The Shepherd
King
Part 6
I set up camp
in a clearing, so tired, and ready to rest. My ankle was pounding,
but at least I was able to walk..........Dave had found a piece of
wood – a stick – that served as a walking stick and he carved a
hand hold in it. He left it with me.
He had
cautioned me to be on the look out, as he had heard rumors of raiding
bands that were from the town of Parkinson's Disease. I did try to
stay awake, but the warm and comforting fire in front of me seemed to
have a hypnotic effect as I stared into the flames that danced up and
down with colors of white hot, glowing orange and cooler blue.
I don't know
how long I had been asleep, but I dreamnt that goblins crept into my
campsite, sniffing everything – picking up the few crumbs of dried
bread that had been in my backpack. They crept around me first
touching me with a toe, then prodding me with sticks. Soon they were
viciously kicking me. Then the attack ended as suddenly as it had
started, and they were gone.
Trembling, I
lapsed into a dark and dreamless sleep, and awoke with
questions..........Questions like, “How will it be possible to make
it through this journey? It will be a miracle if it doesn't all kill
me.” I was so lonely and though help had come at various times, I
was alone at this moment.
My heart cried out to the Shepherd King. “If You are with me, and
if You care, help me! I am no match for my enemies. I don't even
know how to fight them. I don't know anyone who has been this way
and could offer me advice........... So, my Lord, help me to trust
You, and open my ears up to You. I need to hear your voice. I have
tried everything else...........but I am realizing that this is a
journey I must take alone. Only You can be my companion. But most
of the time, I can't see You and have no evidence of Your presence
with me. I have no choice but to trust in You – that You mean what
You say and Your promises are good. Please heal me, Lord. I have no
way of knowing whether or not you will, but either way, help me to be
brave, have courage and be able to believe in You in the face of
everything that would seem to indicate that You are a lie. Help me
to bear it all.”
A
warm feeling and a calm with the absence of fear settled over me in
answer to be cries.
I
moved on and on with difficulty. Instead of my wounds healing, it
was becoming more and more draining to walk and my progress was so
impeded that I could not travel the way I used to. I was learning to
be satisfied with smaller and smaller things......... I began really
learning that it is not getting the job done – whatever it may be,
but learning patience while trying to get there.
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