Chapter Two - Weary Receives a Cloak
Prepare yourself, Weary, for trouble shall soon befall you!
Weary did not know what was in Good Shepherd’s will, but he knew that it was where he needed to be. Everything with the doors had happened so quickly that Weary realized he never developed any expectations other than to be closer to Good Shepherd. That was most advantageous because he would never have guessed what Good Shepherd had planned for him.
In an instant, in a moment briefer than anyone could measure, Weary seemed to leave Uncertainty with its leaves of doubt and odor of decay. On Weary’s left shoulder, he bore the cloak of Contentment - that was what Good Shepherd gave him.
As Weary surveyed what he thought was a new place, he quickly realized that Good Shepherd had not taken him to a new place—instead, Uncertainty seemed different.
Oh, Weary was still in Uncertainty, but many of the trees had lost their leaves of doubt. The woods still had the smell of decay, but Weary felt that Gentle Breeze nourished him, and the aroma of the breeze helped to block the odor of decay.
Weary also heard voices, faint, distant, and far above him. He had the oddest sense that a crowd of people was gathered above him, looking upon him and cheering him on! This gave Weary even more strength!
Weary was mentally processing the newness he felt. Then splat, a barrage of slings and arrows of outrageous fortune assailed him! Weary realized that he had held an expectation, secretly, deeply, hidden in his heart; he expected his lot in life would become easier. Good Shepherd had never said this, but many of the people of Familiarland told him so. Now he understood that they had lied. He wondered if he should take up arms against the Sea of Trouble that lay at the edge of Uncertainty.
Weary’s heart of hearts was surprised that he didn’t feel abandoned or put upon. He felt Peace beside him, and Contentment rested on his shoulders. He had heard about Contentment but never expected to have it. Then he realized that Contentment was not connected to where Weary was or what he had or what condition he was in—Contentment rested on him, and this perplexed Weary Christian, in a good way.
In his transformation, Weary suffered no diminished joy, and Worry was, to his great glee, standing afar off from him. Peace was with Weary. When Weary looked around, he saw that Faith, Grace, and Hope were beside him, and Mercy appeared to his delight.
“Where have you been?” Weary cried out to Mercy. You are a sight for sore eyes!! “Now, Weary, you should have known that I’ve been with you all along,” said Mercy. “You didn’t see me, but I’ve never left your side.”
“Do you remember when Grace and Faith led you to Good Shepherd, and you became one of His? Well, I was there, too. It has been my joy,” Mercy explained, “to help you in your journey.” Mercy said, "You don’t know how often I have compensated for your mistaken ideas, wrong decisions, and tricks from Enemy.”
“Well,” said Weary, “we have quite the band of adventurers! Before now, I never understood that I was not traveling this journey by myself.” Weary’s heart swelled, and he rejoiced in his band of travelers that included Faith and Grace and Mercy and Hope and Peace plus, on his shoulders, he wore Contentment. Weary felt joy as he understood that he was not alone, that Good Shepherd had surrounded him with His friends to help Weary. And Gentle Breeze continued to waft across Weary’s frame.
One thing still weighed upon Weary. He didn’t feel more powerful, or his intellect expanded. And he was sure that his stamina had diminished. Why would Good Shepherd do that? He trusted Good Shepherd with more trust than ever before, but why did he feel weak? His new condition made no sense to him.
“Weary?” Good Shepherd called out. “Here I am,” replied Weary. Good Shepherd said, “Weary, I want you to understand something. You are a child of man, and no child of man can acquire enough strength, intellect, social-political-institutional-or-personal power to defeat Enemy.”
“Enemy hates you because he hates Me.” Good Shepherd said. “If you love Me, then Enemy will shoot fiery darts at you, hammer you, and do all within his power to do to you what he wishes he could still do to me. But Enemy cannot harm me, but he can you.” Good Shepherd said.
“Now learn this and let it never leave your mind,” Good Shepherd said. "You need my power to defeat Enemy. To make room for my power, I must take away the things in you that Enemy would tell Temptation to grasp within you and pummel you with them.”
Only by removing those things can you become weak enough for me to sufficiently provide you with My things that can defend and defeat Temptation, Pride, and Enemy. So, Weary, it was for your good that I have made you weak. Good Shepherd said, “I am not finished with changing you. And there are more that must join your band of adventurers for you to complete your trek.”
Good Shepherd prepared to walk away, but He stopped, looked over His shoulder, and said, “Prepare yourself, Weary, for trouble shall soon befall you.” With that, Good Shepherd disappeared.