Saturday, 14 June 2008

• Shelter

  
  
  
  The sun was beating down as the traveler continued his journey up the rocky path. "Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot" became his mantra as he trudged along, his last bottle of water spent over two miles ago. He was thirsty, he was parched and he was above all tired. It wasn't that it was humid, as a matter of fact, he was thankful that it was not humid. He was just on a very long journey that would take him to a house that sat on the top of the hill. The house promised him food, comforts and a place to lay down his weary head.
  
  A week ago the traveler saw an advertisement in a discarded newspaper:
  "Wanted, willing servant.
  Free food and board.
  All applicants accepted."
  
  Figuring he had nothing to loose he went to the nearest pay phone and called the number listed. A kind sounding gentleman answered the phone and he inquired about the ad.
  "Well," explained the gentleman, "I've lived in this city for along time and have noticed the poverty and it hurts me because I feel as though the people in the city are like my own children. I have enough room in my house on the hills to fit this city and more so I decided to issue an open invitation to all who wants."
  "What do I need to do? What did you mean by willing servant?"
  "You need to do nothing and then everything. The only way you can live here is if you sign a contract saying that you will be willing to let me shape and build you into a person who can go out and do well in the world. You just need to tell me that you will live by a set of house rules, otherwise you are free to do what you wish."
  "Are these hard rules to follow?"
  "I don't think so, actually, they are implemented for the sake of the household so that we live in unity and don't oppress each other or the ones around us."
  "I see, well sir", said the traveler, "I am very poor and I cannot find work here so I am willing to come up, can you please tell me how I can get there?"
  "Indeed," replied the gentleman, "All you need to do is come up the hill to the top and you'll find the mansion, ask for me at the door and we can take care of everything then."
  
  Halfway up the hill the traveler's supplies ran out and he wanted to turn around and go back down to the town. Sure it was poor and he was poor, but he was accustom to that. He wasn't sure about this Old Gentleman and he wasn't sure what he was getting himself into. How did he know that this wasn't a trap? That the Old Gentleman really cared about the town like he claimed. Yet, something kept him moving forward and upward, one step at at time.
  
  A little further up the path he saw a tree, under the tree was parked a pickup truck whose driver was standing under the shade drinking some water.
  "Hey!" the driver nodded to the traveler, "Where are you going?"
  "Well, I'm trying to get up to the mansion"
  "Hop on in, I'll give you a lift."
  "I'm sorry sir," replied the traveler, "I have nothing to pay you with and the little that I did have I lost on the way."
  "Do not worry," the driver replied, "I will take you up for no cost. You see, the man up there is my father and he asked me to help the travelers get to their destination."
  The traveler was surprised but accepted the ride. "We'll just wait some more to see if those three coming up the hill wants a ride also" the driver said, indicating to three more travelers climbing up the hill.
  
  The traveler looked down the hill and saw the other three struggling up the hill, none of them made it as they either turned back, got distracted and left the path or just gave up trying and pitched tents right where they stopped. The driver sighed, "Well, seems like it's just you and me."
  
  The traveler was about to climb into the pickup truck. "Why don't you put your bags in the back and have a drink of water and a bite to eat?" The driver said. Shrugging the traveler took his heavy bag off and laid it in the back.
  "Have you been waiting very long?" the traveler asked.
  "A little, a few people have made it as far as you have, most get distracted with other things and then loose all the resources they have brought only to have to try again. Some make it as far as you did and when I offered them a lift they either refused it or asked a million questions about my intentions to give them  lifts, in the end they either carry on or go back where they came from. No one can make it up these extra miles by themselves."
  "What can I expect at the top?" the traveler asked. He was dying to know as much about the end as he could and here was the Old Gentleman's son, surely he will have all the answers.
  "Well, you can expect to live like a child of my fathers. He's planning on showering you with the same love as me."
  "And you're fine with this?"
  "I experience the same feelings as my father towards those who live below. We want everyone to come up and be changed so that they can live better lives. I even went down to live among them to show them the way."
  "I think I remember that", the traveler replied, "I was curious, and I know some people left after that, but I never followed up."
  "Well here we are."
  The traveler looked hesitant, below he had familiarity, here he was foreign. They promised to train him, to make him a better person and give him a better life, but how could he be sure that what they were saying was true? He looked into the eyes of the driver and he realized that this was a decision he would have to make in faith. On one hand he had a promise of a better life, but not just a promise, the Old Gentleman and his son went through a lot for the villagers that they didn't have to go though. They were opening their family and their house for the villagers and giving them a better future. It was more than anyone had ever done for the traveler and he knew just then that he made the right decision in coming up here and in accepting the ride. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he was sure that with the help of the Old Gentleman and his son he would be made a new person and for that he was willing to leave his old life behind.
  
  [1st run though and update done. Will have to do a second one soon.]
  
  
  

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