Allegory of a Faith Journey

In the darkness I lay, face down. To my eyes there is no light, to my ears no sound, to my mouth no words with which to cry out in pain at the all- consuming darkness. I am nothing, I have nothing, and I know nothing except this horrible darkness. I cannot move–it pins me to the ground like a blanket of lead, a condition made no less worse by the leaden chains attached to my neck, hands and feet. Faintly, a whisper tells me that there is something more, that this was not always so, and I weep softly in utter despair.

Then, a voice suddenly breaks the deafening silence, kind and comforting.

It is calling my name.

Some forgotten part of my soul arises hopefully at the gentle sound and somehow I lift my head to look up in reply.

The words come to me without my understanding. "Yes Lord?"

The darkness seems to lighten as I move toward the tender sound of the Voice.

As I move, dragging myself towards the sound, a bright point of light pierces the darkness ahead of me, guiding me along the way. I notice that the closer I get to the light, the lighter the chains on my hands, legs, and neck feel.

Reaching the light, I look up to marvel at Who is there. His kind face and understanding eyes look down at me with compassion. His radiant face is the source of the light I have been following, and I feel a burst of joy at the wonderful Love with which he regards me. I try to rise to my feet to embrace Him, but to my embarrassment I nearly fall flat on my face, finding I have not the strength. He smiles at me and the chains on my neck, hands and feet fall to the ground with a clang. I struggle to my knees, but still have not the strength to rise, for I have not moved like this in a very long time.

I ponder this sadly, then open my mouth in shock as He kneels down smiling in front of me.

Embracing me, He grasps my hands and arms with firm strength, lifting me carefully to my feet.

For a moment all I can do is stare at Him in awe. He looks at me tenderly...What a child I am! Understanding dawns and I embrace him in return. Tears, now of happiness, flow freely from my eyes.

"Thank you for saving me Lord."

"Welcome home."

Putting His Hands to my face, He kisses me gently to one side of my forehead as a parent would with a very small child.

"I love you Lord, thank you."

"Come inside."

AMEN