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The Setting:
A stone prison in the middle of a lush valley
The Characters:
The guards: Demons, There are relatively few of them. They have no weapons – only intimidation
The inmates: Mostly Christians. They are shackled but wear a key as a necklace.
The King: God
The Prince: Jesus
They Key: Salvation
It is cramped and crowded in this dank prison
But I’ve grown accustomed to it
As I’ve lived here all my life
But recently I’ve heard tell that some have left this place
They claim tales of a King who has paid for their freedom
They tell me that I too, can leave these walls.
We talk often and I agree to ask for this King’s pardon
One day I receive a key on a necklace
“It’s a gift from the King,” they tell me
I reach for the key and unlock my shackles
And I run
Run from this prison into a country wild and unexplored!
Oh, what joy and freedom these days hold!!
I return often to share my tales with those still captive
There are even a few who are joining my adventures
One day a group from the prison finds me returning from my time in the country
“How dare you be free when we are still bound!?” They angrily ask me
“Who are you to go gallivanting around the hillsides?
If you really want to help you would not leave us but remain here”
Their words cut me deeply
How can I run so freely when they sit here and suffer?
Surely I must help them
Perhaps if I pretend to still be captive
The guards won’t notice me, and I can stay with them
So to the prison I return
For their sake
Every so often I steel away
To get a breath of fresh air
And see the brilliance of the sun
Still, every day, I try to convince those around me
That they too needn’t be held by this place
That the key they have unlocks every chain
And freedom is found beyond these walls
Little changes, but I press on in my mission
Over the course of time different ones come to me
This is what they say:
“You should stop getting others hopes up that this key means more than it does. Yes it is true that our great King has given us each a key. It’s a promise that, one day, He’ll return for us and for now it’s a reminder that there is a better place yet to come. But that’s all that it means. You should really just be thankful for what you have instead of trying to make it into more than it is.”
“After all, look at all we have here
We have food and water, and eachother.
This is the abundant life!”
“We humored you at first but we’ve listened to your tales long enough. For heavens sakes child, calm down, do as your told, and stop filling people’s minds with these crazy adventures of yours!”
Time Passes
Now it has been many years since my chains first fell away
I think the other inmates are right
There really isn’t a place beyond these walls
I should just be content & thankful for what I do have
Yes I have the King’s key
But now I know it is powerless to unlock these chains that once again bind me
I am filled with sorrow
Heartbroken as I dimly remember
The reality that I once tasted
Angered to have been cheated out of it
Vaguely comforted with my dulled senses
And familiar companionship
I awake to the feel of a boot kicking me in the ribs
“Get up worm!” a guard yells as I slowly rise
My feet hit the cold floor and I shuffler forward
Blurry, sleep-filled eyes blink into the night
I stagger on, ready to start another day
But today something is different
Today I remember
That’s right, I remember
Something
Something,
I’m not sure what
It’s like a long faded memory that I’m not sure if I’ve lived or dreamt
Oh, but I think this is real
Despite the darkness my mind’s eye sees clearly
Just a flash,
A glimpse
And then it’s gone
Was it ever really there?
Others around me are stirring now
I hear the clanging of chains as the crowded room slowly comes to life
No, it wasn’t a dream
It really did happen
I really did once run free
There is a world beyond this place
A key hangs around my neck
It was given to me
By one who paid with His life to retrieve it
The key to my heart
The key to freedom not only someday but now
But how could I have forgotten?
How long have I been here, not remembering?
Now the prison door opens
The Prince steps into the room
He has the smell of the country on him
And I know he’s traveled the hills that I vaguely remember surround this valley
“Get up” he says
“It’s time to leave this place”
“But the others!” I exclaim
“Who will help free them?”
“Oh dear one
So well intentioned
But only I can show them the way
And only if they choose to see me”
“You have tried
Tried to remain one of them
And tell your tales of freedom
But in doing so have lost your freedom
And so tales are all you have left”
“Try the key once more
You’ll find that your faith joined with mine unlocks the chains
And come, come run with me
Into new countries
Wild and unexplored”
“I will return to this place
I will awaken them to their destiny
When I know they’ll have eyes to see me
But you, dear one
It is time to leave them behind”
“One day you will return with me
But only when freedom runs so thoroughly through your veins
That you will never be shackled to identify with those who are bound
It is only from a place of freedom that I will allow you to return
I put the key to the lock
The chains crash at my feet
I no longer care if the clanging disturbs the others
I will no longer apologize for my freedom!
The Prince steps back through the open door
And holds out his hand to me
“Come away with me my love, my fair one”
I take his hand
Step outside
And close the door behind me
story by Kristen D'Arpa
eimail her at kdarpa@whchurch.org |
