There was a righteous King who loved his kingdom. But the kingdom rebelled against him. For many years he called out some to be mediators between himself and the people. These spokesmen told the people everything that he said, but the people hated the spokesmen. Many generations rose up, but never did they look to their king for guidance. They looked to the other nations, desiring to be like them. They moved from under the King's protection, nominating a new king of their own. For a while the new king looked to the Righteous King who lived far from the people, behind a great wall they had constructed so that they might forget about him. Eventually it did happened. The people forgot. The king stopped counting the years, but he continued to send spokesmen. He was laying a foundation for his plan. It was a really good plan. And when the groundwork was laid, the King withdrew to wait until the proper time.
The King had a son. His only child. They had always been together. The King loved his son. And the son adored his father. They both loved the people, longing for them to return to their rightful place. When the proper time came, the King told the boy, "It is time, go out into the world and remind the people who I am." And the boy did just that. After he was old enough, the son showed them the power of the King by healing the sick, and giving sight to the blind. He cast out the shadows; the kingdom was filled with light. The people rejoiced. They loved him. But it was a shallow love.
One day the King said to the son, "This is not enough."
"What do you want me to do, father?" the son replied.
The king shook his head. He didn't want to say it. "It is almost time for you to leave them."
"I will do what you tell me, Papa." the son said. "But there are others- my friends- the ones I spoke about before. They love you. That is why I chose them. They will carry on what has started."
The King stopped at the apple tree. There was only one in this garden. He plucked the greenest fruit and watched it ripen in his hand before he sank his teeth into it. Juices ran into his beard. He chuckled, wiping his mouth. "Yes, those men are something else."
"Did I tell you what Peter did the other day? It was so funny."
The King glanced at the wall that surrounded the palace. "No, what was it?"
The son poured out his story. They both knew it was only a matter of time before things would turn sour, but for the moment they shared this togetherness. The king laughed. A deep rolling sound that was like the crashing of waves against the shore. "Perhaps next time he will remember not to do that."
The son was grinning. "Maybe." There was never a dull moment around his friends. His gaze landed on the wall and the smile slipped away. "We need to get rid of the wall."
"That's just what I was thinking." The King handed his son another apple. "And I know just the way." The son bit into the juicy fruit. The yellow ones were his favorite. They tasted like a burst of sunlight. The Wall that surrounded them made the apple feel cloudy in his mouth.
And then the King said something that would change everything they had ever known. "We need to make them part of the Family."
And then the King said something that would change everything they had ever known. "We need to make them part of the Family."
TO BE CONTINUED....
This week list is:
Christmas Trees
1. The best ones fill up the house with a piney scent
2. I am really glad people don't (usually) use candles in the trees anymore
3. I really want to see candles in a real tree
4. (bonus round) fairy lights are a much better name then 'christmas lights' don't you think?
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