AManWithAPlan
12-07-2016, 11:11 PM
Well Diana, I don't know how to put this. It's all been so fast and I, well, I don't know if I can explain it to you well. I mean, you were always hard to talk to, and I always had to keep nudging you to pay attention to me. But what I've done, I hope you will understand. Well I best get on with it. You see I was just returning home from work. I was late due to a long business meeting, which went great by the way, and I saw an elderly man knocking at our door. I went up to him and asked what is it that he wanted. He told me a chap sent him over and I assumed he either had the wrong address or was a mailman who had forgotten our mail, seeing that there wasn't anything in the box this morning. Anyhow I let him in since it was raining out.
After I had him dried and warmed up, I offered him some tea in the parlor. He politley accepted, he was such a polite fellow, and we sat down to talk. Grateful for his politeness and to give him the best hospitality, I patiently waited for him to tell me his intentions. I noticed as he was sippng tea, that he was eyeing the walls. He then spoke...I remember the conversation so vividly, I assure you I am not leaving out any details.
He said,"From what I've seen on your frames and portraits, you seem to be a married man. Do you have any children?"
He had keen eyes, but I cleared up things for him,"Oh no, me and my beloved are not married, and have not even attempted to have kids."
He said,"I see. Are you betrothed?"
I said,"No, my beloved decided it would be best if we didn't. Well... that was what she said when I proposed to her."
The man looked at me with what I discerned was pity,but I assured him,"No it isn't because she doesn't love me. She said it was economic problems. We just bought the house, and that we deserved the best wedding party ever." I got up from my chair and walked around and described with glee,"A gala setting, with her wearing a dress that sparkled with gold, and lined with silver. The bridesmaids with tailor-made turquoise dresses and her relatives from Germany coming to visit. The whole Kit and Kaboodle I'd say.
The man chuchled and said,"My, she really wants a grand party. How is it though that she wants the gift of a rich man when you just said you have economic problems?"
"Well," I sat back down again and said," I never explicitly said we that we really did have economic problems. That is just what my beloved told me. Honestly I know it isn't that, but I thing that if there is another reason so important to keep secret that she wouldn't even tell me, then it must be for my own good. How it is...I don't know and I don't care. Truth is I am a manager at a bustling company and have a six-digit salary."
"What if it's not for your own good?" asked the man. "What if she has reasons that would only benefit herself?"
I admit that comment made me rather annoyed and I said,"Well, what do you mean? Surely there is nothing that she does that implies a selfish attitude. Why I must say she would be one of the most noble persons I've met in my life. Everything she's done was for our love and happiness."
"A lover who would deny a proposal, deny children, deny building a family, that isn't a lover at all. That's a parasite that sedated you with feelings."
I got up from my chair and I assertivley told him,"Sir, I have given you lodge and nothing but hospitality. I nor my beloved deserve such remarks. I ask that you give me an apology right now for insulting her."
The man lowered his head and chuckled. My blood began to boil. He said,"I know what you expected from me. You think of me a courier. Well that I am, but not of the post office." He reached out his hand towards me and opened it to reveal a small object, one I couldn't see well.
"What is this?" I said and I got out my glassess from the drawer. Upon closer inspection I recognized it as a crucifix.
"It is a gift," said the man,"one that guides and shows how far mercy can go. You know the man on the cross?"
"Yes, anyone even an atheist would recognize him. It is Jesus the Christ."
"He said,"Do you know how he was betrayed to be crucified? How one of his apostles, who were his closest friends, betrayed him and sold him to the Pharisees. How this man, Judas, heard all of the teachings of Jesus. He heard his wisdom. He heard the promises of new life. He knew all the riches Jesus could offer him in heaven and all the love of the Father that he could have had. But he didn't want any of it simply because of greed."
"Yes, I do know him. I know much about Jesus also. I...was very studied on his matters. Well I was very passionate about him."
"Was?" said the man.
"Well yes, my beloved told me that I learned too much about God and that it would last me for ages. She told me to put the Bible down and start focusing more on our life."
"You mean her life?" said the man.
"What are you playing here?" I said,"What makes you think you have the right to come into my house and start insulting my beloved all the while asking personal questions about my faith?"
"Well first things first read this," said the man while handing me an envelope.
"I thought you said you weren't a courier," said I taking it from his hand and opening it.
"Not of the post office."
"Wait, what is this? A tab for a bar. 85 dollars. Are you some cheap beggar trying to make me pay your bills? I should have known, I want you to get out of my hou-"
"Read whose name it's under." said the man with another pitiful look.
I looked down and I saw the name. It was you Diana...it was you. A whip cracking on my back as I read your name. I looked at the date...it was yesterday. You said you were going to your aunt's house yesterday. I couldn't...I didn't want to believe the man. I threw it back at him, and said,"Get out, get out now and get your dishonorable, drunken carcass off my property."
"Don't believe that? How about this?" and he rolled out a much larger sheet and threw it at me. It rocked like a swing as it fell to the ground. It revealed its words to me, a panther coming out of the bushes to strike. A much bigger tab. One from a casino. 3000 dollars. It was paid. It had my signature. My exact signature. With the little squiggle going through the dot of the "i" and everything. I never paid for this. I would never visit such an unruly environment.
The man said,"Your hand did not write this down. This is the product of betrayal and greed. Maybe with some avarice sprinkled on there for a more sour taste."
"But who?"
"Who do you think?"
"But she wouldn't. She knows I'm against that kind of stuff. She wouldn't betray me like this." I began to swell my eyes to the brim with tears.
"He's only showing this because he loves you. He wanted to show you mercy and save such a loving and humble heart from a life where his beloved didn't feel the same. Mostly because he knows how such a life is through experience."
"Who?" I said,"Who is it?"
"The one who sent me."
"And who is he"
"He is."
And with those words I crumpled to the floor. I knew what those two words meant...I know who they meant.
"And what does he want from me? I am but just a man. If I were to make a mistake of who I would spend my life with, why does he care?"
"Because," said the man with a voice that was soft and pleasant to the ears. It was no longer him who spoke,"the love which is promised to you is greater than any treasure that this world has to offer. You, one who loved and cared for a sinner, are truly blessed. All that I ask, is that you leave everything behind and follow me. What you give up will be given back one hundred times more. I promise life everlasting, with joy and fullness that cannot be achieved on this earth by man alone."
"What of my beloved. She has treated me wrong. But I still want her to enjoy these riches as well."
"Do not worry. She is also promised these things. She is given multiple oppurtunies everyday to change her life for the better. But it is her choice."
"What can I do for her then?" I said, wishing that I could have some small part to play in you enjoying these riches with me."
"Pray, pray for guidance, pray for humility, pray for forgiveness. Pray for all these things and they shall be given to you and to her. Only by praying will your mind be freed from the corruption of this world. Only by prayer then can you be saved from its treacheries. Come with me, follow me, and you will not regret it."
I thought about it...I looked at him...I got up...and took his hand. Now I am in a foreign land, helping the meek and the poor. Here I am sitting in the grass writing to you. Praying for you. God bless you, and know that you are forgiven by him and me should it every be that you ask for forgiveness.
Love, Charles
After I had him dried and warmed up, I offered him some tea in the parlor. He politley accepted, he was such a polite fellow, and we sat down to talk. Grateful for his politeness and to give him the best hospitality, I patiently waited for him to tell me his intentions. I noticed as he was sippng tea, that he was eyeing the walls. He then spoke...I remember the conversation so vividly, I assure you I am not leaving out any details.
He said,"From what I've seen on your frames and portraits, you seem to be a married man. Do you have any children?"
He had keen eyes, but I cleared up things for him,"Oh no, me and my beloved are not married, and have not even attempted to have kids."
He said,"I see. Are you betrothed?"
I said,"No, my beloved decided it would be best if we didn't. Well... that was what she said when I proposed to her."
The man looked at me with what I discerned was pity,but I assured him,"No it isn't because she doesn't love me. She said it was economic problems. We just bought the house, and that we deserved the best wedding party ever." I got up from my chair and walked around and described with glee,"A gala setting, with her wearing a dress that sparkled with gold, and lined with silver. The bridesmaids with tailor-made turquoise dresses and her relatives from Germany coming to visit. The whole Kit and Kaboodle I'd say.
The man chuchled and said,"My, she really wants a grand party. How is it though that she wants the gift of a rich man when you just said you have economic problems?"
"Well," I sat back down again and said," I never explicitly said we that we really did have economic problems. That is just what my beloved told me. Honestly I know it isn't that, but I thing that if there is another reason so important to keep secret that she wouldn't even tell me, then it must be for my own good. How it is...I don't know and I don't care. Truth is I am a manager at a bustling company and have a six-digit salary."
"What if it's not for your own good?" asked the man. "What if she has reasons that would only benefit herself?"
I admit that comment made me rather annoyed and I said,"Well, what do you mean? Surely there is nothing that she does that implies a selfish attitude. Why I must say she would be one of the most noble persons I've met in my life. Everything she's done was for our love and happiness."
"A lover who would deny a proposal, deny children, deny building a family, that isn't a lover at all. That's a parasite that sedated you with feelings."
I got up from my chair and I assertivley told him,"Sir, I have given you lodge and nothing but hospitality. I nor my beloved deserve such remarks. I ask that you give me an apology right now for insulting her."
The man lowered his head and chuckled. My blood began to boil. He said,"I know what you expected from me. You think of me a courier. Well that I am, but not of the post office." He reached out his hand towards me and opened it to reveal a small object, one I couldn't see well.
"What is this?" I said and I got out my glassess from the drawer. Upon closer inspection I recognized it as a crucifix.
"It is a gift," said the man,"one that guides and shows how far mercy can go. You know the man on the cross?"
"Yes, anyone even an atheist would recognize him. It is Jesus the Christ."
"He said,"Do you know how he was betrayed to be crucified? How one of his apostles, who were his closest friends, betrayed him and sold him to the Pharisees. How this man, Judas, heard all of the teachings of Jesus. He heard his wisdom. He heard the promises of new life. He knew all the riches Jesus could offer him in heaven and all the love of the Father that he could have had. But he didn't want any of it simply because of greed."
"Yes, I do know him. I know much about Jesus also. I...was very studied on his matters. Well I was very passionate about him."
"Was?" said the man.
"Well yes, my beloved told me that I learned too much about God and that it would last me for ages. She told me to put the Bible down and start focusing more on our life."
"You mean her life?" said the man.
"What are you playing here?" I said,"What makes you think you have the right to come into my house and start insulting my beloved all the while asking personal questions about my faith?"
"Well first things first read this," said the man while handing me an envelope.
"I thought you said you weren't a courier," said I taking it from his hand and opening it.
"Not of the post office."
"Wait, what is this? A tab for a bar. 85 dollars. Are you some cheap beggar trying to make me pay your bills? I should have known, I want you to get out of my hou-"
"Read whose name it's under." said the man with another pitiful look.
I looked down and I saw the name. It was you Diana...it was you. A whip cracking on my back as I read your name. I looked at the date...it was yesterday. You said you were going to your aunt's house yesterday. I couldn't...I didn't want to believe the man. I threw it back at him, and said,"Get out, get out now and get your dishonorable, drunken carcass off my property."
"Don't believe that? How about this?" and he rolled out a much larger sheet and threw it at me. It rocked like a swing as it fell to the ground. It revealed its words to me, a panther coming out of the bushes to strike. A much bigger tab. One from a casino. 3000 dollars. It was paid. It had my signature. My exact signature. With the little squiggle going through the dot of the "i" and everything. I never paid for this. I would never visit such an unruly environment.
The man said,"Your hand did not write this down. This is the product of betrayal and greed. Maybe with some avarice sprinkled on there for a more sour taste."
"But who?"
"Who do you think?"
"But she wouldn't. She knows I'm against that kind of stuff. She wouldn't betray me like this." I began to swell my eyes to the brim with tears.
"He's only showing this because he loves you. He wanted to show you mercy and save such a loving and humble heart from a life where his beloved didn't feel the same. Mostly because he knows how such a life is through experience."
"Who?" I said,"Who is it?"
"The one who sent me."
"And who is he"
"He is."
And with those words I crumpled to the floor. I knew what those two words meant...I know who they meant.
"And what does he want from me? I am but just a man. If I were to make a mistake of who I would spend my life with, why does he care?"
"Because," said the man with a voice that was soft and pleasant to the ears. It was no longer him who spoke,"the love which is promised to you is greater than any treasure that this world has to offer. You, one who loved and cared for a sinner, are truly blessed. All that I ask, is that you leave everything behind and follow me. What you give up will be given back one hundred times more. I promise life everlasting, with joy and fullness that cannot be achieved on this earth by man alone."
"What of my beloved. She has treated me wrong. But I still want her to enjoy these riches as well."
"Do not worry. She is also promised these things. She is given multiple oppurtunies everyday to change her life for the better. But it is her choice."
"What can I do for her then?" I said, wishing that I could have some small part to play in you enjoying these riches with me."
"Pray, pray for guidance, pray for humility, pray for forgiveness. Pray for all these things and they shall be given to you and to her. Only by praying will your mind be freed from the corruption of this world. Only by prayer then can you be saved from its treacheries. Come with me, follow me, and you will not regret it."
I thought about it...I looked at him...I got up...and took his hand. Now I am in a foreign land, helping the meek and the poor. Here I am sitting in the grass writing to you. Praying for you. God bless you, and know that you are forgiven by him and me should it every be that you ask for forgiveness.
Love, Charles