It was silent. No, it was more than that. It was mysteriously serene. If forced to describe it, I would call it the feeling one has in the moments before their parachute opens after jumping out of a plane. The air rushing past them, the profound silence that encompasses them as the plane roars out of sight, the wondering, “Will my chute open this time?” Time holds and in that moment there is an acceptance of what might happen and the adrenaline stops pumping and there is a smile. But in the next moment, the feeling is lost as the parachute bursts from its package and the wind bellows it into a proper shape.
This serenity, so mysterious, so profound, suddenly flooded my being where before there had been nothing. I knew before I opened my eyes that I lay in some kind of field, devoid of all animal life. The only thing that seemed to exist was the sound of a perfect breeze rustling through tall grass. The sun bathed the area with a gentle warmth known only to lethargic cats sprawled out in front of a sunny window.
It seemed odd to me that I did not know where I had been just a moment before. I felt that I had just before been nowhere and had suddenly come to exist in this somewhere. That did not make much sense but I felt that where I had been before did not matter and the only true pressing question I had to face was whether to continue lying here or open my eyes and walk around.
My curiosity eventually won over the great peace I felt in lying there and with a large stretch I sat up and opened my eyes. Slowly, I became aware of field surrounding me, as if my senses were turning on in stages to prevent the pristine purity of the field from overwhelming me. Where before I was aware only of the tranquility of the wind and the warmth of the sun, I now took notice of the enormity of the field itself.
As I stood up and looked around, I realized that I had been lying on the top of a hill in the middle of the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Each blade of grass rose high and began to slightly bend under its increasing weight. The wind blew across the meadow as if it were a great conductor leading the grass in grand ballroom dance. As far as I could see, the meadow stretched on in gently rolling hills. Each hill was attired more majestically than any King or Queen could ever dream of achieving.
And the aroma! Gazing out on the flowered hills, my nose became aware that it should wake up and experience the divine aroma permeating it. Anywhere else, such a densely packed field of flowers would immediately overwhelm me and send me running for the nearest Air condition controlled environment. But here, in this impossibly serene field, I found only the comfort of the sun, the majesty of the dancing grass, the regality of the elegant hills, and the intoxicating fragrance of the flowers.
Dumbfounded, I stood there. Unsure of how I came to be here and if my presence somehow marred the perfection of this meadow. Slowly, as if waking from a stupor or some deep sleep, I decided to pick a direction and search for way to remove myself from this place. I walked for some time without the sun growing in intensity or diminishing in beauty. I traversed hill after hill before realizing that I had grown neither hungry nor thirsty nor even weary. I knew somewhere in my mind that I should be wondering about this, or perhaps concerned, but though I observed these facts, I did not seem to worry about why they existed.
Suddenly, I found myself in a part of the field that expanded in all directions as a great flat expanse. From the midst of this expanse, I saw a solitary lamb approach me. It seemed to be a young lamb, only a single year old. I was covered not with the great, woolly mess that plasters older sheep, but a soft, dazzling pure white coat. As It came directly before me, it seemed to be surrounded by a unique fragrance, almost as if it had been covered in costly perfume. Coming before me, the lamb stopped and looked at me.
Follow me.
The lamb had not spoken but in my heart the words resounded with power and dropped me to the ground. The little lamb lovingly nuzzled my neck and again those words rippled through me. Each word felt full of power and compassion, of authority and understanding. It was a command and a request, one I could accept or reject.
Follow me.
The lamb gazed at me and standing I followed it. It felt as if we had traversed a great distance without going anywhere at all and bringing me before an area where the grass was cut low it stopped and addressed me again.
Build a great fire.
1 comment:
That's great Matthew! I hope you win! :)
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