Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Book of All Things New

I am back. Let me wipe the cobwebs from my spiritual eyes. I am a young man in the City of Babel. The intoxicating aromas of the great commercial thoroughfares entices  me to spend. I buy a new horse, just like the ones we used to have in Jerusalem. I name him Nebo, for our blessed mountain to the north and ride him proudly through the streets of the city. All is well with us. Exile has its advantages. Imagine the government of your political entity telling a man he must move from a quite respectable city along some serviceable interior river to a glittering capital along the coast. That is how it was with us. Were we slaves? No. Were we persecuted? No? Did we practice our faith? Yes. The only major change was that we were now cosmopolitan businessmen, where before we were primarily simple, God-fearing farmers and tradesmen. And I would meet people from the far reaches of God's earthly table. One intriguing gentleman was a learned holy man from the land of Hind. He knew much about the ways of heaven, though little about the person of The Lord. His ethical polytheism scared me, but his philosophy appealed to me. And I asked my father if I might study with him. My father said no. Then I asked my father if I might accompany him back to his native land, so that I might investigate the commercial opportunities of the place. I told him we would be traveling with a group including many pious men from out homeland. My father said yes. So I went and soon found myself a spot in an ashram (religious retreat/accademy) lead by the uncle of my Hindi friend. And there I learned many things. Some things I am just beginning to understand. I am preserved unto this time. I am in the place I am meant to be. I am made advisor to Tomas and to Sarah and to the African Princess Baylah as well. What is it I must tell them? I do not know. But I am sure that I will know it when the time is right.