And he bowed to his knees, confessing the sins and faults that had been committed to his knowledge. He was young -- just in middle school. Solemnly, he asked the Lord Jesus to enter into his life. Slowly, and gradually, the Lord Jesus began to invade and change his self-centered, ignorant, and naivety spirit, to a foundation of both grace and truth. Slowly, the savior began to immerse him into experiences that cried out, unless you know poverty, you do not know riches; until you are humbled, you cannot be exalted.
He was sitting in the office of his pastor, confessing his lack of knowledge. His pastor exhorted him towards tactful speech. His pastor commended him for his spirit of truth, not having mentioned that it might also be a spirit of self-righteousness. His pastor said that you cannot always combat sin with direct confrontations and rash, impulsive reprimands, but instead, gentle, emotionally sensitive implications that can smoothly convict hearts to change. He came to an epiphany moment, so familiar to him as it had been in the past. He confessed his inability of tactfulness, and began to realize his arrogance. He confessed that too. and in confession, he was humbled.
He was eating breakfast with a couple visionaries, prepared to change campus ministry at the blink of an eye. He was told that his imagination was driving him towards the edge of a cliff, setting himself up for momentous disapointments. He was confronted with the truth that his vision of ministry was bigger than his vision of God. He was led to solitude, confessing his self-enthronement. He confessed that he had bought in to the vision of human autonomy to such an extent that he had not let go of the blessing given to him. God was taking it away and he was holding on to the mere idea of it. He confessed and was once again brought to poverty.
He now had his own office. As this generation would so sufficiently describe; he started from the bottom [and] now he's here. He was sitting in a coffeeshop just nearby, sipping on lukewarm coffee, thinking about the work he had done thus far within a completely unfamiliar church context. And here, confessions continue to flow like mighty streams. He's been operating so quickly and so administratively that he forgot sensitivity. He had forgotten the ministry of Jesus Christ -- how he had not just coerced his followers to come, but he gave them an option; how he had not rushed his ministry in the time that he had, but he waited. He confessed his impatience with the slow workings of ministry and his lack of understanding with the mysteries of humanity and cultural influences. Without an effort to know his flock to the depth and intimacy, how could he lead them. And the Lord continues to repeat to me, unless you know poverty, you'll never know riches; unless you know humility, you'll never know exaltation; and unless you know repentance, you'll never know redemption.
I was reminded by a brother in Christ I recently met that the Filipino people embody a culture that is very delicate -- delicate, not in a fragile sense, but in the sense of uniqueness -- there really is nothing like it. And studies have only begun to touch on the historical explanations of how Filipinos have become the hybrids that they are. I have been reflecting about my ministry lately and have realized that I have been at fault in a number of ways. Although I have not overlooked the need for relationship, I have overlooked the need for intimacy -- which is the first. I have been overly administrative, and underwhelmingly pastoral -- which is the second. I have been physically incarnational, but emotionally remote -- which is the third. I have been culturally Chinese while forgetting that I minister to Filipinos -- which is the fourth. And lastly, though oblivious to such, I have been downright impatient; having an aversion to slowness, and a propensity for hurry. And with great sorrow, but also great rejoicing, I confess my inadequacies and move forward, realizing the need for change in the midst of the very different surroundings I've been placed in. I pray that the Lord continues to reveal to me how it is this change needs to manifest. I pray for a learning spirit.
I'm thankful, first, that the Lord confronted me with my need to pray. Second, for the insight that he has so graciously imparted to me through this newfound brother in Christ. Third, for the place he has currently placed me. Fourth, for my every individual in my church that the Lord Jesus has grown in me a deep love for. And fifth, that he has not stopped reorienting me to himself by helping me know his luxuries by the power of my own poverty. I confess all of the failings of my humanity, and look forward to the riches.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Lighthouse of Faith
The road was rugged and narrow. The storm that blew through these woodlands had uprooted trees, destroyed the fertile soil, and washed out the animals. Mud puddles were scattered across like miniature swamps filled with horrid omens. Silence filled the atmosphere as the occasional rustling of leaves were heard from the mild drafts of wind blowing to and fro. The trees, if still erect, were characterized with branches barely hanging from its source of life. The moisture of the morning dew clung on to the blades of sedges stemming up from all across the woodlands. This was a nightmare for any who would be hiking the roads, no matter what time of day it was. The skies were not completely dismal. It was shaded with lighter patches of grey from the thick layers of billowing cotton fluffs floating one on top of another. It was one of those days when the sun seemed to be fighting a barricade of great fortitude, endeavoring to arise victorious; and each moment it seemed to prevail, it was as if Moses let down his staff out of exhaustion and the barricades became overbearing. The light could not break through.
Sauntering through these ominous woodlands were two friends -- Fred and Nebi -- sent to deliver a message to relatives in a neighboring town. You see, there was a party; a big celebration being thrown for Nebi's big brother who had just won the bat bludgeon match against a contestant twice the size of himself. And in these days, when celebrations were had, no blood-related individual would be left out, near or far. The ale would be brought out in countless jugs, and the sundry meats would amount to so much that it was nearly endless. The two friends would have to travel through this rugged and narrow road to make it to the next town, and they were not so certain how long of a distance they would have to travel. The moms and pops said it would only be a day's journey, but for two young ones, inexperienced on the open road, and prone to inevitably wander at the sight of almost any intriguing object pleasing to the eyes, a one-day journey could mean months of displacement. So here they were, on this single, most lonesome road anyone could be sauntering through -- but this they did with one another, which made the road seem a little less rugged and a tad bit wider than the normal person. They had packed food for at least 5 days, knowing that they were young and ate double portions of what their elders would have eaten. Wise on the inventory were these two, and this wisdom received directly from their parents. Now Fred was one of Nebi's closest and most loyal companions. And the two would eventually grow even closer through this journey together.
"Fred?" Nebi spoke, breaking the silence. "Do you think that the weather will be like this the entire time? I knew it wasn't a good idea stomping through these woods right after that treacherous storm."
"Nebi, just look at that blot of light yellow, right in the sky. Yes, yes, just right there." Fred spoke, while pointing frantically at the source of the faint light trying to break through. "That sun is fighting a battle. And its hosts are obviously the underdogs; just look at how many cottons of clouds are floating in the sky! But, the persistence of any underdog will be honored with favor. I'm sure that the light would break through, one way or another eventually, and you need not worry."
"I've never been out here before, and I am no expert of the climate, but if you say so, then I trust you," Nebi muttered reluctantly.
"Trust. That is all we really need. It might not predict the future, but it always lends a bit of perspective. Now onward we go Nebi! Just follow my lead!" Fred exclaimed.
It was nearing the afternoon, with no man, woman, boy, or girl in sight. Weary travellers, they were becoming, as their saunters became more sluggish and as their heads stooped lower. Tall trees, scraping the sky was all that was in sight; with nearly naked branches with a small remnant of green leaves left.
____________________________________________________________
There was adventure out here in the woodlands that neither Fred nor Nebi had ever had the privilege to discover. Treading through the mushy soil under their feet along long, winding paths of the seemingly endless wind tunnels with still no sign of penetration from the furtive illumination above. The truth is, even though Nebi could not see, Fred could not help but notice the beauty all around. The moss on the still, immovable rocks was a grand masterpiece unlike any artist could ever create. The fresh sap on the rigid exterior of the tree bark was stickier than any maple syrup the village had ever collected. The small creatures were creeping and crawling all along the surfaces of dead trees; in and out of the wet dirt, and in all sorts of places that were out of sight. The ferns were still outstretched as they are, even after a violent storm, drooping and hanging from the weight of each drop of water, yet beautifully crafted in the form of an outstanding blossom of lush green. For Fred, this place produced a vitality so great and unfelt when measured to the village, that it made him only long to linger a little more. For Nebi, it was a different story. The mushy soil felt as uncomfortable as stepping into the dirty horse manure in the barnhouse at home. The endless wind tunnels made him feel unstable, insecure, and lost in his tracks as if he'd never find home again. On top of that, the sun felt like it was surrendering in a hard-fought battle. After all, Fred did say that it was the underdog so its penetration through the clouds would most likely be slim. The moss on the rocks was as detestable as mold on overdue bread, and the sap on the wood was only useful for destroying one's clothing when one would aimlessly, clumsily bump into it. Creepy, crawly creatures were frightening for Nebi; because he never knew when they would appear out of nowhere to instill trepidation. The ferns may have been the only neutral piece of nature that Nebi had not been irked by but yet it was still of no redeeming quality. This journey was no privilege for Nebi. Not one bit.
Now Fred only wanted to experience more, and so he took twists and turns on the woodland path as he guided the way to the next village. He had heard childhood stories of adventures in the woods, and none of them excluded the warmth and delight of a woodland bonfire. And since it was about time to eat anyways, Fred suggested to stop at late noon to satisfy their stomach's desire.
"Nebi, while you prepare the food, I will make a bonfire. We can share stories over a warm cup of tea to restore our strength for the long journey. It appears that we have a longer way to travel than a simple day's journey as we had anticipated."
"We can't build a fire! There is no dry wood! Everything is wet! And we would be fools to stop here in the middle of the woods just waiting for it to get dark! It is as gloomy enough as it is. We've been taking twists and turns and we have not a clue as to what direction we are even headed! We have not a cabin or a house in sight to ask for stay. And here you are thinking of a bonfire! We will have our food and go. That is that."
"Nebi, you have got to calm your anxieties. These woodlands are the wonder and inspiring awe of God. The light will penetrate one way or another, we must have hope. In the meantime, the cool of the day is upon us, and a bonfire may be exactly what we need to compose ourselves even if it may require a bit of delay. Now, it may be a bit of a task with the wood we have, but I did us the honor of packing some dry wood for such a time as this."
"Okay, okay." Nebi replied ambivalently.
So Fred began starting the fire and the tiny flames were slowly stoked until it evolved into a blazing, hot fire. Although Nebi had been reluctant to agree, he felt that that was exactly what he needed. His anxieties were calmed, he did not set his heart on the delay of time, but rather, he enjoyed the presence of his companion over a lowly and mediocre but hot meal. Truth be told, that was one of the best meals that they had eaten because of the rough journey on which they had embarked. And surely, they told stories upon stories until they felt like time had been slipping away. They once again began their trudge along that narrow and rugged path; yet more beautiful it seemed this time for Nebi.
The gloom had never seemed to fade as Nebi had so pessimistically predicted. They continued along during the early evening, and it certainly never became brighter from there. The pale sky grew into a dark grey, and eventually, the joy of the warm fire and the wonder of the beautiful nature had also slipped away from not only Nebi, but Fred as well.
_________________________________________________________________
The dusk just snuck up on the two companions venturing through the woodlands. In fact, they barely noticed the change in the color of the sky because darkness had seemed to overtake the skies for most of that day's journey. It was not as if they watched the sun slowly drop from the highest of heights to the edge of the horizon; such a situation would have allowed them to calculate their time wisely and accordingly. Darkness had overtaken them. Fred was wise enough to conserve some of the dry wood to light a torch for the evening's journey forward. The flame's light glimmered with hope, shining just enough for the two to see the path before them. If any wild animal was to attack these travellers after such an encumbering trek, they would most certainly surrender and be eaten alive. They were throwing up their deepest, most earnest prayers that their fate would be of much greater fortune than being the feast of a ferocious beast.
Though they did not notice, they were slowly headed towards the direction of the coast. They had in mind that this chill they had felt was simply the after-effects of a violent storm, but it was in fact that coming from the ocean waters. But they were too busy blaming one another for the situation they had currently found themselves to notice such a fact. Their legs were beginning to give out on them, and their stomachs again began to growl. They had thought to pause for a dinner break, but they neither had the patience to trim down any more of their time nor the courage to eat in the spooky darkness of the woodlands at nightfall. They were out of options. The extra food was weighing on their backs and only served to reduce the strength in their bodies. Onward, they pointed fingers, ignoring the multiplicity of issues at hand.
"We are lost! Forget the village, we are in the middle of nowhere. We will be lucky if we ever return home alive! Why did you have to take so many twists and turns when we were on the road? I knew we should have just stayed straight on the path. But you HAD to take a turn to the right here and take a turn to the left there. You wanted to bushwhack through here and there. And look where we ended up! Dirty, wet, covered in mud dried into scabs all across our legs. Look what you have done!" Nebi cried.
"If it wasn't for your negativity, we probably wouldn't be in such a situation. Why couldn't you have helped in directing? If you did just that, we would probably have been further towards the village by now. Instead, you were dragging your feet like a child, pouting without end while I had both the task of navigation and baby-sitting. How could you be pointing fingers?" Fred replied.
"You were the one who volunteered to guide, and I was so generous as to allow it! I have every bit of regret now giving the reins of navigation to such a wanderer as you, Fred. I should have been more wise than to freely follow rather than question your directions." Nebi paused and took a deep sigh. "I guess it really is to no benefit to continue such a pointless dispute." Nebi concluded.
"What do you consider we do instead?" Fred rhetorically replied, out of courtesy.
"I suppose..." Nebi began to speak.
A bright light shone directly towards their sight and completely stole their attention; it was the first sign of radiance they had sensed throughout the entire journey. It began to turn away quickly after catching their attention, and as the two began to listen, they heard the soft sound of waves, crashing along the shore. Again, the light shined directly at Fred and Nebi. They looked forward for the direction from which this light shone. Then, they looked back at one another. They were of one mind, and they knew the other's desires like it was their own. They both, then, proceeded to walk speedily ahead, forgetting about their weariness, to follow the direction of the light. With the torch of flame at hand, lighting the path, they chased after what would be their greatest fortune of the journey. What they did not realize was that this would be extraordinarily greater than what they had imagined it to be -- good was yet to come.
__________________________________________________________________
When light breaks through in the darkness, one naturally gravitates toward the light. Darkness can dominate only when light does not shine, but when light illuminates, darkness has no power to overcome it. And those within the darkness cannot help but move towards this great incandescence -- some inch towards, others walk, some might even run or relentlessly chase -- but all who despise darkness will eventually discover it. This light was never made to be difficult to find insofar as one is willing to walk with dim to no vision, guided by a torch, through the rugged and narrow road, filled with sticks, mud, creepy, crawly creatures, and the occasional beast lurking behind the skeletal trees. Fred and Nebi had experienced this very sensation of radiance. It was like a fresh dose of medicine, curing them from their disease of exhaustion, anger, frustration, despondency, foolishness, and unkindness. In the light, they knew there would be hope. Behind that light had to be one who had controlled it. Light never shines aimlessly, but always with direction. Light came from a source. Even though they were once in such a lost and desperate place; a place where they could no longer trust one another; they threw those hindrances aside and put their faith in the light that had struck the notes of every positive chord within their veins. They continued their trudge, not giving up on the final hope they had left, with the last ounce of energy they could muster.
Louder became the sounds of the ocean waves, and clearer they were able to see the radiance of light. It was a struggle for them in the beginning to recognize this light because their eyes had been so adjusted to the darkness that they could not recognize anything more than the glimmer of their torch's flame. Darkness had that kind of affect on one's senses; but this light was not like any light they had seen before. This light was the finest and brightest of lights so much so that even their imagination could not contrive a light more pristine. They knew that they had been getting closer. As they exerted their eyes, they began to recognize where this light was coming from.
"A lighthouse!" Nebi exclaimed. "I have never seen such a monumental structure before, but wow, it is marvelous! Maybe there are people there who could help us find our way to your brother's village, Fred."
"That was exactly what I was wondering. When all hope seemed to be lost, we were sent a gift from above. We lighted our path with just a torch in hand, and we were able only to see each step we took, but we were given the grace of a bright radiant light, not to make clear to us our entire rugged path, but to show us our destination. Even if they would not have the answers for us, I am certainly grateful, Nebi. There at the lighthouse, we can hopefully spend the night, and arise in the morning with restored strength for the day."
"And with that, a bright hope!" Nebi shouted.
"A bright hope, indeed." Fred said, with deep consolation.
The light continued to shine towards them, and shine away, encircling the entire atmosphere around it to the far distances of the ocean. It seemed that all were in need of this light, not only the weary travellers on these deserted paths. They found the edge of the shore and began to scale the edge of it until the lighthouse was so close that it appeared a giant before a couple of tiny ants. They spotted an enormous log cabin built just next door of this lighthouse, and it seemed to be enlightened by candlelight. Spotted along the peninsula on which the lighthouse had been established was a sign post. Fred and Nebi approached closer and closer to this sign post to make out the words carved out on this post. It read: Lighthouse of Faith. Fred and Nebi could not have felt a greater elation and joy than in that moment.
An old man walked out the door of the lighthouse to greet the weary travellers. He was tall and bearded. He looked as if he had lived 100 years of life, and was ready to live the rest of it out in this lighthouse. Every inch of hair had already fallen off of his head, and his beard was as white as snow. Of course, they didn't notice that until he came forth in the light of the oil lamp he was holding. He was skinny and scrawny, but you couldn't tell unless looking at his face because he had worn layers and layers of clothing, almost unnecessarily. He wore age-old boots, sturdier than any shoes the two had seen before; ebony-brown in color. He had a raspy but soothing voice, yet such a formidable presence. Fred and Nebi did not know what to think exactly as they were being approached by this gentlemen. They were a bit frightened, but yet knew they had nothing of which to be afraid. It may have been his size or his age that intimidated the two; for his presence was warm, and inviting.
"You two look like lost and lonely travellers. Maybe you'd like to come into my cabin for a bowl of stew and some hot dinner leftover from tonight? My wife is one fine cook!" The old man said. "Oh, and I forgot! My name is Josh. You boys can just call me Grandpa J. That's what all the young folks call me these days. What are your names?"
"This is Nebi, and I'm Fred. We have been journeying all day and have wandered so deep into the woods that we've lost our way." Fred said. "We were headed to the next village over to extend an invitation to my relatives to a celebration we'll be having back home. Would you be able to point us the right direction?" Fred inquired.
"I know exactly where that is! It is just half a day's journey north. For young lads such as yourself, it may even be less. Come be refreshed with some food. We have a good number of extra beds for travellers such as yourself. Come, come, come." Grandpa J. said with great delight. "And trust me, we host weary travellers more often than you think. Those woods and that ocean does not often seem to favor those who attempt to make the journey across."
And so Fred and Nebi agreed to rest one night and to continue their long journey onward the following day. They spent the night laughing at all of their adventures, sharing stories with Grandpa J., while Grandpa J. had his own compendium of stories upon stories to tell Fred and Nebi. The Lighthouse of Faith was built to guide the souls of the lost and the hopeless, and it had done that for at least 3 decades now. Grandpa J. had the vision in mind, and though his cabin was not always filled, the souls that did populate the cabin were blessed both by the light that came from the lighthouse, and the warmth of Grandpa J. and his wife's incredible hospitality. They ended the night staring at a sky that was cleared of clouds, and replaced with the millions and billions of shining stars that painted the canvas above their gleaming eyes. Nebi had already fallen fast asleep, and Fred was still mesmerized by the wonder of the sky. Before he shut his eyes, he saw a sparkle of light, in the distance of the ocean shore.
Light may not have broken through the billowing clouds of the day, but it certainly broke through eventually in a way beyond their imaginations. All they needed was a little bit of faith.
Sauntering through these ominous woodlands were two friends -- Fred and Nebi -- sent to deliver a message to relatives in a neighboring town. You see, there was a party; a big celebration being thrown for Nebi's big brother who had just won the bat bludgeon match against a contestant twice the size of himself. And in these days, when celebrations were had, no blood-related individual would be left out, near or far. The ale would be brought out in countless jugs, and the sundry meats would amount to so much that it was nearly endless. The two friends would have to travel through this rugged and narrow road to make it to the next town, and they were not so certain how long of a distance they would have to travel. The moms and pops said it would only be a day's journey, but for two young ones, inexperienced on the open road, and prone to inevitably wander at the sight of almost any intriguing object pleasing to the eyes, a one-day journey could mean months of displacement. So here they were, on this single, most lonesome road anyone could be sauntering through -- but this they did with one another, which made the road seem a little less rugged and a tad bit wider than the normal person. They had packed food for at least 5 days, knowing that they were young and ate double portions of what their elders would have eaten. Wise on the inventory were these two, and this wisdom received directly from their parents. Now Fred was one of Nebi's closest and most loyal companions. And the two would eventually grow even closer through this journey together.
"Fred?" Nebi spoke, breaking the silence. "Do you think that the weather will be like this the entire time? I knew it wasn't a good idea stomping through these woods right after that treacherous storm."
"Nebi, just look at that blot of light yellow, right in the sky. Yes, yes, just right there." Fred spoke, while pointing frantically at the source of the faint light trying to break through. "That sun is fighting a battle. And its hosts are obviously the underdogs; just look at how many cottons of clouds are floating in the sky! But, the persistence of any underdog will be honored with favor. I'm sure that the light would break through, one way or another eventually, and you need not worry."
"I've never been out here before, and I am no expert of the climate, but if you say so, then I trust you," Nebi muttered reluctantly.
"Trust. That is all we really need. It might not predict the future, but it always lends a bit of perspective. Now onward we go Nebi! Just follow my lead!" Fred exclaimed.
It was nearing the afternoon, with no man, woman, boy, or girl in sight. Weary travellers, they were becoming, as their saunters became more sluggish and as their heads stooped lower. Tall trees, scraping the sky was all that was in sight; with nearly naked branches with a small remnant of green leaves left.
____________________________________________________________
There was adventure out here in the woodlands that neither Fred nor Nebi had ever had the privilege to discover. Treading through the mushy soil under their feet along long, winding paths of the seemingly endless wind tunnels with still no sign of penetration from the furtive illumination above. The truth is, even though Nebi could not see, Fred could not help but notice the beauty all around. The moss on the still, immovable rocks was a grand masterpiece unlike any artist could ever create. The fresh sap on the rigid exterior of the tree bark was stickier than any maple syrup the village had ever collected. The small creatures were creeping and crawling all along the surfaces of dead trees; in and out of the wet dirt, and in all sorts of places that were out of sight. The ferns were still outstretched as they are, even after a violent storm, drooping and hanging from the weight of each drop of water, yet beautifully crafted in the form of an outstanding blossom of lush green. For Fred, this place produced a vitality so great and unfelt when measured to the village, that it made him only long to linger a little more. For Nebi, it was a different story. The mushy soil felt as uncomfortable as stepping into the dirty horse manure in the barnhouse at home. The endless wind tunnels made him feel unstable, insecure, and lost in his tracks as if he'd never find home again. On top of that, the sun felt like it was surrendering in a hard-fought battle. After all, Fred did say that it was the underdog so its penetration through the clouds would most likely be slim. The moss on the rocks was as detestable as mold on overdue bread, and the sap on the wood was only useful for destroying one's clothing when one would aimlessly, clumsily bump into it. Creepy, crawly creatures were frightening for Nebi; because he never knew when they would appear out of nowhere to instill trepidation. The ferns may have been the only neutral piece of nature that Nebi had not been irked by but yet it was still of no redeeming quality. This journey was no privilege for Nebi. Not one bit.
Now Fred only wanted to experience more, and so he took twists and turns on the woodland path as he guided the way to the next village. He had heard childhood stories of adventures in the woods, and none of them excluded the warmth and delight of a woodland bonfire. And since it was about time to eat anyways, Fred suggested to stop at late noon to satisfy their stomach's desire.
"Nebi, while you prepare the food, I will make a bonfire. We can share stories over a warm cup of tea to restore our strength for the long journey. It appears that we have a longer way to travel than a simple day's journey as we had anticipated."
"We can't build a fire! There is no dry wood! Everything is wet! And we would be fools to stop here in the middle of the woods just waiting for it to get dark! It is as gloomy enough as it is. We've been taking twists and turns and we have not a clue as to what direction we are even headed! We have not a cabin or a house in sight to ask for stay. And here you are thinking of a bonfire! We will have our food and go. That is that."
"Nebi, you have got to calm your anxieties. These woodlands are the wonder and inspiring awe of God. The light will penetrate one way or another, we must have hope. In the meantime, the cool of the day is upon us, and a bonfire may be exactly what we need to compose ourselves even if it may require a bit of delay. Now, it may be a bit of a task with the wood we have, but I did us the honor of packing some dry wood for such a time as this."
"Okay, okay." Nebi replied ambivalently.
So Fred began starting the fire and the tiny flames were slowly stoked until it evolved into a blazing, hot fire. Although Nebi had been reluctant to agree, he felt that that was exactly what he needed. His anxieties were calmed, he did not set his heart on the delay of time, but rather, he enjoyed the presence of his companion over a lowly and mediocre but hot meal. Truth be told, that was one of the best meals that they had eaten because of the rough journey on which they had embarked. And surely, they told stories upon stories until they felt like time had been slipping away. They once again began their trudge along that narrow and rugged path; yet more beautiful it seemed this time for Nebi.
The gloom had never seemed to fade as Nebi had so pessimistically predicted. They continued along during the early evening, and it certainly never became brighter from there. The pale sky grew into a dark grey, and eventually, the joy of the warm fire and the wonder of the beautiful nature had also slipped away from not only Nebi, but Fred as well.
_________________________________________________________________
The dusk just snuck up on the two companions venturing through the woodlands. In fact, they barely noticed the change in the color of the sky because darkness had seemed to overtake the skies for most of that day's journey. It was not as if they watched the sun slowly drop from the highest of heights to the edge of the horizon; such a situation would have allowed them to calculate their time wisely and accordingly. Darkness had overtaken them. Fred was wise enough to conserve some of the dry wood to light a torch for the evening's journey forward. The flame's light glimmered with hope, shining just enough for the two to see the path before them. If any wild animal was to attack these travellers after such an encumbering trek, they would most certainly surrender and be eaten alive. They were throwing up their deepest, most earnest prayers that their fate would be of much greater fortune than being the feast of a ferocious beast.
Though they did not notice, they were slowly headed towards the direction of the coast. They had in mind that this chill they had felt was simply the after-effects of a violent storm, but it was in fact that coming from the ocean waters. But they were too busy blaming one another for the situation they had currently found themselves to notice such a fact. Their legs were beginning to give out on them, and their stomachs again began to growl. They had thought to pause for a dinner break, but they neither had the patience to trim down any more of their time nor the courage to eat in the spooky darkness of the woodlands at nightfall. They were out of options. The extra food was weighing on their backs and only served to reduce the strength in their bodies. Onward, they pointed fingers, ignoring the multiplicity of issues at hand.
"We are lost! Forget the village, we are in the middle of nowhere. We will be lucky if we ever return home alive! Why did you have to take so many twists and turns when we were on the road? I knew we should have just stayed straight on the path. But you HAD to take a turn to the right here and take a turn to the left there. You wanted to bushwhack through here and there. And look where we ended up! Dirty, wet, covered in mud dried into scabs all across our legs. Look what you have done!" Nebi cried.
"If it wasn't for your negativity, we probably wouldn't be in such a situation. Why couldn't you have helped in directing? If you did just that, we would probably have been further towards the village by now. Instead, you were dragging your feet like a child, pouting without end while I had both the task of navigation and baby-sitting. How could you be pointing fingers?" Fred replied.
"You were the one who volunteered to guide, and I was so generous as to allow it! I have every bit of regret now giving the reins of navigation to such a wanderer as you, Fred. I should have been more wise than to freely follow rather than question your directions." Nebi paused and took a deep sigh. "I guess it really is to no benefit to continue such a pointless dispute." Nebi concluded.
"What do you consider we do instead?" Fred rhetorically replied, out of courtesy.
"I suppose..." Nebi began to speak.
A bright light shone directly towards their sight and completely stole their attention; it was the first sign of radiance they had sensed throughout the entire journey. It began to turn away quickly after catching their attention, and as the two began to listen, they heard the soft sound of waves, crashing along the shore. Again, the light shined directly at Fred and Nebi. They looked forward for the direction from which this light shone. Then, they looked back at one another. They were of one mind, and they knew the other's desires like it was their own. They both, then, proceeded to walk speedily ahead, forgetting about their weariness, to follow the direction of the light. With the torch of flame at hand, lighting the path, they chased after what would be their greatest fortune of the journey. What they did not realize was that this would be extraordinarily greater than what they had imagined it to be -- good was yet to come.
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When light breaks through in the darkness, one naturally gravitates toward the light. Darkness can dominate only when light does not shine, but when light illuminates, darkness has no power to overcome it. And those within the darkness cannot help but move towards this great incandescence -- some inch towards, others walk, some might even run or relentlessly chase -- but all who despise darkness will eventually discover it. This light was never made to be difficult to find insofar as one is willing to walk with dim to no vision, guided by a torch, through the rugged and narrow road, filled with sticks, mud, creepy, crawly creatures, and the occasional beast lurking behind the skeletal trees. Fred and Nebi had experienced this very sensation of radiance. It was like a fresh dose of medicine, curing them from their disease of exhaustion, anger, frustration, despondency, foolishness, and unkindness. In the light, they knew there would be hope. Behind that light had to be one who had controlled it. Light never shines aimlessly, but always with direction. Light came from a source. Even though they were once in such a lost and desperate place; a place where they could no longer trust one another; they threw those hindrances aside and put their faith in the light that had struck the notes of every positive chord within their veins. They continued their trudge, not giving up on the final hope they had left, with the last ounce of energy they could muster.
Louder became the sounds of the ocean waves, and clearer they were able to see the radiance of light. It was a struggle for them in the beginning to recognize this light because their eyes had been so adjusted to the darkness that they could not recognize anything more than the glimmer of their torch's flame. Darkness had that kind of affect on one's senses; but this light was not like any light they had seen before. This light was the finest and brightest of lights so much so that even their imagination could not contrive a light more pristine. They knew that they had been getting closer. As they exerted their eyes, they began to recognize where this light was coming from.
"A lighthouse!" Nebi exclaimed. "I have never seen such a monumental structure before, but wow, it is marvelous! Maybe there are people there who could help us find our way to your brother's village, Fred."
"That was exactly what I was wondering. When all hope seemed to be lost, we were sent a gift from above. We lighted our path with just a torch in hand, and we were able only to see each step we took, but we were given the grace of a bright radiant light, not to make clear to us our entire rugged path, but to show us our destination. Even if they would not have the answers for us, I am certainly grateful, Nebi. There at the lighthouse, we can hopefully spend the night, and arise in the morning with restored strength for the day."
"And with that, a bright hope!" Nebi shouted.
"A bright hope, indeed." Fred said, with deep consolation.
The light continued to shine towards them, and shine away, encircling the entire atmosphere around it to the far distances of the ocean. It seemed that all were in need of this light, not only the weary travellers on these deserted paths. They found the edge of the shore and began to scale the edge of it until the lighthouse was so close that it appeared a giant before a couple of tiny ants. They spotted an enormous log cabin built just next door of this lighthouse, and it seemed to be enlightened by candlelight. Spotted along the peninsula on which the lighthouse had been established was a sign post. Fred and Nebi approached closer and closer to this sign post to make out the words carved out on this post. It read: Lighthouse of Faith. Fred and Nebi could not have felt a greater elation and joy than in that moment.
An old man walked out the door of the lighthouse to greet the weary travellers. He was tall and bearded. He looked as if he had lived 100 years of life, and was ready to live the rest of it out in this lighthouse. Every inch of hair had already fallen off of his head, and his beard was as white as snow. Of course, they didn't notice that until he came forth in the light of the oil lamp he was holding. He was skinny and scrawny, but you couldn't tell unless looking at his face because he had worn layers and layers of clothing, almost unnecessarily. He wore age-old boots, sturdier than any shoes the two had seen before; ebony-brown in color. He had a raspy but soothing voice, yet such a formidable presence. Fred and Nebi did not know what to think exactly as they were being approached by this gentlemen. They were a bit frightened, but yet knew they had nothing of which to be afraid. It may have been his size or his age that intimidated the two; for his presence was warm, and inviting.
"You two look like lost and lonely travellers. Maybe you'd like to come into my cabin for a bowl of stew and some hot dinner leftover from tonight? My wife is one fine cook!" The old man said. "Oh, and I forgot! My name is Josh. You boys can just call me Grandpa J. That's what all the young folks call me these days. What are your names?"
"This is Nebi, and I'm Fred. We have been journeying all day and have wandered so deep into the woods that we've lost our way." Fred said. "We were headed to the next village over to extend an invitation to my relatives to a celebration we'll be having back home. Would you be able to point us the right direction?" Fred inquired.
"I know exactly where that is! It is just half a day's journey north. For young lads such as yourself, it may even be less. Come be refreshed with some food. We have a good number of extra beds for travellers such as yourself. Come, come, come." Grandpa J. said with great delight. "And trust me, we host weary travellers more often than you think. Those woods and that ocean does not often seem to favor those who attempt to make the journey across."
And so Fred and Nebi agreed to rest one night and to continue their long journey onward the following day. They spent the night laughing at all of their adventures, sharing stories with Grandpa J., while Grandpa J. had his own compendium of stories upon stories to tell Fred and Nebi. The Lighthouse of Faith was built to guide the souls of the lost and the hopeless, and it had done that for at least 3 decades now. Grandpa J. had the vision in mind, and though his cabin was not always filled, the souls that did populate the cabin were blessed both by the light that came from the lighthouse, and the warmth of Grandpa J. and his wife's incredible hospitality. They ended the night staring at a sky that was cleared of clouds, and replaced with the millions and billions of shining stars that painted the canvas above their gleaming eyes. Nebi had already fallen fast asleep, and Fred was still mesmerized by the wonder of the sky. Before he shut his eyes, he saw a sparkle of light, in the distance of the ocean shore.
Light may not have broken through the billowing clouds of the day, but it certainly broke through eventually in a way beyond their imaginations. All they needed was a little bit of faith.
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