convincing. And sometimes it's just not meant to be. This is the case with one young man who had occasion to taste a bit of failure. He tries to be convincing, as he holds a conch up to his ear:
"I hear it! I hear it!"
The shore is filled with shells of various sorts, shapes, and sizes. And there are many of the conch variety. His guess is that no one will pick one up right now, but they probably will later. All he hears is wind …or is it waves? Whatever it is, it isn't much! He has to come up with more …something different than what they could later experience for themselves.
39
If he merely says he hears wind or waves, what power would that indicate? Wind is a powerful force and is the power behind the waves. Waves only rule the ocean and part of the near land. He has to save himself embarrassment here! A horse can lead a horse …and a duck can lead a duck, but he has to somehow duck out of any further questions they may have lingering in their minds.
He has to be convincing. A person! Yes, a person …that would indicate their leader. They would only hear wind, but they would be convinced that he has a special gift …that he hears a person.
"I hear a person!"
They all just look and stare.
"Really, I hear him talking to me! He's relaying information …directions."
They still just look and stare. This is embarrassing. It's quite possible they've held a conch up to their ear before …and they just don't believe him. To make matters worse, a few of them pick up conches and hold them to their ears. He was naïve not to anticipate this.
"It may just sound like rushing water to you, but it's the sound of our life-force. And the sound of the wind within the waves, it's a voice speaking out to us."
Judging from their feedback, he feels they are not buying this …voice in the wind. Who does he think he is? They probably think he's just a big bag of wind.
Suddenly, everyone picks up a shell. And they don't just listen into it …they have to outdo him. Not only do they act like they hear a voice …they hold it up to their mouth and begin talking into it also.
Taking this all in, he begins to laugh to himself over how really ridiculous this looks. They are all walking up and down …and back and forth, talking into these shells. He can't imagine what he has started!
Little does he know that he is witnessing the very beginning …of the first ever shell phone network.
Often the gifted ones or enlightened ones had nothing new to say. Everything appeared calm now. They did best when things were out of control. When most everyone had been running in fear and were out of control, they could relate. They had much to share during those difficult times. But now the earth is calm. And the people are beginning to calm down.
Certain of these gifted or enlightened ones cannot relate to this. They are the accepted leaders, yet they still have unresolved inner turmoil. Everyone else had stopped running, but now they want to run away. There is too much pressure. Men and women are coming to them for answers and they have nothing to say. They want to tell the others to leave them alone, but they can't cope with the disappointment and rejection others would burden them with if they'd announce they're quitting. So they continue to say something …anything!
Their thoughts run wild. It is too difficult to continue under this pressure. They will run away in the night. The others will be disappointed, but they will not be around to experience that disappointment. Not to worry though, those who mourn over lost leaders will soon be fulfilled. Other leaders will rise up. And they will have more staying power.
And that is certainly true. There are many who have a strong desire to lead. And some understand leadership better than others. All they have to do is wait for the followers to tire of the old leaders, or those old leaders to tire of the followers.
Some are chosen by the majority of the clan or tribe, but most often they choose themselves. The aspiring new leaders most often wait silently in the wings. The old leaders are often very popular, and they don't want to become unpopular by choosing to challenge the old leaders prematurely. That may be certain defeat for any future consideration of theirs. They will have to wait for something unexplainable to happen, and then create an explanation for it. It will be their only advantage, their opportunity.
All are lacking in wisdom and understanding, but they will offer an explanation slightly more believable than the absurd. They will connect several observable facts and mix those facts with what they want the people to believe.
One group who hadn't gone far before the earth shook, had followed a leader who himself had been scrambling for reason and purpose. He had cried out to the skies in his delirium. He had wanted answers, but none had been provided to him. He had looked to others, but they did not provide him the answers. So he had provided his own answers. And the others followed him.
He is now tiring of this leadership thing. It has gone on too long. But this night he will escape.
He takes much care in building a fire by the river. Now his followers gather around on one side of the fire, prepared to hear what he has to say. The leader has thought long. And now he is prepared to speak:
"Close your eyes and listen to the voices of the night."
36
The only follower who knew what really happened was truly not a follower. He did not close his eyes as the leader had commanded. He'd kept his eyes open and looked around to make sure everyone else had their eyes shut. He saw the leader jump into the river and get caught in the swift downstream current.
No one saw the desperation of the leader as he fought to survive. No one saw the intense struggle that preceded his eventual safety. The leader was successful with one last attempt at a branch extending out over the river's edge. And after dragging himself up the river's bank, the leader ran. He ran mile after mile, desperately trying to escape those needy people whom he had once led. Now he would tend to his own needs …foremost being the need to get away.
The false follower, who had kept his eyes open for opportunity, didn't see that the leader had survived. He only saw that the leader was gone and that meant he was no longer the leader. He also saw his opportunity and lost no time in hollering out:
"Is he gone? I had a vision …is it true?"
This time the false follower has his eyes shut. He is certain that everyone else will open theirs. And he is prepared to listen what the others have to say. He isn't quite sure yet whether everyone else had had their eyes shut.
One follower: "Perhaps he was taken up in the smoke. The fire has lifted him up to the heavens."
This was creative. He had built this fire so very meticulously, and then to be taken up with the smoke to the very heavens, hinting the approval of the Essence.
Another follower: "I heard the water splash. He's become one with the river."
Also very creative. He becomes a part of that which is still with us …a very dominant force in nature. And in essence, he would still be with us.
The false follower can listen no more. Each of these provides leadership qualities. Perhaps the others will look to one of them as the new leader. The false follower has to interrupt before it's too late. But he makes a point to keep his eyes shut as he speaks:
"These are all great ideas, but what really happened? Has anyone really witnessed how our leader disappeared?"
One follower speaks up: "How could we see? Our leader told us to keep our eyes shut!"
37
The false follower is certain that everyone else has their eyes open, but he keeps his shut. They all still hold great loyalty to their leader. He doesn't want to risk challenging their loyalty, but he knows he needs to take charge now:
"Yes, we all had our eyes closed. Anyone who didn't have their eyes closed would have to be cast out from our midst, as they would not be true followers. We must remember what he said. He said we should listen to the voices in the night. He had told me this earlier in the night and said that we should wait here if we don't hear the voices immediately. We are to wait until the fire burns down, after each and every ember has burnt out."
So they all wait. The fire burns through that night and into the next day. Approaching the night again, only the embers remain. Then something happens. The river begins to rise. It overflows the bank and eventually snuffs out the embers.
The false leader tries desperately to come up with a story of how the forces of the water have overcome the forces of the flame. But as he is devising what to say, the river continues to rise. Darkness fully engulfs the group with no light from a fire. As the waters from the rising river begin to engulf them, it suddenly happens. The voices of the night!
The night calls to them. It is not just one call, but an entire chorus. The chorus builds with intensity. But no one understands it. They don't know whether they are being invaded or rescued. And if rescued, then how? Were they to become a part of the river, or were they going to hear a voice they could understand?
The false leader does not want to become a part of a watery grave like his ancestors had talked about. He does not know how high the river will rise. But he does know he has to lead his people out of the water or he'll not have a people to lead.
Soon the people learn to be eager for the banks of the river to overflow. It brings the water they need to create a much needed fertile crop. It represents abundance …of a satisfied heart and stomach.
And eventually someone, the false leader, discovers the creatures of the night that sing out the chorus. They are strange amphibian creatures that live both in the water and on land. Very adaptable and the certain choice to worship. A creature that has mastered both environments.
38
As a matter of speaking, these frogs saved the false leader. At least they saved him from being discovered as false. And the false leader is unanimously chosen as the new leader.
So those …..
who chose
to refuse,
to continue to confuse,
were replaced …..
by those who gladly faced
those who unknowingly would receive
those with a deep dark desire to deceive.
People chose to worship the forces of nature. People chose to worship the animals. Or they chose other people …real or imagined, and the things made by their own hands; along with the prestige, position, and power associated with those people and their things.
New leaders came about through all sorts of varied means. Some of the new leaders were so successful that they were able to gain many followers. And though the burden to lead may become too much at times, leadership is not always in jeopardy if the choice is to not lead alone. Some of the leaders created rank and file positions to lighten their own load, without relinquishing their own positions.
But there were also those who shared in the great leadership qualities, though they did not do as well …through no fault of their own. They appeared to be doing everything the other leaders were doing, but it just wasn't working for them. The difficult fact to accept was that success often has nothing to do with anything we do …or don't do.
Most often it is matter of judgment, often risk-taking, and a lot of convincing. And sometimes it's just not meant to be. This is the case with one young man who had occasion to taste a bit of failure. He tries to be convincing, as he holds a conch up to his ear:
"I hear it! I hear it!"
The shore is filled with shells of various sorts, shapes, and sizes. And there are many of the conch variety. His guess is that no one will pick one up right now, but they probably will later. All he hears is wind …or is it waves? Whatever it is, it isn't much! He has to come up with more …something different than what they could later experience for themselves.
39
If he merely says he hears wind or waves, what power would that indicate? Wind is a powerful force and is the power behind the waves. Waves only rule the ocean and part of the near land. He has to save himself embarrassment here! A horse can lead a horse …and a duck can lead a duck, but he has to somehow duck out of any further questions they may have lingering in their minds.
He has to be convincing. A person! Yes, a person …that would indicate their leader. They would only hear wind, but they would be convinced that he has a special gift …that he hears a person.
"I hear a person!"
They all just look and stare.
"Really, I hear him talking to me! He's relaying information …directions."
They still just look and stare. This is embarrassing. It's quite possible they've held a conch up to their ear before …and they just don't believe him. To make matters worse, a few of them pick up conches and hold them to their ears. He was naïve not to anticipate this.
"It may just sound like rushing water to you, but it's the sound of our life-force. And the sound of the wind within the waves, it's a voice speaking out to us."
Judging from their feedback, he feels they are not buying this …voice in the wind. Who does he think he is? They probably think he's just a big bag of wind.
Suddenly, everyone picks up a shell. And they don't just listen into it …they have to outdo him. Not only do they act like they hear a voice …they hold it up to their mouth and begin talking into it also.
Taking this all in, he begins to laugh to himself over how really ridiculous this looks. They are all walking up and down …and back and forth, talking into these shells. He can't imagine what he has started!
Little does he know that he is witnessing the very beginning …of the first ever shell phone network.
40
Those who desired to follow had to carry the burden of their leader --heavy or light.
Those who fearfully followed had to deny themselves.
Those who sought comfort, camaraderie, and mutual benefit had to embark on a journey through the highways and byways of compromise. They would merge ideas: compromising on the smaller issues, yet satisfying the larger more dominant views.
Those who sought advantage had to bear the burden of competition ---of those who also sought it. But these were often the dominant ones. Their high card was usually self-imposed exclusiveness. They formed divisions, creating a forum for anything that would give them advantage.
Those who sought only truth would perhaps have to endure and persevere. Vision, purpose, and direction are not always immediate.
Those who desired to follow had to carry the burden of their leader --heavy or light.
Those who fearfully followed had to deny themselves.
Those who sought comfort, camaraderie, and mutual benefit had to embark on a journey through the highways and byways of compromise. They would merge ideas: compromising on the smaller issues, yet satisfying the larger more dominant views.
Those who sought advantage had to bear the burden of competition ---of those who also sought it. But these were often the dominant ones. Their high card was usually self-imposed exclusiveness. They formed divisions, creating a forum for anything that would give them advantage.
Those who sought only truth would perhaps have to endure and persevere. Vision, purpose, and direction are not always immediate.
41
It is a 3-year old boy who speaks. He is in the group who'd followed the eldest elder before the tower collapse. And this group is still following their elders. He is in the group who'd escaped the lava. And the earth they stood on had not moved. Everything around them had drifted, but they stood on a foundation that did not move.
The 3-year old says: "No want on sandals. First tell 'bout peep-el tower on. How babb-el on, cuz how scat-hard they are."
The child's parent smiles: "Yes, they babble on because of how scattered they are."
As the child grows, his parents explain much to him. The story that they pass down, begins with the guarded area. They mention briefly the failures of the Man and Woman, but mostly their story draws attention to the animals. The animals that are still within the guarded area are to remain there until the appointed time. They are preserved for a very special purpose …when the boat is built, a special breed of animals is to get onboard. And when the boat lands, those animals breed a spectacular array like never before, nor ever again will be seen. They had been kept safe within the guarded area for this special purpose. After they emerge from the boat, they are able to spread out. Their order will be to extend throughout the earth, building their families. And many will breed a new generation every couple of years, so they multiply faster than the men and women. But after the tower, the animals flee in more specific groups, failing to interbreed.
The child prefers the story of the animals as most children usually do. But his parents also tell him about the wayward behaviors of the people. The men had done much in the way of exchanging their own ideas, but had failed to listen to those that counted. And the division of the lands proves to be the least of the divisions. They further divide according to ignorance and stubbornness ---and they are unforgiving, always forgetting, and seldom allowing the true knowledge to reveal itself to them.
Many things need to be passed on, but Dad tries not to make it seem like a burdensome thing. He sings his family a song. Generation after generation this song will be heard. The children seem to enjoy it, as they sing along:
Not single file, but two by two
Not too logical, a floating zoo.
File 'em in just like a class
Order what to eat, real fast.
Each pair became like a special family
But do not add them to your family tree.
Set aside for us to see
They bred a wide diversity.
They got along without difference
Until that tower which made no sense.
The tower erupted and things got tense
And families soon thrived on ignorance.
It is a 3-year old boy who speaks. He is in the group who'd followed the eldest elder before the tower collapse. And this group is still following their elders. He is in the group who'd escaped the lava. And the earth they stood on had not moved. Everything around them had drifted, but they stood on a foundation that did not move.
The 3-year old says: "No want on sandals. First tell 'bout peep-el tower on. How babb-el on, cuz how scat-hard they are."
The child's parent smiles: "Yes, they babble on because of how scattered they are."
As the child grows, his parents explain much to him. The story that they pass down, begins with the guarded area. They mention briefly the failures of the Man and Woman, but mostly their story draws attention to the animals. The animals that are still within the guarded area are to remain there until the appointed time. They are preserved for a very special purpose …when the boat is built, a special breed of animals is to get onboard. And when the boat lands, those animals breed a spectacular array like never before, nor ever again will be seen. They had been kept safe within the guarded area for this special purpose. After they emerge from the boat, they are able to spread out. Their order will be to extend throughout the earth, building their families. And many will breed a new generation every couple of years, so they multiply faster than the men and women. But after the tower, the animals flee in more specific groups, failing to interbreed.
The child prefers the story of the animals as most children usually do. But his parents also tell him about the wayward behaviors of the people. The men had done much in the way of exchanging their own ideas, but had failed to listen to those that counted. And the division of the lands proves to be the least of the divisions. They further divide according to ignorance and stubbornness ---and they are unforgiving, always forgetting, and seldom allowing the true knowledge to reveal itself to them.
Many things need to be passed on, but Dad tries not to make it seem like a burdensome thing. He sings his family a song. Generation after generation this song will be heard. The children seem to enjoy it, as they sing along:
Not single file, but two by two
Not too logical, a floating zoo.
File 'em in just like a class
Order what to eat, real fast.
Each pair became like a special family
But do not add them to your family tree.
Set aside for us to see
They bred a wide diversity.
They got along without difference
Until that tower which made no sense.
The tower erupted and things got tense
And families soon thrived on ignorance.
42
This group of people does not find comfort in numbers as is the primary striving of the more dominant group. They do not follow the animals nor the people who claim to follow the animals. They do not follow the bobcat or badger, nor even the more dominant bull or bear. What they believe isn't to be shaken by any other beliefs. They don't buy into others' ideas. What profit is there to follow?
Others will sell their ideas when the time is sufficiently ripe. Many ideas are quite marketable, especially the bull. The bear is declining. It remains stagnant too long. And besides, hibernation is not profitable. Though there is always room for bobcat, badger, and any number of bovine beasts. No, though some will always find some pleasure in it, there are others still who will have nothing of this carefree adventure.
I can't believe you bought that!
Buy their ideas, sell their ideas
Assess the profit, follow the lead.
All follow the energy of the raging bull,
Not the lumbering sleeping bear,
Or perhaps ride the market on the steed.
The past, present or future ...it all molds into the same
If you try to follow it ...you'll probably go insane.
Whether Bull, Bear or Beetle,
Pig, Pan ...or in the pan,
Full of Pandemonium ………..# $ @ % $ $
People begin to spread out as the population grows. And the different groups begin to bump into one another. The dominant group which usually divides, merges on this occasion with the mutual benefit group. They find this as a new avenue of advantage. The mutual benefit group joins in for the mutual benefit, not realizing how far and for what purpose the compromising will take them. The dominant group needs them to fill the twin cities they now have under construction. And the mutual benefit groups also need to move in on a mutual basis, so the dominant groups can later dominate them. Then later, with this all in place, the place becomes a not very nice place to live. That combination of mutual benefit and dominance soon becomes very ugly, indeed ---and in deeds.
The wicked deeds lead them into full-blown sadistic savagery. They don't even hesitate to consider anything they will find wickedness in.
The Essence looks at the utter abomination of it all and destroys the twin cities.
43
TOL sees this as no setback. He will just rebuild the cities. That is no problem. His motivation is not to build anyway, it is to destroy …to destroy everything the Essence tries to build. It is just easier to do in cities, with populated confusion and distractions galore.
The confusion is what TOL is driven to rebuild. He'll rebuild the cities first, then after …better yet, he will get those who follow the Essence to ....
The Essence interrupts his thoughts: "Longsuffering only benefits when it precedes a change for the good."
TOL: "Why didn't you just provide a covering?"
The Essence: "There was no motivation on their part towards correctness. A change for the good was not even remotely evident."
TOL: "You promised you'd never destroy this orb again, so now you resort to a couple cities at a time. How much more gratifying! That way the others can live in torment, wondering each day what wrath you may send upon them. Of course, that depends upon your mood. Let's check the menu. What's your mood of the day? You really enjoy tormenting with this prolonged judgment, don't you?"
The Essence: "Are you talking about them or you?"
TOL: "Well, now that you mention it, you are doing that same thing to me."
The Essence: "Judgment does not become judgment without understanding the 'why' of it."
TOL: "Well, the people in those cities didn't understand."
The Essence: "They did at one time, but they went too far. They became insensitive to any form of correctness. They had no respect nor regard for each other. Your influence destroyed the person before I destroyed the city. My judgment was for the benefit of understanding. It was for the benefit of those who didn't go astray. It will clearly show them how the small things they ill-consider can eventually go way beyond."
This group of people does not find comfort in numbers as is the primary striving of the more dominant group. They do not follow the animals nor the people who claim to follow the animals. They do not follow the bobcat or badger, nor even the more dominant bull or bear. What they believe isn't to be shaken by any other beliefs. They don't buy into others' ideas. What profit is there to follow?
Others will sell their ideas when the time is sufficiently ripe. Many ideas are quite marketable, especially the bull. The bear is declining. It remains stagnant too long. And besides, hibernation is not profitable. Though there is always room for bobcat, badger, and any number of bovine beasts. No, though some will always find some pleasure in it, there are others still who will have nothing of this carefree adventure.
I can't believe you bought that!
Buy their ideas, sell their ideas
Assess the profit, follow the lead.
All follow the energy of the raging bull,
Not the lumbering sleeping bear,
Or perhaps ride the market on the steed.
The past, present or future ...it all molds into the same
If you try to follow it ...you'll probably go insane.
Whether Bull, Bear or Beetle,
Pig, Pan ...or in the pan,
Full of Pandemonium ………..# $ @ % $ $
People begin to spread out as the population grows. And the different groups begin to bump into one another. The dominant group which usually divides, merges on this occasion with the mutual benefit group. They find this as a new avenue of advantage. The mutual benefit group joins in for the mutual benefit, not realizing how far and for what purpose the compromising will take them. The dominant group needs them to fill the twin cities they now have under construction. And the mutual benefit groups also need to move in on a mutual basis, so the dominant groups can later dominate them. Then later, with this all in place, the place becomes a not very nice place to live. That combination of mutual benefit and dominance soon becomes very ugly, indeed ---and in deeds.
The wicked deeds lead them into full-blown sadistic savagery. They don't even hesitate to consider anything they will find wickedness in.
The Essence looks at the utter abomination of it all and destroys the twin cities.
43
TOL sees this as no setback. He will just rebuild the cities. That is no problem. His motivation is not to build anyway, it is to destroy …to destroy everything the Essence tries to build. It is just easier to do in cities, with populated confusion and distractions galore.
The confusion is what TOL is driven to rebuild. He'll rebuild the cities first, then after …better yet, he will get those who follow the Essence to ....
The Essence interrupts his thoughts: "Longsuffering only benefits when it precedes a change for the good."
TOL: "Why didn't you just provide a covering?"
The Essence: "There was no motivation on their part towards correctness. A change for the good was not even remotely evident."
TOL: "You promised you'd never destroy this orb again, so now you resort to a couple cities at a time. How much more gratifying! That way the others can live in torment, wondering each day what wrath you may send upon them. Of course, that depends upon your mood. Let's check the menu. What's your mood of the day? You really enjoy tormenting with this prolonged judgment, don't you?"
The Essence: "Are you talking about them or you?"
TOL: "Well, now that you mention it, you are doing that same thing to me."
The Essence: "Judgment does not become judgment without understanding the 'why' of it."
TOL: "Well, the people in those cities didn't understand."
The Essence: "They did at one time, but they went too far. They became insensitive to any form of correctness. They had no respect nor regard for each other. Your influence destroyed the person before I destroyed the city. My judgment was for the benefit of understanding. It was for the benefit of those who didn't go astray. It will clearly show them how the small things they ill-consider can eventually go way beyond."
44
TOL: "You say I destroyed the person, but that was through their own choice. They have the right to choose as they did. It is their choice. To have a choice, they had to have had the knowledge of you, which they readily rejected; and the knowledge of things I've given them, which they accepted. By destroying them, you are withholding the maturity of that knowledge and their ultimate freedom of choice."
The Essence: "You are well familiar with the horse which will accept more grain and more grain. It will indulge itself until it eventually destroys itself. That only holds a past choice, not giving opportunity for future choices. Sadly, some owner has to first see this, before warning others of the risks. What is better … choosing or to be chosen? More benefit comes through limited choices given adequate time to consider. And knowledge that is distributed at a slower pace is often much more readily accepted, appreciated, and absorbed. It is something I have provided for man and woman which you have not experienced, having all your knowledge at once. That is part of my design in having them raise children. And they get to see a part of themselves in their own children which provides an opportunity to reconcile some of the same struggles they had when they were children."
TOL hates any mention of children. He can go on and on too, but he hates when the Essence does. TOL will remain silent just long enough to gain advantage. The Essence will eventually say something TOL can up and run with.
The Essence: "They have a lifetime of choices. They start as helpless babies, but even if they think they grow strong in their own strength, yes, the arrogant even have countless chances. Even the stiff-necked and stubborn have the opportunity for a reality check in their old age, many becoming as helpless as they were as babies. It's a humbling experience if you don't let the sting of pride elevate you to a false level, infecting you with its damaging blows. The bottom line is that if my people follow my design the way I intend, it is called wisdom. If they follow you, knowledge is only a stepping stone towards reaching power. Knowledge creates its own power. You don't need to begin with power; it manufactures its own in the lifting of ideas."
TOL: "You say I destroyed the person, but that was through their own choice. They have the right to choose as they did. It is their choice. To have a choice, they had to have had the knowledge of you, which they readily rejected; and the knowledge of things I've given them, which they accepted. By destroying them, you are withholding the maturity of that knowledge and their ultimate freedom of choice."
The Essence: "You are well familiar with the horse which will accept more grain and more grain. It will indulge itself until it eventually destroys itself. That only holds a past choice, not giving opportunity for future choices. Sadly, some owner has to first see this, before warning others of the risks. What is better … choosing or to be chosen? More benefit comes through limited choices given adequate time to consider. And knowledge that is distributed at a slower pace is often much more readily accepted, appreciated, and absorbed. It is something I have provided for man and woman which you have not experienced, having all your knowledge at once. That is part of my design in having them raise children. And they get to see a part of themselves in their own children which provides an opportunity to reconcile some of the same struggles they had when they were children."
TOL hates any mention of children. He can go on and on too, but he hates when the Essence does. TOL will remain silent just long enough to gain advantage. The Essence will eventually say something TOL can up and run with.
The Essence: "They have a lifetime of choices. They start as helpless babies, but even if they think they grow strong in their own strength, yes, the arrogant even have countless chances. Even the stiff-necked and stubborn have the opportunity for a reality check in their old age, many becoming as helpless as they were as babies. It's a humbling experience if you don't let the sting of pride elevate you to a false level, infecting you with its damaging blows. The bottom line is that if my people follow my design the way I intend, it is called wisdom. If they follow you, knowledge is only a stepping stone towards reaching power. Knowledge creates its own power. You don't need to begin with power; it manufactures its own in the lifting of ideas."
45
TOL: "What is wrong with new ideas? It's nice to know we can all have our own ideas."
The Essence: "The abuse of that creates a destructive force that has the horrific potential of doing almost anything. On the other hand, following my design leads to a contentment you have never known. See this man I have chosen to lead my people, this Father of my children? See how he cares for his own child? See how the child desires to obey? As you see the Father and son, so also will my nation be led."
TOL accuses: "Other fathers don't care for their sons, and the sons seldom obey. Isn't a nation made up of many people, and each one affects the way the nation becomes?"
The Essence: "Yes, we will watch that very thing together, in time, but for now it is enough to focus on this Man.
TOL: "I've seen that even those who obey for a time, still find some opportunity or circumstance to choose on their own. When that happens, are you going to judge as you have always judged me? Will you strip them of their moment? When they err, will you take their leadership away? If you have judged one, certainly you must judge all. You certainly have not hesitated in judging me."
The Essence: "As certain as your eternal spirit will never change. You cannot judge my righteousness. You cannot judge that which you have no part of."
TOL: "Because I stand in disobedience to you, therefore you claim I am not righteous. Perhaps I myself believe I am righteous."
The Essence: "You will watch as the Father of my nation to be, will show how righteousness ties in with love, obedience, and sacrifice. You can't help but notice how he loves that child. He would be willing to give his own life-force for his child."
TOL: "So, you are showing me that it's possible for him to love another more than himself. And are you also telling me that I should have felt that same way and obeyed you?"
TOL pauses, not liking the way he had begun this discourse.
TOL: "What is wrong with new ideas? It's nice to know we can all have our own ideas."
The Essence: "The abuse of that creates a destructive force that has the horrific potential of doing almost anything. On the other hand, following my design leads to a contentment you have never known. See this man I have chosen to lead my people, this Father of my children? See how he cares for his own child? See how the child desires to obey? As you see the Father and son, so also will my nation be led."
TOL accuses: "Other fathers don't care for their sons, and the sons seldom obey. Isn't a nation made up of many people, and each one affects the way the nation becomes?"
The Essence: "Yes, we will watch that very thing together, in time, but for now it is enough to focus on this Man.
TOL: "I've seen that even those who obey for a time, still find some opportunity or circumstance to choose on their own. When that happens, are you going to judge as you have always judged me? Will you strip them of their moment? When they err, will you take their leadership away? If you have judged one, certainly you must judge all. You certainly have not hesitated in judging me."
The Essence: "As certain as your eternal spirit will never change. You cannot judge my righteousness. You cannot judge that which you have no part of."
TOL: "Because I stand in disobedience to you, therefore you claim I am not righteous. Perhaps I myself believe I am righteous."
The Essence: "You will watch as the Father of my nation to be, will show how righteousness ties in with love, obedience, and sacrifice. You can't help but notice how he loves that child. He would be willing to give his own life-force for his child."
TOL: "So, you are showing me that it's possible for him to love another more than himself. And are you also telling me that I should have felt that same way and obeyed you?"
TOL pauses, not liking the way he had begun this discourse.
46
TOL needs a new approach. He might as well try the approach.
TOL: "Well, maybe I could have learned to care in my own way, but you didn't give me a chance. The third who followed me would agree that we didn't get a chance to care for one another. Though we did have something in common with this 'Father-to-be' of your nation. We cared about each other more than we cared about you. You say this man would risk his life-force for his child. So what! Would he give up his child for you? Now that would be something! If he truly is worthy to be the Father of your nation, would he give up his most prized possession for you? Would he give his own son?
The Essence: "You said you cared about those who rebelled with you? You were pleased that they supported you in your rebellion. As a leader, it made you feel more supreme. The more they followed you, the more supreme you felt with your power. And their rebellion was your prize. A man who does not look at his son as a prize is a true father.
TOL wants to get off the subject of him. As humiliating as it may seem, he will pretend to defend those despicable creatures called mankind.
TOL: "Is it so wrong that there are those who look to their children to possess them? If they share every part of themselves, wouldn't the child naturally become a part of them? And wouldn't there be a fondness for those who choose to live for them. I actually have become fond of a few of them myself. I feel like they are a part of me. And though I didn't like the way you took away my power, I do appreciate that you've allowed me these few loyal followers. Unless of course, the lesson for today is over and you choose to destroy them as before …and then I would have to apologize for my stupidity. But you couldn't do that because if you destroyed everyone who disobeys you, then you wouldn't have any people to make up that nation of yours, now would you?"
The Essence: "The only thing you seem to understand is my supreme power. I am supreme over all things. But showcasing my power is not my nature. Most importantly, my love is supreme. No one will be denied my love. But to guarantee that, I must be supreme in power also. So when you seek out to destroy that opportunity, it's only right that I stand with power enough to oppose that."
TOL needs a new approach. He might as well try the approach.
TOL: "Well, maybe I could have learned to care in my own way, but you didn't give me a chance. The third who followed me would agree that we didn't get a chance to care for one another. Though we did have something in common with this 'Father-to-be' of your nation. We cared about each other more than we cared about you. You say this man would risk his life-force for his child. So what! Would he give up his child for you? Now that would be something! If he truly is worthy to be the Father of your nation, would he give up his most prized possession for you? Would he give his own son?
The Essence: "You said you cared about those who rebelled with you? You were pleased that they supported you in your rebellion. As a leader, it made you feel more supreme. The more they followed you, the more supreme you felt with your power. And their rebellion was your prize. A man who does not look at his son as a prize is a true father.
TOL wants to get off the subject of him. As humiliating as it may seem, he will pretend to defend those despicable creatures called mankind.
TOL: "Is it so wrong that there are those who look to their children to possess them? If they share every part of themselves, wouldn't the child naturally become a part of them? And wouldn't there be a fondness for those who choose to live for them. I actually have become fond of a few of them myself. I feel like they are a part of me. And though I didn't like the way you took away my power, I do appreciate that you've allowed me these few loyal followers. Unless of course, the lesson for today is over and you choose to destroy them as before …and then I would have to apologize for my stupidity. But you couldn't do that because if you destroyed everyone who disobeys you, then you wouldn't have any people to make up that nation of yours, now would you?"
The Essence: "The only thing you seem to understand is my supreme power. I am supreme over all things. But showcasing my power is not my nature. Most importantly, my love is supreme. No one will be denied my love. But to guarantee that, I must be supreme in power also. So when you seek out to destroy that opportunity, it's only right that I stand with power enough to oppose that."
47
TOL: "You see that your own people, your very own people, the nation you have established, are doing the very same thing that the people in those twin cities you destroyed were doing. Of course you know what comparison I am referring to. You know my thoughts, so I will refrain from going into detail, even though I would find much gratification in doing so. In either case, since I don't know what you think, I'd like to hear what you think. I think your answer will confirm the fact that you are not fair. But go ahead and explain, since one of your purposes is to grant me understanding. Give me one good reason why you haven't already destroyed those people. You have to admit that your own people are doing no different than those people you destroyed in two of my favorite cities."
The Essence: "Yes, you see that understanding is a fault of my own people also. And yes, the horrifying similarities between my own people and those I've destroyed ---the similarity is to such detail, it cannot be denied. They are trying to deny what they have become, but they cannot. They've reached the extreme where they can no longer ignore it, nor can they tolerate it. They must attack their own problems from within. They themselves must destroy the destructive sector. They hate doing it, but it is unavoidable. And they will accomplish something by destroying their own by their own hand. They will learn more intensely the lesson. They will think twice before questioning my distribution of mercy. And they will get a glimpse of how I feel. They will realize how much I really love them, by providing such longsuffering and staying my hand from destroying them myself. Incomplete obedience only clouds the understanding and sometimes things have to get real bad before the light can be seen penetrating the darkness. A lit candle is more visible at night than at midday."
TOL: "They follow you in battle, but not in peace. When both are supposed to be your people, which sector do you favor in battle if they both turn to you at that point? Shouldn't you extend mercy to both?"
High places torn down, resound the renown
---bring back and repair, restore what was there
The law of the Essence, all call for that presence.
Cure the depraved, demented, dejected ---
Cast out the abusers, accusers, confusers, deceptive.
This young King was young ---at heart and set apart,
Until his thoughts drifted apart.
Then one shy of two score,
His reign would be no more
The King had begun his own crusade,
To pass over what the Essence had made
And what mistake he made at length,
Acting in his very own strength.
There were those who followed the voice of the Essence in their actions, though not in their hearts. And there were those who claimed to hold the Essence in their heart, though did not follow with their actions. The Essence's people would find no more victory. Better to have the high places where there is no claim to righteousness than to let evil have a foothold, then a stronghold where evil has no right.
TOL had watched as the people turned away from the Essence. The Essence had restored them for a time. But then gradually the Essence began letting them go their own way. On occasion when the people would turn to the Essence, the Essence would help them, but the occasions became fewer and further between.
TOL longs for the moment to talk with the Essence. It has been awhile. And much has happened since then. Once again, the Essence's people are defeated by those TOL would call his own. At this moment the Essence approaches TOL.
The Essence: "Why do you think my people continually turn against me?"
TOL analyzes the situation. Should he view this as a weakness, a vulnerability? Why would the Essence seek his counsel? The Essence already knows everything. Or maybe the Essence doesn't. The Essence knows everything about goodness and righteousness, but that's only a small part of these people. Maybe my help could be used in understanding these people. They think a lot like me. Maybe the Essence doesn't quite understand the things I do ...these things the Essence keeps a distance from. It can't hurt to clarify how we think.
TOL: "It is obvious that no one wants to follow you. Only a few follow you, and they must like being oppressed. Most think they are harmless, yet crazy. Obviously you must realize what will continue to forever happen. There is no getting around it. I consider it very respectable of you to admit your mistakes. I would've given up on them long ago. But it's very touching how you've made allowances for them, through your love for them. But everyone has their limits. You've seen the error of your ways, and it's only right you give up on them ---they always give up on you. Are you ready to admit your error and give me back my power?"
The Essence: "The One by whom you will be judged is yet to come. You do not know of the time, and you will not know where he will be born. Only upon the appointed time will it be revealed to you. He will lead my people for eternity, and it is by him you will be judged."
TOL: "How can you judge? You don't know what it's like being lonely and stripped of power. Trade positions with me and see what it's like."
The Essence: "Upon the appointed day, you will see that I know what it is like. More than you can imagine. Pain and agony, suffering of all sorts, I will feel it all!"
TOL only feels anger. He can't even have the pleasure of defeating the Essence's people. Those few people left who follow the Essence seem to find some sort of sick joy in doing so. They seem to thrive on oppression. And that leaves scarce motivation for TOL.
There is no voice on this orb that is heard throughout the nations as testimony to the Essence. The only voices are those isolated cries of the scattered few. From the scattering at the tower, a millennium had passed to the gathering of Kings, to the now present situation, nearly another millennium again. And those who had not been scattered long ago; now have scattered themselves. Yet TOL cannot forget what the Essence had said.
TOL begins to think that maybe they will both disappear forever, and this orb will be his forever punishment. But those thoughts cannot run full course as the Essence suddenly appears.
The Essence: "When you first rebelled against me, it was not simply you wanting your own way. We cannot have both ways. The end result of your way leads to the death of my way. In snuffing the life-force out of my Son, you've fully demonstrated that. You tried to do away with my Son. Now you have brought the full judgment upon yourself. For upon bringing death, you have brought it upon yourself. You have more than adequately demonstrated how your way leads to death and destruction."
TOL: "Well, if death is our due, then bring it on to us all. None of us have lived up to your standard."
The Essence: "I don't expect anyone to live up to it. I merely expect them to want to follow the only One who has lived up to the standard. And you are part of the reason people realize they need help. They can follow your example or they can follow my example, the living example of my Son. And I didn't come here today to hear your unending babble. I came to explain the way it will be."
TOL interrupts. His intent is not to babble, but to barter: "I heard what your Son has said, that thing about whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. You know I am big on detail. When will all that start?"
The Essence: "I will have my true followers spread the truth of my Son throughout. I will give them the Spirit to do it. Those who receive the truth; call out to me and strive for obedience. They will be set apart as my children to enter a new life with me. Those who reject me as you have; will join you in your evolution of rebellion. I have created time to make my judgment clear to you. Upon bringing death, you brought it upon yourself. But at the same time, you have brought life to others."
62
TOL: "How have I brought life to others? Don't the others matter anymore? Are you satisfied alone with my death? Do the others get to live as long as you get to see me suffer?"
The Essence: "No, those who live with the truth which my Son came to convey, those who accept him as Saviour and Lord …will gain the life I speak of in their hearts. Those who desire to tell others of my love ...are they not for me? And those who stand against telling of my love, and stand against others hearing of my love ...are they not against me? Anyone who wants to live with me for eternity, wouldn't you think those are the same ones who desire to follow me now?"
TOL: "Well, you and your Son have one thing in common. You have a terrible record with trying to keep followers. Your Son began with only twelve and that quickly went down to eleven. And the eleven aren't doing too good. They are arguing among themselves. And that new guy that used to follow me is getting beat up on a regular basis. Not much of a reward there. Why don't you stop now? You don't want to finish with a losing record, do you?"
The Essence: "They have purpose and direction. You worked such a rebellion; the people didn't know what they were doing. They certainly didn't know where it would lead them. So I scattered them abroad. They had separated themselves from me as their forefathers had. They had forgotten how or where it all began. They certainly couldn't comprehend why. But the greatest beauty is how they thirst for the truth. The truth rests with my Son. Those who have been through so much, so much more appreciate the truth, …and there is no greater joy or celebration."
TOL: "You find pleasure in their suffering because then they cry out to you more. You want them to feel they need you. It's all a part of your own prideful joy."
The Essence: "You forget; it is through you and your ways that they suffer. My ways are love. As a mother who thinks she has lost her child, when she finds her lost child she is not prideful."
TOL: "She is probably in a panic of desperation because she fears she has lost a prized possession. That actually protects her avenue for future pride."
The Essence ignores this statement. This accusation of all parents looking at their children as prized possessions has been heard before. The Essence continues on with the point.
TOL tries to interrupt, but he still doesn't quite know what to say.
The Essence: "The only real choice is by offering the choice of either absolute love or absolute evil. You will see that every parent who raises a child has the elements set up to reflect a portion of that love. But only those who follow in obedience can fully experience that portion to the depth I've intended."
TOL feels he's losing the upper hand here. He refers back to a previous question, "You never answered my question. If you really want to see if this Father of your nation is worthy, see if he's willing to give up his child."
The Essence: "He loves his child, but he puts his son second to me."
TOL: "That's not been demonstrated as far as I'm concerned."
But suddenly TOL wishes he hadn't said that. At this moment the future Father of the Essence's people is asked to give up his son.
TOL watches the whole thing. Thoughts run havoc through his mind. He had challenged the Essence. At the time, it felt like a good point. But TOL knows now he'd made a bad point. He had narrowed down an argument to a measurable statement. The Essence had introduced judgment by an act of rebellion, but is now using one act of obedience by one man to justify the judgment. This wasn't fair. But the Essence could always say that I, TOL, myself …had brought it up.
TOL's thoughts run wild. The Essence had been wrong up until now. The Essence hadn't won an argument before this …the absolute fault of the existence of a condition of righteousness, which forces the Essence to hold off my judgment. There had been no basis for judging before this. But now if the Essence wins this argument, there will be a basis for judging …a basis suggested by me! Defeat by my own device? The Essence can't do this to me!! It's not fair!!! How can I allow myself to lose? No, I can't! The Essence is not just supreme, but also places a high value on being fair. That is a weakness of the Essence, and it must be my salvation.
TOL can't allow himself to panic. Truth and righteousness and ridiculous things like that mean a lot to the Essence. The Essence claims these things are the very essence of who the Essence is ---and the Essence is who the Essence is. The Essence is truth and anyone who opposes truth, opposes the Essence. This Father of nations had not told the truth to the king. This chosen Father of nations had told the king that his wife was really his sister. That is a definite violation of truth. Maybe the Essence will honor that argument …but maybe not!
TOL continues to panic. Why had he narrowed down an argument to a measurable statement? He continues to have this single most concern …will this Father of nations measure up?
The Essence: "The only real choice is by offering the choice of either absolute love or absolute evil. You will see that every parent who raises a child has the elements set up to reflect a portion of that love. But only those who follow in obedience can fully experience that portion to the depth I've intended."
TOL feels he's losing the upper hand here. He refers back to a previous question, "You never answered my question. If you really want to see if this Father of your nation is worthy, see if he's willing to give up his child."
The Essence: "He loves his child, but he puts his son second to me."
TOL: "That's not been demonstrated as far as I'm concerned."
But suddenly TOL wishes he hadn't said that. At this moment the future Father of the Essence's people is asked to give up his son.
TOL watches the whole thing. Thoughts run havoc through his mind. He had challenged the Essence. At the time, it felt like a good point. But TOL knows now he'd made a bad point. He had narrowed down an argument to a measurable statement. The Essence had introduced judgment by an act of rebellion, but is now using one act of obedience by one man to justify the judgment. This wasn't fair. But the Essence could always say that I, TOL, myself …had brought it up.
TOL's thoughts run wild. The Essence had been wrong up until now. The Essence hadn't won an argument before this …the absolute fault of the existence of a condition of righteousness, which forces the Essence to hold off my judgment. There had been no basis for judging before this. But now if the Essence wins this argument, there will be a basis for judging …a basis suggested by me! Defeat by my own device? The Essence can't do this to me!! It's not fair!!! How can I allow myself to lose? No, I can't! The Essence is not just supreme, but also places a high value on being fair. That is a weakness of the Essence, and it must be my salvation.
TOL can't allow himself to panic. Truth and righteousness and ridiculous things like that mean a lot to the Essence. The Essence claims these things are the very essence of who the Essence is ---and the Essence is who the Essence is. The Essence is truth and anyone who opposes truth, opposes the Essence. This Father of nations had not told the truth to the king. This chosen Father of nations had told the king that his wife was really his sister. That is a definite violation of truth. Maybe the Essence will honor that argument …but maybe not!
TOL continues to panic. Why had he narrowed down an argument to a measurable statement? He continues to have this single most concern …will this Father of nations measure up?
48
TOL observes as the Father of nations obeys the Essence. The Father of nations is about to give up his son.
Shocking relief leaves TOL temporarily speechless. The Essence has stopped it.
TOL is so relieved, but the shock still rips through him. He begins to babble, not able to clearly form words, and begins by talking to himself, then shouting it to the Essence: "H-e-e, h-e-e, h-e di-d-n't do it!! Y-o-u di-d-n't let-t-t him do it! You've proven nothing!"
The Essence: "He was willing to do it. But I would never expect him to carry it out. What I asked of him is too much to bear ---to see one's own son lose his very own life-force. The affect would be too damaging. And for any youth to see his father forsake him is also too much to ask. No father could bear do this to his son; and no son could alone endure seeing his own father forsake him."
TOL will not make the same mistake again. He can still win this argument. All he has to do is focus and he'll be able to regain control.
TOL: "He didn't give up his son! You've proven nothing! But even if he had given up his son, it would not be good enough. Everyone's obedience is imperfect. Everyone is going to have occasion to do their own thing. He'd have to be obedient at all times. Furthermore, he'd have to be perfect …and no man is that! You can't judge me unless you judge everyone. And no one is perfect."
The Essence: "There will be one who is. And by him you will be judged. You can't attempt to prove you should be saved from any judgment by pointing out the faults of others ...as if that justifies your unending wretched actions. Attempting to make others lower themselves to your level ...that's not the way to save yourself."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Essence slowly establishes the Father of Nations. There are no spectacular beginnings. The Essence begins by leading a small group of people through this man. Then certain sons, whom the Essence has chosen, also follow.
TOL continues to fear what the Essence had said, but he celebrates the frequent occasions of self-will and just general selfishness of man. Though fear does not smother his celebration, nor does contentment spur it on. Discontentment breeds anger. TOL will make sure these sons of the Essence will not resist temptation. He will surround them with it.
TOL observes as the Father of nations obeys the Essence. The Father of nations is about to give up his son.
Shocking relief leaves TOL temporarily speechless. The Essence has stopped it.
TOL is so relieved, but the shock still rips through him. He begins to babble, not able to clearly form words, and begins by talking to himself, then shouting it to the Essence: "H-e-e, h-e-e, h-e di-d-n't do it!! Y-o-u di-d-n't let-t-t him do it! You've proven nothing!"
The Essence: "He was willing to do it. But I would never expect him to carry it out. What I asked of him is too much to bear ---to see one's own son lose his very own life-force. The affect would be too damaging. And for any youth to see his father forsake him is also too much to ask. No father could bear do this to his son; and no son could alone endure seeing his own father forsake him."
TOL will not make the same mistake again. He can still win this argument. All he has to do is focus and he'll be able to regain control.
TOL: "He didn't give up his son! You've proven nothing! But even if he had given up his son, it would not be good enough. Everyone's obedience is imperfect. Everyone is going to have occasion to do their own thing. He'd have to be obedient at all times. Furthermore, he'd have to be perfect …and no man is that! You can't judge me unless you judge everyone. And no one is perfect."
The Essence: "There will be one who is. And by him you will be judged. You can't attempt to prove you should be saved from any judgment by pointing out the faults of others ...as if that justifies your unending wretched actions. Attempting to make others lower themselves to your level ...that's not the way to save yourself."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Essence slowly establishes the Father of Nations. There are no spectacular beginnings. The Essence begins by leading a small group of people through this man. Then certain sons, whom the Essence has chosen, also follow.
TOL continues to fear what the Essence had said, but he celebrates the frequent occasions of self-will and just general selfishness of man. Though fear does not smother his celebration, nor does contentment spur it on. Discontentment breeds anger. TOL will make sure these sons of the Essence will not resist temptation. He will surround them with it.
49
Quite typical of the old pattern, the absurd is more dominant, therefore will conquer the logical, who'll only find it logical to join in: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Together, TOL and his fellow oppressors will attempt to point out how absurd the truth is. The truth, in essence, will be generally dismissed; or in most cases, mildly accepted as merely a certain group's folklore.
The folklore tells of what truly is, and what truly has happened. But that is not what will be presented as true ...nor what truly happened?
Whatever did happen had to have an explanation. Each would claim to be absolutely true, so there would be no half-truths. Each claim of truth would rule out the possibility that anyone else could be true, aside from their absolutes.
But what is truth? Irregardless of our beliefs, there has to be an absolute truth, whether we believe it or not.
Whether we believe it or not, doesn't change it from being true. Whether that truth is revealed to anyone is an entirely separate issue. Perhaps the truth is revealed to no one. Is that the dominant view? Does that seem logical?
As the people spread abroad, they begin to bump into one another …and there is friendly exchange, as well as hostile. And much issue is brought about over the legitimacy of each group's worship.
One family believes in a truth that their parents had taught them …what they had witnessed and what they were told about what they had witnessed. They had respected their father who had been chosen to lead a new beginning. And later, this eldest elder and his family had been spared the volcanic effect of the tower. They'd witnessed the earth move …though the earth did not move beneath them.
Others are having a new beginning of a secondary nature …as their foundation had moved. Their new beginnings had been firmly rooted in disrespect of family, though disrespect in itself was not new. And they were always ready to follow any insane idea.
Some follow only the truths they see. And they learn laws and patterns of an orderly world. But they feel the world guides itself. They feel they must only learn the various laws and patterns, and that will aid in their survival.
So, in a land where there is always untruth to fog their vision, the Essence gives them much more to interpret falsely. Huge pillars of stone suddenly appear to guide their skies. Huge boulders shoot into the air, only to land delicately, balancing atop fragile monuments of packed sand. Each creates an image of the fragile foundations which they stand upon ---windswept by tornadoes and pounded by lightning, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
The Essence creates much beauty. The Essence sculpts as a potter does clay; and sweeps out canyons, the canvas of a painter brushing each delicate stroke.
So many different views to explain everything. It is so difficult to interpret ...so difficult to know.
Those who follow the Essence attempt to set things right. One way they approach it is by discrediting all that is untrue. Yet, the sad tragedy that faces the confused and innocent is that there are those who invest much in attempting to discredit the truth, often not even knowing they are doing it. They have no clue they've been duped into thinking others have been duped, instead of themselves.
Quite typical of the old pattern, the absurd is more dominant, therefore will conquer the logical, who'll only find it logical to join in: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Together, TOL and his fellow oppressors will attempt to point out how absurd the truth is. The truth, in essence, will be generally dismissed; or in most cases, mildly accepted as merely a certain group's folklore.
The folklore tells of what truly is, and what truly has happened. But that is not what will be presented as true ...nor what truly happened?
Whatever did happen had to have an explanation. Each would claim to be absolutely true, so there would be no half-truths. Each claim of truth would rule out the possibility that anyone else could be true, aside from their absolutes.
But what is truth? Irregardless of our beliefs, there has to be an absolute truth, whether we believe it or not.
Whether we believe it or not, doesn't change it from being true. Whether that truth is revealed to anyone is an entirely separate issue. Perhaps the truth is revealed to no one. Is that the dominant view? Does that seem logical?
As the people spread abroad, they begin to bump into one another …and there is friendly exchange, as well as hostile. And much issue is brought about over the legitimacy of each group's worship.
One family believes in a truth that their parents had taught them …what they had witnessed and what they were told about what they had witnessed. They had respected their father who had been chosen to lead a new beginning. And later, this eldest elder and his family had been spared the volcanic effect of the tower. They'd witnessed the earth move …though the earth did not move beneath them.
Others are having a new beginning of a secondary nature …as their foundation had moved. Their new beginnings had been firmly rooted in disrespect of family, though disrespect in itself was not new. And they were always ready to follow any insane idea.
Some follow only the truths they see. And they learn laws and patterns of an orderly world. But they feel the world guides itself. They feel they must only learn the various laws and patterns, and that will aid in their survival.
So, in a land where there is always untruth to fog their vision, the Essence gives them much more to interpret falsely. Huge pillars of stone suddenly appear to guide their skies. Huge boulders shoot into the air, only to land delicately, balancing atop fragile monuments of packed sand. Each creates an image of the fragile foundations which they stand upon ---windswept by tornadoes and pounded by lightning, earthquakes, and hurricanes.
The Essence creates much beauty. The Essence sculpts as a potter does clay; and sweeps out canyons, the canvas of a painter brushing each delicate stroke.
So many different views to explain everything. It is so difficult to interpret ...so difficult to know.
Those who follow the Essence attempt to set things right. One way they approach it is by discrediting all that is untrue. Yet, the sad tragedy that faces the confused and innocent is that there are those who invest much in attempting to discredit the truth, often not even knowing they are doing it. They have no clue they've been duped into thinking others have been duped, instead of themselves.
50
There is a contest announced. It is a contest TOL doesn't like much. Those who worship the frogs have amassed great numbers. The prosperity of the river and the land has flourished. But the contest proves to poke much fun. The frogs are so highly regarded until they are so highly numbered …indoors. At this point of the contest, the frogs have so greatly increased in number that they enter the people's food, their beds, and on their heads. At least during this brief period of time, the frog will fall from the popular ranks of praise and worship leader. Pardon the expression, but the people become hopping mad.
TOL does not like this contest, nor how the false beliefs are contested. But he does learn something from it …not what the Essence had intended, but he does learn something. TOL learns the technique of ...over saturation. An overly excessive amount of a thing, even if it's a thing of worship, can increase and build an intolerance for that thing.
Too much of something can often more effectively aid in tiring of it, leading eventually to the rejection of it. And though something initially rejected can always be later accepted; something accepted and brought on with such intensity to a degree of saturation, often has a tendency not to be brought back to the realm of acceptance.
This is not always true though. The fullness of truth, which you can never get enough of. Once you've embraced it and allowed it to cleanse you from all deceit, this truth will magnify your desire for it. For truth does not create a busyness, nor a business. It requires moments of searching and quiet reflection, which brings a character in the opposite direction, far from the dangers of over saturation.
TOL will work on the immovable, to move it. To move the truth into the realm of misinterpretation, doubt, and deception is not that difficult. Manipulation is the next mode of transportation. But to use the method that the Essence had used with the frogs ---that has to be a very special time. It is fruitless to saturate when the people are going to mess up on their own anyway. It has to be saved for a time when true worship of the Essence dominates, if ever there will come a time.
Meanwhile, the people are messing up just fine on their own. Obedience only lasts for a brief time. They seldom are content. They veer off from what the Essence will have them do. And they continue to stray off from the truth, even if it's written in stone for them. To say the least, TOL is encouraged by this cycle of disobedience.
A large enough group is following the Essence, but they keep straying off the standard set before them. They begin doing what is right in their own eyes. Disjointed in purpose, they find more comfort in numbers. And as others set out to conquer them, they endure by the strength of the Essence. But through increased fear of being conquered, they begin to show respect for those they've conquered, instead of towards the One who had given them their strength and longevity.
There is a contest announced. It is a contest TOL doesn't like much. Those who worship the frogs have amassed great numbers. The prosperity of the river and the land has flourished. But the contest proves to poke much fun. The frogs are so highly regarded until they are so highly numbered …indoors. At this point of the contest, the frogs have so greatly increased in number that they enter the people's food, their beds, and on their heads. At least during this brief period of time, the frog will fall from the popular ranks of praise and worship leader. Pardon the expression, but the people become hopping mad.
TOL does not like this contest, nor how the false beliefs are contested. But he does learn something from it …not what the Essence had intended, but he does learn something. TOL learns the technique of ...over saturation. An overly excessive amount of a thing, even if it's a thing of worship, can increase and build an intolerance for that thing.
Too much of something can often more effectively aid in tiring of it, leading eventually to the rejection of it. And though something initially rejected can always be later accepted; something accepted and brought on with such intensity to a degree of saturation, often has a tendency not to be brought back to the realm of acceptance.
This is not always true though. The fullness of truth, which you can never get enough of. Once you've embraced it and allowed it to cleanse you from all deceit, this truth will magnify your desire for it. For truth does not create a busyness, nor a business. It requires moments of searching and quiet reflection, which brings a character in the opposite direction, far from the dangers of over saturation.
TOL will work on the immovable, to move it. To move the truth into the realm of misinterpretation, doubt, and deception is not that difficult. Manipulation is the next mode of transportation. But to use the method that the Essence had used with the frogs ---that has to be a very special time. It is fruitless to saturate when the people are going to mess up on their own anyway. It has to be saved for a time when true worship of the Essence dominates, if ever there will come a time.
Meanwhile, the people are messing up just fine on their own. Obedience only lasts for a brief time. They seldom are content. They veer off from what the Essence will have them do. And they continue to stray off from the truth, even if it's written in stone for them. To say the least, TOL is encouraged by this cycle of disobedience.
A large enough group is following the Essence, but they keep straying off the standard set before them. They begin doing what is right in their own eyes. Disjointed in purpose, they find more comfort in numbers. And as others set out to conquer them, they endure by the strength of the Essence. But through increased fear of being conquered, they begin to show respect for those they've conquered, instead of towards the One who had given them their strength and longevity.
51
They share and find comfort in numbers, compromising with retaining the high and mighty places others value so highly. The Essence has protected them and now they are protecting that which is not theirs ---that which was never intended to be theirs.
They substitute what the Essence has clearly made acceptable, for what they desire the Essence will allow as acceptable. They are judging what is right in their own eyes, in essence, judging the Essence's distribution of mercy.
The Essence visits TOL at this point in time. "Ungratefulness does not become a worthy trait even if the majority chooses to be it. And gratefulness is not always a good thing. I see you are grateful for your increased followers. Yet, it is you who chooses to judge by numbers and power …not Me."
TOL: "That's because you, numbering one, exceed all the rest of us in power. From the perspective of the disadvantaged, I find that hardly consoling."
The Essence: "How about the power of understanding?"
TOL: "One in the same thing, as far as I'm concerned. With your power, you destroyed the twin cities. What's to understand? It's well understood that you are all-powerful."
The Essence: "It's important to me that both you and they understand."
TOL: "Yeah, yeah. I know; it's that righteousness thing. But how about what you said about knowledge distributed at a slow pace. You said it will bring about more understanding? It is your own people who you claim you are bringing understanding to, but they are questioning and searching for answers. They don't understand your sporadic distribution of mercy. They wonder if you will destroy their city too. They fear you. Is that what you want? I thought you said you were not focusing on power?"
The Essence: "I prefer to call it reverence. But as far as power goes, the greatest power comes from within. And as I've said before, you've thoroughly used your power of persuasion towards destructive means. Each child born is designed to have two parents who are designed to love that child. In return, the child learns that they must follow the lead of the parents. They should always know the parent loves them, but they should also fear consequences if they disobey. If they don't, then how do you suppose they will learn to respect others? Without that respect, life as we see it, can become very wicked. "
They share and find comfort in numbers, compromising with retaining the high and mighty places others value so highly. The Essence has protected them and now they are protecting that which is not theirs ---that which was never intended to be theirs.
They substitute what the Essence has clearly made acceptable, for what they desire the Essence will allow as acceptable. They are judging what is right in their own eyes, in essence, judging the Essence's distribution of mercy.
The Essence visits TOL at this point in time. "Ungratefulness does not become a worthy trait even if the majority chooses to be it. And gratefulness is not always a good thing. I see you are grateful for your increased followers. Yet, it is you who chooses to judge by numbers and power …not Me."
TOL: "That's because you, numbering one, exceed all the rest of us in power. From the perspective of the disadvantaged, I find that hardly consoling."
The Essence: "How about the power of understanding?"
TOL: "One in the same thing, as far as I'm concerned. With your power, you destroyed the twin cities. What's to understand? It's well understood that you are all-powerful."
The Essence: "It's important to me that both you and they understand."
TOL: "Yeah, yeah. I know; it's that righteousness thing. But how about what you said about knowledge distributed at a slow pace. You said it will bring about more understanding? It is your own people who you claim you are bringing understanding to, but they are questioning and searching for answers. They don't understand your sporadic distribution of mercy. They wonder if you will destroy their city too. They fear you. Is that what you want? I thought you said you were not focusing on power?"
The Essence: "I prefer to call it reverence. But as far as power goes, the greatest power comes from within. And as I've said before, you've thoroughly used your power of persuasion towards destructive means. Each child born is designed to have two parents who are designed to love that child. In return, the child learns that they must follow the lead of the parents. They should always know the parent loves them, but they should also fear consequences if they disobey. If they don't, then how do you suppose they will learn to respect others? Without that respect, life as we see it, can become very wicked. "
52
TOL: "The parents can be grateful that they have a child. The children can be respectful and thankful towards their parents. And the parents can both love and discipline their children; but that doesn't mean they understand you. You are too harsh. You get disappointed and you start destroying entire cities. How can they love you?"
The Essence: "These cities that I destroyed, that you are trying to defend, were already destroyed from the inside-out. The parents did not love their children and the children, finding no love, did not respect their parents. Nor did they respect anyone else."
TOL: "But your people don't understand that. They don't see it your way. They see their own children move to the city and then you destroy it. How can they care about you when they feel you don't care about them?"
The Essence: "You are questioning my power of understanding. I have already made a change in the way I will deal with them. It seems learning the hard way is the preferred way for some. Their doubt is evident. They continually question my judgment. So I will allow them to do what is right in their own eyes. If they turn away from me, then they are no different than other nations. If they choose to side with other nations, I too will look to the other nations. I will allow other nations to go against my people. And I will not empower my people to defeat them."
TOL wonders about this stance the Essence is taking. At this juncture, the Essence is allowing his own people to taste defeat by the very ones that TOL favors. But that soon changes. As soon as the people turn to the Essence and ask for help, the Essence gives them victory.
TOL sees a reoccurring pattern that encourages him. The people only turn to the Essence after tasting defeat. But after they are helped, they turn away from the Essence again. Each time they turn away it seems easier the next time to go astray again. And each time they lessen their desire to turn to the Essence.
That's the way it is when seeking is only prompted during evident trouble. Those who are in peace and don't continue to seek, often lose their peace …one piece at a time. Each piece of the Essence's truth can be addressed in truth or in the voice of compromise. And if each piece is considered outside of the whole, then the whole is already compromised.
TOL: "The parents can be grateful that they have a child. The children can be respectful and thankful towards their parents. And the parents can both love and discipline their children; but that doesn't mean they understand you. You are too harsh. You get disappointed and you start destroying entire cities. How can they love you?"
The Essence: "These cities that I destroyed, that you are trying to defend, were already destroyed from the inside-out. The parents did not love their children and the children, finding no love, did not respect their parents. Nor did they respect anyone else."
TOL: "But your people don't understand that. They don't see it your way. They see their own children move to the city and then you destroy it. How can they care about you when they feel you don't care about them?"
The Essence: "You are questioning my power of understanding. I have already made a change in the way I will deal with them. It seems learning the hard way is the preferred way for some. Their doubt is evident. They continually question my judgment. So I will allow them to do what is right in their own eyes. If they turn away from me, then they are no different than other nations. If they choose to side with other nations, I too will look to the other nations. I will allow other nations to go against my people. And I will not empower my people to defeat them."
TOL wonders about this stance the Essence is taking. At this juncture, the Essence is allowing his own people to taste defeat by the very ones that TOL favors. But that soon changes. As soon as the people turn to the Essence and ask for help, the Essence gives them victory.
TOL sees a reoccurring pattern that encourages him. The people only turn to the Essence after tasting defeat. But after they are helped, they turn away from the Essence again. Each time they turn away it seems easier the next time to go astray again. And each time they lessen their desire to turn to the Essence.
That's the way it is when seeking is only prompted during evident trouble. Those who are in peace and don't continue to seek, often lose their peace …one piece at a time. Each piece of the Essence's truth can be addressed in truth or in the voice of compromise. And if each piece is considered outside of the whole, then the whole is already compromised.
53
Compromise does not reveal error; it only creates a new standard for truth …much less of a standard. This is considered one of TOL's successes. And he is eager to claim victory.
Compromise does not reveal error; it only creates a new standard for truth …much less of a standard. This is considered one of TOL's successes. And he is eager to claim victory.
TOL: "You see that your own people, your very own people, the nation you have established, are doing the very same thing that the people in those twin cities you destroyed were doing. Of course you know what comparison I am referring to. You know my thoughts, so I will refrain from going into detail, even though I would find much gratification in doing so. In either case, since I don't know what you think, I'd like to hear what you think. I think your answer will confirm the fact that you are not fair. But go ahead and explain, since one of your purposes is to grant me understanding. Give me one good reason why you haven't already destroyed those people. You have to admit that your own people are doing no different than those people you destroyed in two of my favorite cities."
The Essence: "Yes, you see that understanding is a fault of my own people also. And yes, the horrifying similarities between my own people and those I've destroyed ---the similarity is to such detail, it cannot be denied. They are trying to deny what they have become, but they cannot. They've reached the extreme where they can no longer ignore it, nor can they tolerate it. They must attack their own problems from within. They themselves must destroy the destructive sector. They hate doing it, but it is unavoidable. And they will accomplish something by destroying their own by their own hand. They will learn more intensely the lesson. They will think twice before questioning my distribution of mercy. And they will get a glimpse of how I feel. They will realize how much I really love them, by providing such longsuffering and staying my hand from destroying them myself. Incomplete obedience only clouds the understanding and sometimes things have to get real bad before the light can be seen penetrating the darkness. A lit candle is more visible at night than at midday."
TOL: "They follow you in battle, but not in peace. When both are supposed to be your people, which sector do you favor in battle if they both turn to you at that point? Shouldn't you extend mercy to both?"
54
The Essence: "A seemingly good, yet unwise young man continues to feed his bloated horse. Twice he calls his father to deal with the sick animal. The third time the father has his son deal with the sick horse himself. The times before, the father had stayed up all night while the son slept comfortably in bed. But the third time, the son has to stay up the long night to care for the horse. After this third time, the son doesn't ever over-feed the horse again."
TOL: "If the son had overfed the horse after the third time, would the father continue to stay up through the long night to help his son heal the horse? Would he continue to show mercy? And with these people of yours who have turned against themselves, how will you deal with them? Will you show mercy to both?"
The Essence: "Anyone who does what is right in their own eyes may at some point quickly recognize that something that is brought to their attention is extremely wrong, but they may not understand that viewing what is right in their own eyes may have led up to that more obvious wrong. And yes, I would extend mercy to both, but both are not my people. One battles in my name only. My true people are the ones who will now confront their lack of confrontation which had led to these heinous crimes. They will lose the first two battles, but I will give them victory in the third, after they realize their need to wholly turn to me."
TOL does not seek available understanding. His hope is that during either of the first two defeats, the people would've given up …believing the 'righteous cause' not to be a worthy one. Or somehow if they would've convinced themselves that the Essence is no longer with them and they should no longer be with the Essence.
TOL: "So I'm to be impressed by the fact that they destroyed themselves? I will also have those so committed to me that they will not only seek to destroy their own, but will also destroy themselves."
The Essence: "You've already shown me that. You and the third that followed you, that is."
TOL gets more than a third of the human beings to follow. He also elicits the favor of the Essence's people who admirably observe his following. Then the day comes. The temptation, the desire for what others have, becomes too great. It is a crowning moment for TOL. The Essence's own people say they no longer want to be led by the Essence.
Well, that's not quite what they say, but it's well on the way to that. They decide they want to be led by a King …like the others.
The Essence: "A seemingly good, yet unwise young man continues to feed his bloated horse. Twice he calls his father to deal with the sick animal. The third time the father has his son deal with the sick horse himself. The times before, the father had stayed up all night while the son slept comfortably in bed. But the third time, the son has to stay up the long night to care for the horse. After this third time, the son doesn't ever over-feed the horse again."
TOL: "If the son had overfed the horse after the third time, would the father continue to stay up through the long night to help his son heal the horse? Would he continue to show mercy? And with these people of yours who have turned against themselves, how will you deal with them? Will you show mercy to both?"
The Essence: "Anyone who does what is right in their own eyes may at some point quickly recognize that something that is brought to their attention is extremely wrong, but they may not understand that viewing what is right in their own eyes may have led up to that more obvious wrong. And yes, I would extend mercy to both, but both are not my people. One battles in my name only. My true people are the ones who will now confront their lack of confrontation which had led to these heinous crimes. They will lose the first two battles, but I will give them victory in the third, after they realize their need to wholly turn to me."
TOL does not seek available understanding. His hope is that during either of the first two defeats, the people would've given up …believing the 'righteous cause' not to be a worthy one. Or somehow if they would've convinced themselves that the Essence is no longer with them and they should no longer be with the Essence.
TOL: "So I'm to be impressed by the fact that they destroyed themselves? I will also have those so committed to me that they will not only seek to destroy their own, but will also destroy themselves."
The Essence: "You've already shown me that. You and the third that followed you, that is."
TOL gets more than a third of the human beings to follow. He also elicits the favor of the Essence's people who admirably observe his following. Then the day comes. The temptation, the desire for what others have, becomes too great. It is a crowning moment for TOL. The Essence's own people say they no longer want to be led by the Essence.
Well, that's not quite what they say, but it's well on the way to that. They decide they want to be led by a King …like the others.
55
It is the Essence who pays the visit.
The Essence: "You see, there are those who don't want to be led by me anymore. I will allow them to have Kings like other nations."
TOL is shocked. Is the Essence giving in? The Essence must be weakening. The Essence is accepting their rejection. Maybe the Essence really does love these people. These people have hurt the Essence. Caring can be so draining. Maybe my own rejection of the Essence will eventually be accepted too.
The Essence chooses a King for the people. And the Essence's people follow their King and do battle like the other Kingdoms.
TOL tries to get the Essence's people to feel their own power, and to pride themselves in victory. And they not only feel pride in victory, but they savor the pride of those whom they have victory over.
The Essence's nation continues to have victory, though all battles are not easy. They celebrate, but in celebration they choose to save the treasured hallmarks to the very evils that nearly destroyed them. The standard they set throughout the earth by their victory is thought of more highly than the standard set by the Essence. These hallmarks and savored spoils of war become the esteemed high places for the people of the Essence. And in not destroying the high places …their own eyes, their own vision, becomes darkened.
But who could tell of the ramifications,
whether a ram or the bleating of the sheep I hear
---or whether past, present and future meld together
in a hand dealt within the wizardry of paying no attention
to the man behind the curtain ---to continue the masquerade
and clearly deceiving one's own self in paying no attention to the Essence,
or mocking and bringing light to such similarities that are not Light,
but merely darkness.
Whether when a man is considered a man,
or when more than a man is considered a man, or less than a man.
Being one with the Essence, facing those who acknowledge the presence,
but forming allegiance with those who have no clue, nor care to ….
Howbeit that one can deny, seek out the lie, and dwell more in darkness
than those who have never walked in the Light.
This was the error of the first King of the Essence's people.
The curtain was drawn on him.
He would no longer have access to the Essence he denied.
And he slipped into darkness.
It is the Essence who pays the visit.
The Essence: "You see, there are those who don't want to be led by me anymore. I will allow them to have Kings like other nations."
TOL is shocked. Is the Essence giving in? The Essence must be weakening. The Essence is accepting their rejection. Maybe the Essence really does love these people. These people have hurt the Essence. Caring can be so draining. Maybe my own rejection of the Essence will eventually be accepted too.
The Essence chooses a King for the people. And the Essence's people follow their King and do battle like the other Kingdoms.
TOL tries to get the Essence's people to feel their own power, and to pride themselves in victory. And they not only feel pride in victory, but they savor the pride of those whom they have victory over.
The Essence's nation continues to have victory, though all battles are not easy. They celebrate, but in celebration they choose to save the treasured hallmarks to the very evils that nearly destroyed them. The standard they set throughout the earth by their victory is thought of more highly than the standard set by the Essence. These hallmarks and savored spoils of war become the esteemed high places for the people of the Essence. And in not destroying the high places …their own eyes, their own vision, becomes darkened.
But who could tell of the ramifications,
whether a ram or the bleating of the sheep I hear
---or whether past, present and future meld together
in a hand dealt within the wizardry of paying no attention
to the man behind the curtain ---to continue the masquerade
and clearly deceiving one's own self in paying no attention to the Essence,
or mocking and bringing light to such similarities that are not Light,
but merely darkness.
Whether when a man is considered a man,
or when more than a man is considered a man, or less than a man.
Being one with the Essence, facing those who acknowledge the presence,
but forming allegiance with those who have no clue, nor care to ….
Howbeit that one can deny, seek out the lie, and dwell more in darkness
than those who have never walked in the Light.
This was the error of the first King of the Essence's people.
The curtain was drawn on him.
He would no longer have access to the Essence he denied.
And he slipped into darkness.
56
The next King found immense joy in the Essence, yet also found joy in that which he was not to have access to. But he clung to his desire to follow the Essence, and experienced the restoration all should have striven for.
From King number two, to not know where to,
To too kingly to care to
---while rotten to the core and trying to keep score,
The next King found immense joy in the Essence, yet also found joy in that which he was not to have access to. But he clung to his desire to follow the Essence, and experienced the restoration all should have striven for.
From King number two, to not know where to,
To too kingly to care to
---while rotten to the core and trying to keep score,
Not knowing what for ---but two shy of a score,
A King would bring more, more love than before
---at least since King two had led us anew.
---at least since King two had led us anew.
But when Kings do stray, there's a high cost to pay,
So this King, it was told, a mere eight year old
This young King sought lessons, writings of an Essence,
Instead of aggressions.
High places torn down, resound the renown
---bring back and repair, restore what was there
The law of the Essence, all call for that presence.
Cure the depraved, demented, dejected ---
Cast out the abusers, accusers, confusers, deceptive.
This young King was young ---at heart and set apart,
Until his thoughts drifted apart.
Then one shy of two score,
His reign would be no more
The King had begun his own crusade,
To pass over what the Essence had made
And what mistake he made at length,
Acting in his very own strength.
There were those who followed the voice of the Essence in their actions, though not in their hearts. And there were those who claimed to hold the Essence in their heart, though did not follow with their actions. The Essence's people would find no more victory. Better to have the high places where there is no claim to righteousness than to let evil have a foothold, then a stronghold where evil has no right.
TOL had watched as the people turned away from the Essence. The Essence had restored them for a time. But then gradually the Essence began letting them go their own way. On occasion when the people would turn to the Essence, the Essence would help them, but the occasions became fewer and further between.
TOL longs for the moment to talk with the Essence. It has been awhile. And much has happened since then. Once again, the Essence's people are defeated by those TOL would call his own. At this moment the Essence approaches TOL.
The Essence: "Why do you think my people continually turn against me?"
57
TOL analyzes the situation. Should he view this as a weakness, a vulnerability? Why would the Essence seek his counsel? The Essence already knows everything. Or maybe the Essence doesn't. The Essence knows everything about goodness and righteousness, but that's only a small part of these people. Maybe my help could be used in understanding these people. They think a lot like me. Maybe the Essence doesn't quite understand the things I do ...these things the Essence keeps a distance from. It can't hurt to clarify how we think.
TOL: "It is obvious that no one wants to follow you. Only a few follow you, and they must like being oppressed. Most think they are harmless, yet crazy. Obviously you must realize what will continue to forever happen. There is no getting around it. I consider it very respectable of you to admit your mistakes. I would've given up on them long ago. But it's very touching how you've made allowances for them, through your love for them. But everyone has their limits. You've seen the error of your ways, and it's only right you give up on them ---they always give up on you. Are you ready to admit your error and give me back my power?"
The Essence: "The One by whom you will be judged is yet to come. You do not know of the time, and you will not know where he will be born. Only upon the appointed time will it be revealed to you. He will lead my people for eternity, and it is by him you will be judged."
TOL: "How can you judge? You don't know what it's like being lonely and stripped of power. Trade positions with me and see what it's like."
The Essence: "Upon the appointed day, you will see that I know what it is like. More than you can imagine. Pain and agony, suffering of all sorts, I will feel it all!"
TOL only feels anger. He can't even have the pleasure of defeating the Essence's people. Those few people left who follow the Essence seem to find some sort of sick joy in doing so. They seem to thrive on oppression. And that leaves scarce motivation for TOL.
There is no voice on this orb that is heard throughout the nations as testimony to the Essence. The only voices are those isolated cries of the scattered few. From the scattering at the tower, a millennium had passed to the gathering of Kings, to the now present situation, nearly another millennium again. And those who had not been scattered long ago; now have scattered themselves. Yet TOL cannot forget what the Essence had said.
58
One of these scattered ones could rise up at any time. The Essence must have a plan for the One who will judge. TOL will have to come up with a plan too. A much better plan. The Essence has shown to be vulnerable. The Essence seems to be affected by the people's choice. It means everything to the Essence ---that the people are able to choose. All TOL has to do is make sure that the few who still do follow the Essence have no opportunity to lead.
Suddenly TOL remembers. He had not used this technique. He had saved it for just the right moment. It is a stellar idea. TOL will devise his own group of people to be identified as the Essence's people, but actually they will follow TOL. They will distort all the ways of the Essence, yet pretend to be the very leaders of the Essence. There will be so much confusion that eventually no one will truly follow the Essence. No one will be certain who the Essence really is!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TOL is so proud of himself. This is what he'd set out to do, and this is what he accomplishes. As the years pass, TOL has everything to his satisfaction. Until he hears that the One by whom he is supposed to be judged is about to be born.
TOL tries to get into the town where the baby is to be born, but the town is surrounded by those 'messenger beings' loyal to the Essence. These 'messenger beings' fill the town with their song, and TOL can get nowhere near. TOL isn't permitted to be a part of this celebration. All TOL knows is the name of the town where the baby is born. He doesn't know the name of the baby nor who the parents are.
A good number of years pass. Suddenly this strange man in the wilderness begins warning everyone that they have to change their ways; that they're not living right. TOL figures that this man is the One who will judge him. TOL stirs up anger in the king's family and in his leaders who claim to be leaders of the Essence. But then TOL hears this strange man announcing that all will have to mend their ways and prepare their hearts, for the Son of the Essence is here.
The confirmation of this comes by an announcement from the heavens, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." When TOL hears this, he is stricken with horror. At this moment the Essence appears, but TOL finds only anger-filled words and complete rage.
TOL: "Go ahead; you have punished me with this game long enough. You never intended on being fair. End this intolerable existence of mine!"
The Essence: "This is not a game. I have been fair. You stand in judgment by this Man."
TOL: "This Man is not a man. He is your Son. He is your equal. You are judging me by your own standard."
One of these scattered ones could rise up at any time. The Essence must have a plan for the One who will judge. TOL will have to come up with a plan too. A much better plan. The Essence has shown to be vulnerable. The Essence seems to be affected by the people's choice. It means everything to the Essence ---that the people are able to choose. All TOL has to do is make sure that the few who still do follow the Essence have no opportunity to lead.
Suddenly TOL remembers. He had not used this technique. He had saved it for just the right moment. It is a stellar idea. TOL will devise his own group of people to be identified as the Essence's people, but actually they will follow TOL. They will distort all the ways of the Essence, yet pretend to be the very leaders of the Essence. There will be so much confusion that eventually no one will truly follow the Essence. No one will be certain who the Essence really is!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TOL is so proud of himself. This is what he'd set out to do, and this is what he accomplishes. As the years pass, TOL has everything to his satisfaction. Until he hears that the One by whom he is supposed to be judged is about to be born.
TOL tries to get into the town where the baby is to be born, but the town is surrounded by those 'messenger beings' loyal to the Essence. These 'messenger beings' fill the town with their song, and TOL can get nowhere near. TOL isn't permitted to be a part of this celebration. All TOL knows is the name of the town where the baby is born. He doesn't know the name of the baby nor who the parents are.
A good number of years pass. Suddenly this strange man in the wilderness begins warning everyone that they have to change their ways; that they're not living right. TOL figures that this man is the One who will judge him. TOL stirs up anger in the king's family and in his leaders who claim to be leaders of the Essence. But then TOL hears this strange man announcing that all will have to mend their ways and prepare their hearts, for the Son of the Essence is here.
The confirmation of this comes by an announcement from the heavens, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." When TOL hears this, he is stricken with horror. At this moment the Essence appears, but TOL finds only anger-filled words and complete rage.
TOL: "Go ahead; you have punished me with this game long enough. You never intended on being fair. End this intolerable existence of mine!"
The Essence: "This is not a game. I have been fair. You stand in judgment by this Man."
TOL: "This Man is not a man. He is your Son. He is your equal. You are judging me by your own standard."
59
TOL's fury builds. His uncontrollable anger leaves him speechless for just a moment.
TOL: "Well, go ahead and judge me then. But you must give all these people and all that have lived before them the same treatment."
The Essence: "No, that is not the way it will be!"
TOL: "But you must judge us all the same. We are all disobedient to you. It's no different whether You judge us or your Son judges us, it's all the same."
The Essence: "There's a big difference, and you are avoiding the truth of it."
TOL: "The truth is that you've played this game this whole time and you never intended on being fair. I don't really even know why you confined me to this orb with these despicable creatures. Do you think I enjoy watching their mindless activity?"
The Essence: "You call that just watching? You've cast your hateful influence on many."
TOL must get the focus off him. The Essence still cares about these lowly creatures. Must keep the focus on them.
TOL: "And they failed; each one. So what are you going to do with them? They all fall short of your standards."
The Essence: "This entire time it has not been 'them' who have been disputed. This entire time it has been you disputing me. All you've done is try to challenge me. Your judgment was set from the beginning. Your hatred and rebellion is unchanging."
TOL: "And your judgment upon everyone is forever a pleasure of yours."
The Essence: "My Son is here to save the people, not condemn them."
TOL: "But in saving the people you are judging to save. And in condemning, you judge to condemn. But you can't fairly judge by choosing who is saved from the judgment …and who is not!"
TOL's fury builds. His uncontrollable anger leaves him speechless for just a moment.
TOL: "Well, go ahead and judge me then. But you must give all these people and all that have lived before them the same treatment."
The Essence: "No, that is not the way it will be!"
TOL: "But you must judge us all the same. We are all disobedient to you. It's no different whether You judge us or your Son judges us, it's all the same."
The Essence: "There's a big difference, and you are avoiding the truth of it."
TOL: "The truth is that you've played this game this whole time and you never intended on being fair. I don't really even know why you confined me to this orb with these despicable creatures. Do you think I enjoy watching their mindless activity?"
The Essence: "You call that just watching? You've cast your hateful influence on many."
TOL must get the focus off him. The Essence still cares about these lowly creatures. Must keep the focus on them.
TOL: "And they failed; each one. So what are you going to do with them? They all fall short of your standards."
The Essence: "This entire time it has not been 'them' who have been disputed. This entire time it has been you disputing me. All you've done is try to challenge me. Your judgment was set from the beginning. Your hatred and rebellion is unchanging."
TOL: "And your judgment upon everyone is forever a pleasure of yours."
The Essence: "My Son is here to save the people, not condemn them."
TOL: "But in saving the people you are judging to save. And in condemning, you judge to condemn. But you can't fairly judge by choosing who is saved from the judgment …and who is not!"
60
The Essence: "That's exactly what I shall do! You have so distorted the image of who I am in the people's minds; I am not recognized for who I am. My own Son will reveal to everyone who I really am, so the choice can more clearly be theirs. If they follow my Son, they are following me for who I am. And those I will choose to spend eternity with me."
TOL: "If they don't follow you, then they get the same as me? You're like a big bully who makes sure everyone who goes against you is punished."
The Essence: "Anyone who doesn't follow me gets the essence of what you've created. There are those on earth who live a comfortable life, and you would contend they don't deserve it. And there are those on earth who are tormented ...would you also say they don't deserve it? Many look to me for salvation from their earthly state, and others want nothing to do with me. If I am so displeasing, then if they don't want to follow me on earth, why would you think they'd want to follow me for eternity?"
TOL: "So you've seen how things have become. Most everyone follows my lead. My ways are quite attractive. Man wants to feel important and he constantly seeks out power, the same as I do. And those who have power, seek for more. You don't seek power because you are supreme. But give up some of that power and see how you feel!"
The Essence: "I've gone a step further. I've sent my Son …my very own Son is living here as a man."
TOL has to escape this dilemma.
Wait!
Didn't the Essence say that he'd sent his Son as man? If this is true, then perhaps the Essence has finally made the mistake TOL has been waiting for. TOL knows that caring for these people is a mistake, and this time the Essence has slipped up. The Essence can't realize the extent of this! This is worse than what the Essence has done to TOL himself. The Essence's very own Son living as one of these despicable creatures? TOL knows how difficult it has been to handle the limitations on his own power. The Essence's Son is expected to handle even more severe limitations. It will drive the Essence's Son crazy ---and TOL will drive him the rest of the way.
TOL attempts to tempt the Essence's Son, but that doesn't work. It does work up the anger in TOL though. He already has leaders in place for the Essence's people, and he will be successful in making sure the Essence's Son never gets a chance to lead ---at least to the level of Kinghood.
61
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
These leaders representing the Essence, but actually following TOL, are eventually successful in brutally snuffing out the life-force of the Essence's own Son. They then try to hide the horror of what they had done, but the Essence doesn't allow it to be hidden. Upon being restored, the Essence's Son walks the earth for a short while more …before disappearing.
The Essence: "That's exactly what I shall do! You have so distorted the image of who I am in the people's minds; I am not recognized for who I am. My own Son will reveal to everyone who I really am, so the choice can more clearly be theirs. If they follow my Son, they are following me for who I am. And those I will choose to spend eternity with me."
TOL: "If they don't follow you, then they get the same as me? You're like a big bully who makes sure everyone who goes against you is punished."
The Essence: "Anyone who doesn't follow me gets the essence of what you've created. There are those on earth who live a comfortable life, and you would contend they don't deserve it. And there are those on earth who are tormented ...would you also say they don't deserve it? Many look to me for salvation from their earthly state, and others want nothing to do with me. If I am so displeasing, then if they don't want to follow me on earth, why would you think they'd want to follow me for eternity?"
TOL: "So you've seen how things have become. Most everyone follows my lead. My ways are quite attractive. Man wants to feel important and he constantly seeks out power, the same as I do. And those who have power, seek for more. You don't seek power because you are supreme. But give up some of that power and see how you feel!"
The Essence: "I've gone a step further. I've sent my Son …my very own Son is living here as a man."
TOL has to escape this dilemma.
Wait!
Didn't the Essence say that he'd sent his Son as man? If this is true, then perhaps the Essence has finally made the mistake TOL has been waiting for. TOL knows that caring for these people is a mistake, and this time the Essence has slipped up. The Essence can't realize the extent of this! This is worse than what the Essence has done to TOL himself. The Essence's very own Son living as one of these despicable creatures? TOL knows how difficult it has been to handle the limitations on his own power. The Essence's Son is expected to handle even more severe limitations. It will drive the Essence's Son crazy ---and TOL will drive him the rest of the way.
TOL attempts to tempt the Essence's Son, but that doesn't work. It does work up the anger in TOL though. He already has leaders in place for the Essence's people, and he will be successful in making sure the Essence's Son never gets a chance to lead ---at least to the level of Kinghood.
61
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
These leaders representing the Essence, but actually following TOL, are eventually successful in brutally snuffing out the life-force of the Essence's own Son. They then try to hide the horror of what they had done, but the Essence doesn't allow it to be hidden. Upon being restored, the Essence's Son walks the earth for a short while more …before disappearing.
TOL begins to think that maybe they will both disappear forever, and this orb will be his forever punishment. But those thoughts cannot run full course as the Essence suddenly appears.
The Essence: "When you first rebelled against me, it was not simply you wanting your own way. We cannot have both ways. The end result of your way leads to the death of my way. In snuffing the life-force out of my Son, you've fully demonstrated that. You tried to do away with my Son. Now you have brought the full judgment upon yourself. For upon bringing death, you have brought it upon yourself. You have more than adequately demonstrated how your way leads to death and destruction."
TOL: "Well, if death is our due, then bring it on to us all. None of us have lived up to your standard."
The Essence: "I don't expect anyone to live up to it. I merely expect them to want to follow the only One who has lived up to the standard. And you are part of the reason people realize they need help. They can follow your example or they can follow my example, the living example of my Son. And I didn't come here today to hear your unending babble. I came to explain the way it will be."
TOL interrupts. His intent is not to babble, but to barter: "I heard what your Son has said, that thing about whatever is bound on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. You know I am big on detail. When will all that start?"
The Essence: "I will have my true followers spread the truth of my Son throughout. I will give them the Spirit to do it. Those who receive the truth; call out to me and strive for obedience. They will be set apart as my children to enter a new life with me. Those who reject me as you have; will join you in your evolution of rebellion. I have created time to make my judgment clear to you. Upon bringing death, you brought it upon yourself. But at the same time, you have brought life to others."
62
TOL: "How have I brought life to others? Don't the others matter anymore? Are you satisfied alone with my death? Do the others get to live as long as you get to see me suffer?"
The Essence: "No, those who live with the truth which my Son came to convey, those who accept him as Saviour and Lord …will gain the life I speak of in their hearts. Those who desire to tell others of my love ...are they not for me? And those who stand against telling of my love, and stand against others hearing of my love ...are they not against me? Anyone who wants to live with me for eternity, wouldn't you think those are the same ones who desire to follow me now?"
TOL: "Well, you and your Son have one thing in common. You have a terrible record with trying to keep followers. Your Son began with only twelve and that quickly went down to eleven. And the eleven aren't doing too good. They are arguing among themselves. And that new guy that used to follow me is getting beat up on a regular basis. Not much of a reward there. Why don't you stop now? You don't want to finish with a losing record, do you?"
The Essence: "They have purpose and direction. You worked such a rebellion; the people didn't know what they were doing. They certainly didn't know where it would lead them. So I scattered them abroad. They had separated themselves from me as their forefathers had. They had forgotten how or where it all began. They certainly couldn't comprehend why. But the greatest beauty is how they thirst for the truth. The truth rests with my Son. Those who have been through so much, so much more appreciate the truth, …and there is no greater joy or celebration."
TOL: "You find pleasure in their suffering because then they cry out to you more. You want them to feel they need you. It's all a part of your own prideful joy."
The Essence: "You forget; it is through you and your ways that they suffer. My ways are love. As a mother who thinks she has lost her child, when she finds her lost child she is not prideful."
TOL: "She is probably in a panic of desperation because she fears she has lost a prized possession. That actually protects her avenue for future pride."
The Essence ignores this statement. This accusation of all parents looking at their children as prized possessions has been heard before. The Essence continues on with the point.
63
The Essence: "In contrast, when two men go out in search of treasure, the one who finds the biggest bounty may be prideful. And there may be those who find their kingly status so lofty that they may purpose to search for a woman the same as they would select fine breeding for cattle and sheep. The woman would then be adorned in the finest linens for all to see. She would be given much praise. All in the name of false dignity. But the mother who searches for the lost child finds neither pride nor loftiness upon her success in finding her child. She quickly gathers that child into her arms and comforts her child. Then she quietly brings her child back home. There is no pomp and circumstance. She is grateful, not prideful."
TOL: "So, all those who follow you are your children. How touching! When will you take them all home?"
The Essence: "They will come together. Not the way they did at the tower, with a coming together of confusion. They will come together in the name of my Son. Yes, when all has had a chance to hear. When all can see the way to escape the death and destruction, then I will bring my final judgment upon you. At the same time all the world will hear, there will also be much widespread rejection of the truths. But this time it will be the rejection of the real truth, not a false representation. They will be headed for mass destruction ...following your lead, but I will save those who have made it abundantly clear that they want to follow my ways. Those who have accepted the most loving sacrifice of my love; only they will be spared the end result of your rebellion."
TOL is left to consider all that the Essence has said. It is over! It is abundantly clear what will happen. TOL contemplates the judgment he's to face. He doesn't know when it will come, but each day that he is not judged, does not bring him peace for that day. He becomes angrier and angrier. He hates these despicable creatures the Essence is so endeared to; those who will be set apart to share in the Essence's glory.
TOL will see to it that these prized creatures rebel against the Essence. The Essence loves them so much; TOL will cause them to rebel. TOL will send the Essence's heart into torment.
TOL will still confound the people so it is not abundantly clear what the truth of the Essence is.
The Essence: "In contrast, when two men go out in search of treasure, the one who finds the biggest bounty may be prideful. And there may be those who find their kingly status so lofty that they may purpose to search for a woman the same as they would select fine breeding for cattle and sheep. The woman would then be adorned in the finest linens for all to see. She would be given much praise. All in the name of false dignity. But the mother who searches for the lost child finds neither pride nor loftiness upon her success in finding her child. She quickly gathers that child into her arms and comforts her child. Then she quietly brings her child back home. There is no pomp and circumstance. She is grateful, not prideful."
TOL: "So, all those who follow you are your children. How touching! When will you take them all home?"
The Essence: "They will come together. Not the way they did at the tower, with a coming together of confusion. They will come together in the name of my Son. Yes, when all has had a chance to hear. When all can see the way to escape the death and destruction, then I will bring my final judgment upon you. At the same time all the world will hear, there will also be much widespread rejection of the truths. But this time it will be the rejection of the real truth, not a false representation. They will be headed for mass destruction ...following your lead, but I will save those who have made it abundantly clear that they want to follow my ways. Those who have accepted the most loving sacrifice of my love; only they will be spared the end result of your rebellion."
TOL is left to consider all that the Essence has said. It is over! It is abundantly clear what will happen. TOL contemplates the judgment he's to face. He doesn't know when it will come, but each day that he is not judged, does not bring him peace for that day. He becomes angrier and angrier. He hates these despicable creatures the Essence is so endeared to; those who will be set apart to share in the Essence's glory.
TOL will see to it that these prized creatures rebel against the Essence. The Essence loves them so much; TOL will cause them to rebel. TOL will send the Essence's heart into torment.
TOL will still confound the people so it is not abundantly clear what the truth of the Essence is.
64
It worked quite well before, it can work again. TOL will strive to bring this world to the point where none will follow the Essence. Then the Essence will be forced to let those loved ones follow my way. They have a choice and they will not choose the Essence. They will be so confused that they won't be able to choose the Essence. They won't know who the Essence is.
TOL realizes that the biggest damage he can do is by getting the people to not choose at all. By not choosing, they are not really conscious of the fact that they've still really made a choice. They chose not to choose.
That's where TOL is convinced he can defeat the Essence. Love is a weakness, and the Essence loves the people. If they don't even recognize the Essence as existing, then they can't come to know the Essence, let alone accept the love offered them.
The fact that bothers TOL the most is that he doesn't know when the Essence will stop it all. He doesn't know when the eternal judgment will be carried out. But he does know one thing. He will work furiously against the Essence, doing as much damage as possible and destroying the very souls of these prized creatures.
********
TOL contemplates how long now. It has been several millenniums since the Essence placed him on this earth. And today is one more additional day.
*********
Can we excuse ourselves for falling short of understanding the Essence's purpose, and even more so, for questioning why He tolerates the continuing drama of TOL's usurping of the truth? Is it sufficient to live each day with the conventional wisdom of living one day at a time? That approach to life has its merits, yet to strive for a slightly more enriched life we must step beyond conventional ways of thinking. If we're to propose that we are to learn from history …we must first admit that we seldom do. Life …through merely living it, does not reveal what is to be revealed.
Being a great student of history, does not qualify us to judge the future. Whose story do we study? It may vary greatly according to who tells the story. Upon contemplating that very fact, history moves on, and is created anew each day. History is created through today's reflection. What we learn from it …is usually what others want us to learn from it.
Healthy learning promotes healthy change …called improvement. That which leaves the most lasting impression upon us is that which enters the depths of our heart. If we have a heart for it, we will learn. Learning comes from the heart, or mind, depending upon whether you're studying biology or the thralls of literature. The heart, or emotional part of the mind, learns to process emotion as a growth process directed through experience and organized teaching. What may be missing though …is the truth. What benefit is there to learn something that is not centered upon the truth? And what benefit is there to learn history without the central focus being … His story.
65
It worked quite well before, it can work again. TOL will strive to bring this world to the point where none will follow the Essence. Then the Essence will be forced to let those loved ones follow my way. They have a choice and they will not choose the Essence. They will be so confused that they won't be able to choose the Essence. They won't know who the Essence is.
TOL realizes that the biggest damage he can do is by getting the people to not choose at all. By not choosing, they are not really conscious of the fact that they've still really made a choice. They chose not to choose.
That's where TOL is convinced he can defeat the Essence. Love is a weakness, and the Essence loves the people. If they don't even recognize the Essence as existing, then they can't come to know the Essence, let alone accept the love offered them.
The fact that bothers TOL the most is that he doesn't know when the Essence will stop it all. He doesn't know when the eternal judgment will be carried out. But he does know one thing. He will work furiously against the Essence, doing as much damage as possible and destroying the very souls of these prized creatures.
********
TOL contemplates how long now. It has been several millenniums since the Essence placed him on this earth. And today is one more additional day.
*********
Can we excuse ourselves for falling short of understanding the Essence's purpose, and even more so, for questioning why He tolerates the continuing drama of TOL's usurping of the truth? Is it sufficient to live each day with the conventional wisdom of living one day at a time? That approach to life has its merits, yet to strive for a slightly more enriched life we must step beyond conventional ways of thinking. If we're to propose that we are to learn from history …we must first admit that we seldom do. Life …through merely living it, does not reveal what is to be revealed.
Being a great student of history, does not qualify us to judge the future. Whose story do we study? It may vary greatly according to who tells the story. Upon contemplating that very fact, history moves on, and is created anew each day. History is created through today's reflection. What we learn from it …is usually what others want us to learn from it.
Healthy learning promotes healthy change …called improvement. That which leaves the most lasting impression upon us is that which enters the depths of our heart. If we have a heart for it, we will learn. Learning comes from the heart, or mind, depending upon whether you're studying biology or the thralls of literature. The heart, or emotional part of the mind, learns to process emotion as a growth process directed through experience and organized teaching. What may be missing though …is the truth. What benefit is there to learn something that is not centered upon the truth? And what benefit is there to learn history without the central focus being … His story.
65
Well, there are many stories. Each of us carry several inside us …but the one particularly unique to us …is our story. And the way we look at life varies to the degree we look at our story in relation to His story.
Indeed, change has taken place: Too quickly should be a concern. But sometimes change is so slow that it may not even be viewed as change …and that's perhaps an even greater concern.
Indeed, change has taken place: Too quickly should be a concern. But sometimes change is so slow that it may not even be viewed as change …and that's perhaps an even greater concern.
No comments:
Post a Comment