The Way Home

I would like to re-introduce Robert Cosmar, a gifted writer and blogger, who just happens to be someone very special to me. Here is a story I know you will enjoy as much as I have.

The Way Home
by Robert Cosmar

One day, God sat with three of His friends waiting for the return of two of his creations, Man and Woman. He had three special gifts to give to them. As the two creations approached, God smiled, but He sensed something was wrong. He could tell Man and Woman were hiding something. Still, God decided to keep His own counsel and not say anything to see what would happen.

"Hello Father" they said at the same time, as they approached. “We want you to meet some friends we met on our journey.

"Fine," God said as He looked at them. He loved them both dearly and wanted only the best for them. "Where are they?"

The two were so nervous that they forgot to see where there new companions were. Looking around, they found them hiding behind some rocks. Excitedly, they motioned for the new friends to come closer. Timidly, each crept from behind the rocks and rubble along the path.

God frowned. He knew who they were, but realized He had given his creations freedom, and they could choose their own friends. Slowly, the five new friends approached God and his two creations.

"Father, we would like you to meet our new friends, Pride, Reason, Logic, Ego, and this shy one is Fear," said the male creation, as if he were seeking God's approval.

"I see, and where did you meet them?" He asked.

"Well, after You gave us the freedom to explore Your kingdom and learn what we could, they just ... well, appeared." Man answered.

Woman added, "We became confused and anxious one day as we talked. We began to wonder who we were inside."

God smiled, and watched as the companions sought to hide behind Man and Woman to shield themselves from any direct contact with Him. "Well this changes everything," said God, with a knowing look.

The two creations looked surprised and a bit stunned. "What do You mean?" they asked.

"Well, I had three valuable gifts to give you, but now I cannot," God told them.

Sadness filled their hearts and they felt an inexplicable loss.

"But," continued God with a compassionate smile, "you can still choose to receive the gifts because you have the freedom to choose.  Man and Woman both smiled. (God always gave great gifts).

"However," warned God, “there is a choice you have to make."

The smiles turned to concern as they realized they would have to make a decision and the responsibility would be on their shoulders. Up to this time, they were used to God giving them everything.

"My gifts have nothing to do with your friends. It is not that My gifts harbor any ill will towards them, rather, it is that your friends have nothing in common with the gifts," said God.

"Well, can we see the gifts and may we talk to them?" asked the two.

"I am sorry, My children, I cannot do that. You will just have to trust Me and decide for yourselves," said God

A perplexed look came over their faces and for the first time, they felt alienation. They had always let God decide and now they were going to have to choose. Not knowing what to do, they decided to confer with their new friends.

God watched. He knew what would happen. It was inevitable and necessary. For them to know the importance of His gifts, they had to experience the freedom to go their own way. They needed a reference point from which to compare His gifts against their choice in friends.

A short time passed and then they spoke. "Father, we have decided to go with our friends. We will discuss Your offer in more detail with them. They have some excellent suggestions and we need more time to explore them."

"Fine," said God. I will even create a world for you in which time exists. This will be a place where you can be away from My influence and learn from your friends. But, there is a danger! In that world, you could forget how to contact Me and you might forget My gifts for you."

The two were worried, but their new friends assured them they would not feel alone.

"Have you reached your decision?" asked God.

"Yes, Father, we will go to the new world with our friends," they answered.

"Very well, children. You may meet My gifts before you go," God told them.

"Here are Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge. They are My closest counselors and they help Me in all that I do. I was prepared to share them with you, but you have chosen otherwise. You will experience the freedom to choose in the place you have chosen. You will also have your friends’ counsel.  Remember what I have told you about the danger of forgetting these gifts. I have placed their longing in your hearts, which will grow weary, in time. You will create and discover many things in your new world, but they will not last.  But, so you will not despair, I am giving you one companion to help you remember your true hearts. This one is called Death."

"What is Death, Father?" asked Man and Woman.

"It is a friend of Fear. Death will help you remember what is important and eventually expose the true nature of your friends’ counsel. It will help your hearts seek out Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge.  They will help you remember Me and seek your true home again.

The two creations smiled wanly at each other as they turned and walked away from God with their new friends. With each step, loneliness filled them. Something was leaving them and they could not understand what it was. Fear, Pride, Ego, Reason and Logic all explained that it was okay, because they were with them.

Soon they arrived at the place with time that God had created for them. The lonely feeling left and was eventually replaced by excitement for the beauty and abundant possibilities in this new world.

Together, they discussed great plans and shared new ideas about this world and what they might do. Nonetheless, something was always missing. They missed God and, over time, they realized they had forgotten how to even contact Him, just like God predicted. They even forgot where He was and what He looked like, so they made up stories to hold the memory. But even the stories did not help them. Something was still missing. While the stories distracted the mind, the very core of their being felt lost, alone, and empty.

As the years went by, Fear and Death reminded them of their emptiness, but they would talk to Reason and Logic and forget again. It was worse for their children, because they grew up with only stories about God. They had never experienced His presence, so their despair was far greater.

Finally, with the help of Death in their later years, they began to see that Pride, Logic, Reason, Ego and Fear had lied to them all along. They had promised a fulfillment they could not deliver. God had been right.

Despair filled them as they saw the choices of their life and realized the dire consequences. But while Death was showing them the truth of their condition, he also reminded them of the promise God had given them. They were to remember in their hearts that Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge were there to lead them home again to God.

Tears filled their eyes as they realized everything had been in vain all the years they had been away from God. Nothing had ever really mattered, except Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and the way back home.