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The Crone's eyes were intense and the gemstones on her shawl moved with her in the candle light.
"I have agonized as to why so many of you cannot--why so many of you wind up purposely harming others and yourselves in the process of committing evil and why so many of you seem to exist solely for fostering and bringing it into the world, relishing its results of more pandemonium, chaos and conflict."
"This part of the Human Condition continues to sadden me."
"Is there not one person in your world who understands what I am saying?"
By now I had regained some of my composure even as I was weeping.
She pointed in the direction of the dark pine forest.
"Soon, you and I will be making our way toward those trees on the other side of the pond."
"You did see them as I watched the expression on your face."
"Yes," I answered as this was the same dark and foreboding forest I had noticed before.
"We will visit different times and experience the energies present during those times and the results they produced, both good and bad."
"You will learn that the thoughts and wishes of the many and their willingness to keep with the status quo or their decision to do away with the old and establish a new vision for themselves ultimately contributed to either their slow demise or pointed the way to a new future of peace and well being."
"I like to call this part of your lesson, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'."
"Thus my question to you if you believed in God?"
"Because God is the only One to call upon to protect you as well as myself as we both venture forth together, digging deeper into the unknown dark realms of the human psyche, trying to understand."
"From this venture you and hopefully others will learn a worthwhile and very valuable lesson."
We both raised ourselves up from our chairs. I stood silent as she walked over to the cupboard, opened it and took out a lantern. Lighting it she turned around and faced me. to face me.
"It is time."
She walked ahead of me toward the front door and opened it. I followed and closed it behind me.
I turned to look at my bedroom window and saw four eyes staring out.
It was Owl and cat.
What a sendoff!
We traversed quietly and slowly down the cobblestone path, making our way toward the dark pine forest.
After awhile I noticed a large opening in the trees that looked like it could swallow both of us up.
As we stepped into it, I noticed how the tree branches at the top had been carefully braided and intertwined together to form a thick and dense canopy over this yawning portal.
A few more steps and she told me to "watch my step and my head."
Through the portal we went.
We started to descend and I observed how the walls looked less like pine and more like rock. We had to pay close attention to where we were walking.
We continued on down a narrow, winding and meandering path (like someone couldn't make up their mind which way to go).
I ducked quickly as I almost came in contact with a bunch of twisted tree roots covering the face of a large rock overhang.
My nostrils caught the scent of something but this time I couldn't make it out. One thing I did know was it was unpleasant. It smelled of something ancient and forgotten, dark and decaying, something purposely left behind, something entrapped in the past, something creepy, something not nice
The light from the lantern she was carrying swung gently back and forth as we walked.
At least that was comforting.
It was very dark inside the cave and I observed thin lines extending from top to bottom of the cave walls alternating in dark green and black stripes.
She held the lantern higher so there was just the right measure of light for both of us to see where we were going.
I amused myself and staved off my anxiety by watching this little old lady traverse the path with agility while I would stare down at the path every so often, hoping I wouldn't kick up a huge rock and then stumble over it.
The shadows from the lantern darted and danced off the slippery rock walls.
Everything was quiet until I heard the words, "what makes you think you own this planet?"
I assumed that she had asked the question but she didn't turn but kept right on walking.
"There is a school of thought down here that man, in his infinite foolishness, has laid claim to this rock because he figures he personally owns it".
"Man believes he has all the answers."
"Well," I said, "I don't think this to be true." "I mean, we have many learned individuals occupying important positions in science and technology that are constantly studying and making new discoveries, trying to keep us informed."
"Informed of what", she asked?
I didn't reply but was thinking, "come to think of it though, we don't have many that are offering anything in the way of spiritual uplifting or enriching our lives with messages of faith and love."
"We have an entire movie industry that only know how to turn out movies that portray man in his present depraved state...raging war, wickedness, brutality and savagery".
I answered her back, "haven't we really missed an opportunity here to lift man up, out of his wellspring of ignorance and despair, turn him around, point him in a new direction, motivating him toward acts of kindness and charity?"
I was amazed at my question, as I was mimicking what the old woman was thinking.
Page 13
The darkness seemed to be ebbing away and the walls of the great hall lighting up.
The old woman commented, "the Night Shift is over. A new day is dawning full of hope and promise.
She grasped my arm, "The Past is Behind You, the Present is Here and Now the Future is What You Make of It so, "Make the Most of It!"
I looked into those fiery eyes with warmth and affection.
"Happy memories and each one of you is capable of making them. Isn't that what Life is all about, anyway?
I thought I had heard that one, before....
She turned and looked straight ahead, addressing an unseen audience,
"To all of You:
"Make Your Life Count
For SOME Thing!
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