Chapter Three - A Battle Comes to Weary
The enemy of Good Shepard ambushes Weary and his companions.
The small band of adventurers began their trek from Uncertainty to the Sea of Trouble. It was not clear to Weary exactly why they needed to travel to this sea; he thought Dry and Thirsty desert had been trouble enough, but, clearly, Good Shepherd wanted Weary to learn something; so Weary cinched up his belt of truth and led his small band towards the sea.
Having only just started their journey, they came upon a wounded child of Good Shepherd. She was shaken, wounded, and in tears. She said her name was Compassion, and she had suffered much harm from this generation.
Weary called out to his companions, "We must stop and give help to your sister." Weary reached down and, taking the hand of Compassion, gently lifted her to her feet but discovered she could not stand. Her countenance had fallen. This left Weary mystified. He was a son of man; what was he to do? Should he be distracted when he was on a mission for Good Shepherd? Then he felt Gentle Breeze.
Weary looked around, expecting Good Shepherd to do something instantly. But he quickly discovered that whatever Good Shepherd was doing, He was not doing it quickly. So, Weary sat down beside Compassion and began to weep as she wept. He knew no other proper response. As they wept together, the others gathered around them and worked on healing Compassion.
Suddenly, Love broke through and walked down their same footpath. With her was Truth.
Weary was not very familiar with Love. Oh, he had met her, and her abiding presence strengthened him, but she made him uncomfortable. Weary had always thought Love was a misty-eyed waif that lingered with confused people. But, there before him, he saw that Love wasn't that way at all; she was noble.
Love was as hard as nails. She was peculiar. Weary understood that Love was patient and kind from just a brief conversation they shared. She didn't envy what others had, and she didn't boast about her successes.
Love would never dishonor others. She was not self-seeking or easily angered, nor did she keep a record of hurtful things done to her. She did not find joy in evil but rejoiced in Truth. She always protected, always trusted, always hoped, and always persevered.
Weary had seen that Faith, Hope, and Love traveled together, and among the three, the boldest was Love. Now Weary turned to Love and asked what he could do for Compassion. Love smiled and said, "Weary, you have truly left Little Faith!" Then Love said to Weary, "Don't fear me but let me in, and you will discover more of whom Good Shepherd intends you to be. Compassion needs you to let me work through you." It was then that Weary made a pact with Love. He determined that he would always follow Love in difficult or uncertain circumstances.
Weary turned to Truth and said, "Our tiny band of adventurers is rapidly growing! Will you and Love join me on the quest Good Shephard sent me?" "Of course!" exclaimed Trust, "We wouldn't miss this for the world." So, Weary turned to Compassion and asked, "Are you willing to join me on my quest? I would like you to." Compassion smiled and said, "Yes, thank you for allowing me to join you." Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Hope, Trust, and Love all grinned and shouted with great joy as Compassion rose, fully well and fit for travel.
Hope called a meeting. Hope looked older than the hills around them, with his pure white beard almost touching the ground. When he spoke, every word made Weary stronger. But it was Hope's eyes that most intrigued Weary. The eyes of Hope were deep pools of time, beyond the comprehension of any son or daughter of man, yet Hope was more energetic than the rest of their rag-tag adventurers put together.
"Weary," Hope said, "Look! What do you see?" Weary replied, "I see a glorious mountain, glowing from its own light. And I see each of you, friends of the Good Shepherd, cheering me on as I climb that mountain."
"Good," said Hope, "And what of yourself?" Weary said, "I do not recognize myself. I am old with scars covering my body. And I seem changed, but I can't explain it." "That's enough," Hope said, "You have seen more than most of the other sons of man. Now this trail beckons you. Travel it, and you will be that man you saw. And remember that by the power of Gentle Breeze, I can abound in you."
As the meeting broke up, all attention turned to Weary. "It's not far to the coast of the Sea of Trouble, but the day is far spent. So, we must go quickly." Off they went with Weary in the lead, and the rest gathered around him. Weary felt the need to reach the coast before dark. The thought of spending one more night in Uncertainty caused a shiver to run from the back of his neck, down his spine, and terminating in both hips.
In those days, alpha predators roamed the woods and were known to do their worst in the dark. Good Shepherd's small band of adventurers would make a tasty meal. Also, Enemy's factotums, the sons and daughters of man that chose to follow Enemy instead Good Shepherd, would also be on the prowl.
Dusk began to fall, yet Weary, and his cohorts had far to go before arriving at the Sea of Trouble. With darkness falling and howls from alpha predators, all turned to Weary and asked, "What shall we do? Good Shepherd gave you this assignment. What's His plan?" Instantly, Weary began to lose heart. Fear and Worry had been tracking Weary since he left the clearing in the woods. Now they drew closer, having spotted a weakness in Weary, a fault unguarded by Trust.
As quick as a wink, Weary saw Peace starting to wander off. Weary knew Temptation, Pride, and Trouble would soon attack with a phalanx of Enemy's factotums. There was no time to waste. Weary fell to his knees and cried out to Good Shepherd. All of Weary's companions gathered around him and prepared for battle. Then Weary remembered his cloak, the cloak of Contentment. He had taken it off while walking to the sea!
With great haste, Weary threw on his cloak, turned, and faced Pride, Temptation, Trouble, the factotums, Worry and Fear, and the alpha predators! While Temptation tried to get Weary's attention, Trouble rushed from Weary's right flank, and factotums attacked Weary from the left side. In a tight circle, alpha predators rushed in and then out to confuse Weary. A retreat was never an option for any follower of Good Shepherd. Weary was in the greatest battle of his life!
Weary looked around and his companions were, well, they were fading. They were not walking away. Instead, they were vanishing, as if they were only with Weary when he allowed them in his life. With the intensity of the battle, Weary had turned his full attention to Enemy and his evil army and lost sight of the companions Good Shepherd had assembled for him.
As Weary was buffeted first on one side and then the other, he remembered something Good Shepherd had told him: "Put on all the armor I gave you, that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all, to stand firm." Weary was at the stand firm stage of the battle, and slowly he noticed that Enemy was sweating; the buffeting continued, but the assault was becoming muted.
Slowly, Weary became separated from Love, hate grew in his heart. Then the battle grew worse, and he lost ground. But when he moved towards Love, the combat turned in his favor. Peace, Grace, Faith, and Mercy held the battle line while Compassion and Hope spoke encouragement in Weary's ears. Faith began to overflow from Weary.
Enemy battled on but now with little effect. In fact, Weary turned to Compassion and Love and asked them to communicate Weary's forgiveness to the factotum, for he could not allow hate or malice to enter his heart. Weary realized that forgiveness must always be his final response to the sons and daughters of man that Enemy used against him. Love and Compassion were eager to communicate forgiveness to Enemy's puppets.
The battle dissipated like mist from a lake. One would have thought that Weary would be boasting of his victory, but instead, Weary was concerned. What should he have done better? Had he been the man that Good Shepherd desired him to be? Did Temptation lead him into sin thickets? Would Enemy have immediately been defeated if Weary had kept on his cloak of Contentment?
Weary had a lot to ponder. Kneeling once again, Weary called upon Good Shepherd with a repentant heart. He asked for forgiveness and wisdom. He saw that he had much to learn and much to change. Good Shepherd heard and granted Weary's request. At that same time, Gentle Breeze came upon Weary and nourished him and called Truth to come and feed Weary.
Weary and his companions breathed a deep sigh of relief when the battle ceased. They wondered if, perhaps, the worst was behind them. Little did Weary know that his future, as he imagined it, would be upended…tomorrow.