Short Story
by Elder Robert Forbes
31 Aug 2008

He healed the sick,
He helped the lame to walk again.
He gave sight to those who believed
He made whole the bodies of the purest of souls
He cast out Legion from the Strongest of men.

O Savior, my heart is weak and sick
O Savior, I walk, but where I know not
O Savior, mine eyes can read, but have not sight
O Savior, my body is whole, but my soul is weak
O Savior, I am not strong, my devil is fear

For a time so long, in the dark I walked
No light to guide through these jagged rocks
That cut at my soul and stab at my heart

On this path so dark and jagged I came to a man without legs to walk, but one and his crutch. I bid him on my back and asked to where he went, “From where you came,” he answered.

“But there is not a thing in that place,” I said.

“For you there may not be, but for me there is, I can see.”

So on we went through the dark and jagged rocks ‘till to a castle we did stop, and the old man walked to the keeper, “we bid welcome,” the old man turned and thanked me, “Years I’ve been traveling that dark and jagged road, and finally, thank you,” waving and entering the castle he left.

I started to follow and the Keeper asked, “who art thee?”

“A lowly wanderer, may I enter Thy Lord’s castle?”

“Nay, seek ye another.”

Sad of heart I turned and walked away. “Seek ye another.” I know not what that meant. How could there be another home in this dark and jagged world, as I thought, I felt no gagged pain in my soul. The path was smooth. I smiled. I did not know how or why it was, so on I walked, through the dark not seeing where I went but able to walk without the pain. Fearing what layed ahead, I walked slowly and soon I came upon a woman who was blind standing at the cross roads. I asked her what she was waiting for.

“I can walk, but I cannot see. I must return to my father in the east. I have made so may twists on this path I am lost.”

“Take my hand, I bid thee, and I will lead thee.” I looked and read the signs above and lead her on her way, until we came upon a castle with a keeper all the same.

She thanked me and said, “For long I waited for one to lead. Thank you.”

The keeper took her hand and said, “We bid thee welcome,” and lead her in.

Again I followed and the keeper asked, “Who art thou?”

“A lowly wanderer, may I enter Thy Lord’s castle?” I asked.

“Nay, seek another.”

I turned and walked with a heart so sad, surely there cannot be a third home for me, and as I walked I saw the path there was no longer any dark. Now I can see and now I can walk, but still must I seek another. So on I walked, and on I thought, and while I thought I was, laying on the path way side with pains of bruises and cuts, a man. I drew near to him.

He spake and said, “Beware the forest surrounding the path, in it lies dangerous beasts.”

I bound his bleeding cuts, gave him my water and gave him my coat. Then as with others I lifted to my shoulder, I carried him along the path. I saw again a castle. I said unto him, “That is thine home.”

“Yes it is my home in the East.”

“I have strength to carry thee to it.”

Then there I stood and gave him to the keeper who said, “We bid thee welcome.”

The wounded man said, “My father is the Lord of this castle, would thee enter with me?”

“Nay, I must seek another.”

He said unto me, “Then I shall grant you the strength of heart, as the lame man helped you walk, and the blind woman helped you see, so I will fill your heart with Strength. And since thou seekest, there is another on the path who needs thine help. Seek ye him, bring him to my door step and ye shall enter with him.”

He turned and walked away and entered his father’s castle. Before I turned the keeper asked, “Who art thou?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but thought and said, “I am thy Lord’s servant.”

The keeper said to me, “Seek and ye will surely find.”

I turned and walked, and walked, for days I wandered but found not a soul in need of help, so on I walked, and lost I became. And in that night fear came to me, woke me from my sleep, it said as if to its self, “Ah more food to feed the hate in the forest, you shall make a great meal.”

I could not see, fear held my eyes shut. I could not move, fear bound my feet. It dragged me away into the forest, there in the forest fear met with his brothers, hate and anger. Together the three of them mocked me to the very soul of my existence. The sun never rose, the stars no longer shined, and on they went. Endless unspeakable deeds they did, and when finally they ended and departed, I fell to the earth. I knew not where I was, but that I was lost. Then I thought of my friends and the great gifts they gave to me. I slowly dragged my sorrowful self along the ground, as I started the sun came out brightening the sky. I knew then that I was in places I have never been before. I knew where I needed to go, but not how to get there.

I am weak. I thought of how I learned to truly walk, I needed no strength in my legs to carry me home, but only a will to get there. My heart has strength to move all I need. Still lost but moving onward, I came upon a castle in the forest, but it spake to me of the path I once followed. As I drew nearer I heard music that rang of joy and peace and spake of love and hope. Near I came and dragged myself to the door of this lovely cottage. Just as I was about to knock it opened and a voice as loving as the music h heard, spake and asked, “Who art thou?”

Thinking it was another keeper I did not lift my head to answer as I said, “I know not, but that I am lost and seek my friends. The lame man, who taught me to walk; the blind woman, who helped me to see; and the prince who bade me to dwell with him in his fathers kingdom and gave me strength of heart.” As I finished, I lifted my head and saw not a keeper. And he said to me, “Seek ye then no farther, for I am the father, and thou art my child who was lost and has found the way home. Behold, also thy friends who taught thee also, they are here.” He then lifted me up, and I could stand again, my heart filled with joy. I was home. “Ye have served me well come and rest in my kingdom.”

-- Matthew 25: 40 -- And the king shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brother, ye have done it unto me.

-- Luke 9:24 -- For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

There is no title to this story because there is not enough room to write the names of all the people that God loves, and all the good that people who love him have done. I know I love God and I know he loves me. If you know these things about yourself no title is needed, because you are the title.