Shepherd

Lost in a sea of confusion.
Marooned on the Isle of Desperation.
Alone and unwanted.

Silence.
Not even the wind stirs.
Not a bird or fish in sight.
Only my insanity.
No feeling .
Nor friends.
No love.
Nor pain.
Ah! Sweet nothingness!
Nothing to stop me from doing…

Nothing.

The sea is so… inviting.
No, that is too easy.
The Isle would win another soul.

A raft!
A raft would take me from this place!
A raft will save my soul!
Just a little longer in this wretched place,
Then I shall be free forever!

But then what?
I have no sail.
Nor compass to guide me.
I am still lost.
Who is there to guide me?
I am alone.

Child…

My child… I am here.

Who? Where?

I was always there with you. Even in the Sea.
It was I who brought you here.

Who are you!?
What do you want from me!?
Why did you bring me here?…

Shussh, my child, all will be well.
I brought you here to teach you.
And to remind you of who I am.

Remind? I never knew you.
And yet… your voice…
You remind me of…

Yes, my child.
It is I.
Will you listen?

Yes, Lord, I will learn.
I will take your Words to my people.
And they will listen.


Not long after, I left that island. I felt like a new person! Whole and clean. I went home to my people and told them of my Lord. I told them He was there with us and He had come to make us clean again. I was overjoyed to be home.

That joy soon turned to sorrow. My people, Oh my people! They said that a demon had possessed me, fed me terrible lies and that… Oh sorrow! How far have we fallen! My people! They said such horrible things! But it was what they did that damns them. They are drowning in the sea. Selling their souls for rafts! Rafts that will never save them, for like me, they have no sail nor compass. Nothing to guide them. Lost…
I was nearly dead when they released me. The took me to the desert and left me to die.
My own people…
I could not save them.

Beaten and bruised I wandered the desert. No food. No water. I was lost so deep in my sorrow, I did not notice when I left the desert. Nor did I notice where my Lord had led me. A new land. Green and full of promise.