The land of their birth calls to all of them. It was a good land at one time, a land fertile and lush providing for the needs of all the people. Honey and every sweet thing flowed freely. Pungent spice seasoned the air of the cities. Pristine waters gave life to all that touched them. But soon the wars of man and their greed of arrogant wants and aspirations corrupted it. The blood of innocents wasted on the altars of selfish desire cried out for justice. And Justice arrived, but not without a warning.....
Kswope 3/28/05
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He awoke with a start. His heart beat fast as he gathered his bearings. His eyes focusing on the cracks in the mud brick roof, he realized it was just a dream. This dream had felt very real, as if he was actually there observing the chaos and destruction.
Slowly, his heart returning to a normal beat, he sat up and pulled back to sit against the wall. His brother and mother slept silently beside him. Resting his head on his knees he tried to pull together what he had seen and heard.
An almond branch. A livid horde breaking over the horizon. He heard a voice say “Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. And they shall set their thrones round and about your land. A lion has come up from his lair. The destroyer is on his way; he has come from his place to make your land desolate; your cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant left.”
As he recalled the voice he felt again the fire in his bones. He moved his head back to rest on the wall, tightly closing his eyes to search inward trying to make sense of it. He knew it was a dream from above.
“What is it you would have me do?” he silently asked in terror, knowing the answer.
Restless, he stood up, and quickly pulled on his cloak. He silently made his way down the ladder from their loft and went into the side room where the animals bedded down. As he walked into the room one of their lambs walked up to him and nudged his hand asking for comfort, as if she sensed his inner turmoil.
The sheep generally didn’t bed down with the rest of the animals inside but she had been ill and needed a little extra attention last night. Seeing without seeing, the young man patted her head and knelt down to scratch behind her neck.
“You are looking a bit better this morning, little one, “ he said absentmindedly, then stood up.
“Come, it’s time to get you to the rest of the flock.”
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