Episode 3 – The Stewart of God Speaks
The journey moved through the valleys of home, of what he had always known. Regions of the unknown; of places unwent; unfamiliar larks in the morns; pastures of odd flowers and dews; the wafting plains do bend with his wind of travels; the marvels of something new; of stars and moons and suns that dove and rose by some silent commandments; animals never seen in watch of him as he passed; the places conjured not by imagination, but Heaven's own.
To the mountain realms he stood; the infinite sights of glory, nature's mansions, long trees and spacious roams; no shadows lay. The Son of God did guide the beauty displayed. Coves of high waters and looping knolls rumbled through the seas. The mammoth clutches to the skies where the forest beds did he go; the seismic canopies above were like umbrellas cast in greens, browns, yellows and blues. The spindle nature of what was made was certainly spun by God's gracious tailoring. The largest trunks ever conceived stood round like pillars of supreme columns; they too seemed to hold the sky up; no fallings made; the plays of birds who managed to navigate through.
Here, in one delay, Daniel felt the handles of a hawk's talon to clutch his back; settle here and stare to his stare. His smile caused the hawk to tilt his head to and fro, gawk and yell, and fly off to some other branch or perch. The grounds were of pine needles and cushioned those floors akin to pillows under his walk. The time spent not realized and correctly measured. Daniel, in all his truest worth, did as he was told; he went.
The markings led him by the bay upon a clutch of trees; the pathway already driven into and seemingly used by other travelers before his. He walked in steady pace; finding just beyond this particular cove a settlement of simple abode. The house of no extremes; no mansions it appeared to make; but simple, quaint and kind to the view.
Angels were in walk nearby and cutting towards this home as if in mischief design. Their swords drawn about and free to the clutch, so in finding a bird's nest grounded next to this place. The birds within cried out by their distress; haunting with as much leverage as they could impose to these youngest of angels. Still, there was no delay in them; only curious banter and frolic stabs round about to intrude without welcome. They raddled the noise to produce more high shrills and cackle laughter that caused the commotion of someone within from this humbled home to come out.
"Stand there!" Daniel heard a voice grow from within to without, "Give providence to some peace! Look you here; your disturbance abates me to quarrel… Cast out your action on other plains. Angels are mistaken to perform such disarray!"
An elder man came forth; white-haired in all, with graceful countenance and prudent stares. He was not in liking to what so these youngest angels desired to transact.
"Be gone, I say," he spouted, "For one more word makes it a commandment! No truce lies here! Be gone or else your elders will know your shortfalls!"
They drew to snickers and quiet laughter once more, though moved about to do the things asked upon them; to disappear over the long hedges.
"What say you?!" The statesman looked out over on Daniel, "Are you one of them?!"
"I say nothing to the matter," Daniel denied, "I know nothing to their agency…"
"Good then," he approved, "I know well to that point! But to confide that you knew the same…" There was a strict pause between them.
"Well?"
"Well…" Daniel felt awkward to speak, "To what purpose?"
"You have come!"
"Only by wayward travels…" Daniel spoke out, "is all…"
"A mindless destination," he laughed abruptly, "To know no purpose! You come for reason to approach me…"
"I know not for what then," Daniel seemed agitated by the statesman's insistence, "I shall pass much the same; in quiet non-disturbance, and not to make you tardy on your plans…" Daniel began to lead away.
"Then come in…" he advised.
"I do not dissuade," Daniel quickly responded, "If I leave, this gives you no formal delays… Act as you wish; I have not the presence to deter you."
"But to the disrespect," he smiled, "By your absence, there becomes great halt in delay… Daniel…" the statesman smiled more broadly.
"You are familiar to my name?"
"Of certain," he paused, "The registry is already set. The will instills you to enter… Come; there is great importance to our meetings within… You will see…"
And to this point young Daniel came to enter the statesman's small frame and residence. The fire was warm and hot; glowing with embers no kindling he prepared; but still to burn without apparent source or firewood to keep it aflame. The radiance was unlike he had seen before; the Heaven's flint and spec of light grew to omni-presence with peaceful curd. Daniel instinctively went to its side; felt the hearth in heat and glow; the vantage view blazed his eyes to slightly burn; a sensation quite uncommon to the Heaven's stage.
"A sense I have not felt, unlike anything before…" Daniel proposed.
"God's hand," the statesman proclaimed, "did strike this flame once ago; never to be put out, but stay for all eternity… No wind or water; rain or snow can end its eminence…"
"You have seen the Father!"
"Felt his presence," he waived Daniel free, "As instructions go, we delight in His presence, but never to look upon His face."
"Who are you?" Daniel said slowly, while looking deeper into this statesman's eyes and expressions; the withering tones in his lines showed uncommon age and distinction, as if touched by more sacred grounds than Heaven's home.
There was a trembling pause as the silence grew less complacent.
"Tell me," Daniel came again, "and be the bolder…"
"Outcast you are," he deferred, "In-cast to the greatest purpose, young Daniel…"
"How do you know my name?"
"As with all things," the statesman debated, "it is written…"
"Better to this then," Daniel further pursued, "Who am I?"
"You know this well," the statesman smiled and pointed directly to Daniel's heart, "IT, is so written…" There was a larger pause when he collected to sit about the wooden table in the midst of this single room.
"I say again," Daniel sat opposing him, "If politeness be born not so rigid, but smooth… Who are you? Who am I?"
"You will collect the news and abstain for the required measure to hear me out for the sake of your understanding… I am a steward of God; protector, guidance, counsel-man to those of importance. And so to this great direction; I possess the hallowed stands to lift the destined to do our Father's will throughout all eternity. Am I older than the beginning of time; of earth and universe; the birth of creation just made when to such production, my presence was created. Go to the highest loft of the great counsel… You will see. My name is embedded in the records quite prominently there… By humbled treasures, am I sustained to perform on behalf of the Almighty… By His command; I do…" The steward settled back into his stiff chair; though tightly wound by his disposition; his hands did drop and rum over the table's surface.
"And when such word was given," Daniel insinuated, "How is my decree?"
"You have a gift…"
"What gift?"
"To not know," he giggled, "is still yet to learn…"
"Then, you will not tell me then…"
Another pause reigned and held the room's silence once more.
"I see," Daniel leaned back, quite disturbed; looking low to hide his face, and then by much pronouncement, he lifted his eyes without raising his expression; the eyes steady to be firm and would not cast away again until his frozen stare was not finished.
"Come," the steward broke the quiet away; pulling himself free, in no feeble task, and motioning forward to gather the weight and coil of a large sword nearest him, "You will prepare; wage war with air and space… Try about this sword and see what you think…"
Daniel stood and took about him as the task was given. The sword, of bright silver hue and shine settled in Daniel's strong hand and flow. The grip short; powerful to the touch, but like to be new and never brought into use before; as if it be designed to fit his grip and hold alone.
"And to the feel?" the steward asked of Daniel.
Daniel pushed the sword through the air; took to flight from left to right; above and below; twisting as such in free-flight and full circles until it took to land back within his grip.
"Good…" Daniel remained in concentration, "needs more strength and light; not heavy."
"Then take this to a try," the steward switched a heavier blade; more majestic and of higher rank. The flow was better to maneuver with; yet strong and most piercing to the point and would offend the greatest of foes to yield if in battle.
"What do you think?" The steward was more curious on this occasion.
"Not like the first," Daniel performed similar tricks, though he engaged the weaponry with more assurance than the last, "more to weight; pronounced; striking to the need; better…I do say…"
"But not to the liking…"
"Go further," Daniel saw the steward move to gather up another sword; this, of mighty gold and mirth; striking to its look and fine workmanship; the handle fit alike to be his personal hand-measured glove; the blade long and dense with weight twice the previous sword; a galactic piece that, when placed into Daniel's hand, glowed in embers and brilliance that too, lit the room into a rage and fire.
Daniel's face turned into a stoned pleasantry; alike a warrior who found his match for the trade; his mate, of finest quality could prevail into any battle; hand to grip, and grip to hand; the ballad of a soldier's bravery was soon to be set and settled upon the stage. Daniel had found his piece in saddle and sheath.
"Ahhh…better to the fit; no other compares…" the steward smiled.
"Indeed," Daniel played about in swings and thrusts, "none to compare…"
"The first; of steel, and earthly sword… The second of pure silver' of trays and gauntlets melted from the foe's dinner tables… Alas, the third of twenty-four measured gold; it has heart in its substance; forged by God himself… for your hand, Daniel."
"Forged by God?" Daniel looked stunned at this proclamation, "Touched by His hand; forged to His making? God would have for my benefit…"
"There are seven in all; of none other… Two guard the gates of Eden. Four guard the four corners of the Heavens… and this… the last of its kind; the hand held by man and spirit…"
Daniel stalled in that silence; unearthed glory to become; the talents not known, but soon to be exposed; the valiance begun; Heaven waits no longer; hearts do mend; the warrior found; the materials and vessel brought together, at last, within unity.
"And by what order does this commence?" Daniel strained to say, "By what measure; by what edict will declare, a poor pauper boy, of one day unearthed and re-earthed to bury the same, should possess such a throne sword as this?"
"Cast by the fire Daniel," the steward led Daniel to the edge of this hearth; his hands in tremble, though guided by the ancient throngs of this one so close to God, "Touch the flame; let the union behold… You will see…"
And with this ardent request, the tip to sword was sent down and grasped the tip of this Holy fire. In an instant the sword grew into a full flame, down to the very edge and grip Daniel held and possessed. This was to startle him; Daniel letting loose; the sword falls and remains in burn and frightful glow, though nothing burned in surround of it, nor was it put out. Yet burned like a heart which would never die; the spirit which would spark always with eternal life.
"It does not burn," Daniel looked back at the steward, "But does…burn!"
"And shall always," the steward came close, lowered Daniel's hand to retrieve the sword, yet it burned all the while, though yet it did not burn to the righteous; the pure, "ever more… God's light to never extinguish; the breath of His flame sits here, upon the sword forged by God…for you, Daniel…"
"But why?" Daniel was nearly struck by all he was to see.
"The First shall become the last," the steward spoke, "and the last shall become the First." Daniel felt the steward place his ancient hand over his shoulder.
"You will cup it with its sheath and scabbard," he spoke to instruct Daniel to do as such, "but never to put it out… Oh yes, it will burn; always…but it is hidden… Only by your hands Daniel, will this sword have any usefulness; none other. The handle will not grip, nor allow another hand to enter into its fold and the flame will not yet burn… This sword and you…are bound together for all eternity…"
"What am I to make of all this?" Daniel thought to himself, though he spoke as much in a frail whisper and soft speech.
"Daniel," the steward brought back Daniel's attention; full and direct, "Will I teach you how to use this mighty weapon. You shall become the archangel you are destined to become… It is written… without fail… By God's mighty edict, you are born to be one of the mantles to his sword… To become the thirteenth warrior…"
"So much to learn; can it be so?"
"You must measure discernment; understand the difference between those that are demons and those that are warriors. A place to the heart is pure and sustains; let this grow to embody all that you are… Empty out all that should not be; let God and Jesus fill in what remains…This, shall be your greatest trial and test; when pressures mount, and temptations perform antics to persuade you with…"
He paused and cupped his elder hand to Daniel's heart.
"Keep to your heart," he paused; their eyes met in that silence, "the benevolence of your Father; the Holy Spirit reigns, in you… and nothing more can penetrate…"
"And when this is all done, I will be ready?"
"It is written…" the steward firmly promised.
Author's Notes:
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