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A Parable for Today Part 2
At first, no one noticed him. Hidden by the night, the Maker wandered silently through the pathless virgin forest. Yet nothing was hidden to him. He had planned and written every detail of nature in his mind an eternity ago. Now - after immeasurable waiting and longing - He was finally walking in his woods, smelling the scent of cedars, feeling dew-wet moss under His feet, watching a sparrow sleep in its nest.... The darkness, like the coming day, throbbed with life and promise.
As the light of dawn spread across the horizon, the Maker reached a clearing overlooking the valley. What a view! Distant hills sparkled with waterfalls and dancing fountains. Crystal-clear streams leapt downward over rocks and moss until they all flowed together, forming a river, which shimmered with the golden glow of the rising sun. It wound its way through lush meadows filled with fragrant fruit trees, grapevines, berries, and blossoms in a breathtaking display of love's creativity.
"Beautiful!" As He whispered the word, unspeakable joy welled up inside Him. Flinging out His arms, He sang out to the world, and every rock and ridge echoed back. "It is perfect!"
Awakened, a choir of birds burst into song, and others - crickets, bees, oxen, and lions - joined together in a symphony of sounds. The Maker laughed. A doe lifted her head and looked into His kind, happy face with adoring eyes. A cougar jumped down from a tree and laid its head near His feet. Unafraid, a small flock of sheep ran to meet Him.
The Maker bent down, picked up a lamb and cradled it in His arms. "Dear little one," He whispered tenderly, "if only My people would always trust Me as you do this moment. Then the splendor would last." He returned the lamb to its mother and walked toward the river.
Near the bank, a man and woman were picking berries and feeding them to the animals that gathered around them. The Maker stopped to watch. "Harmony reigns today," He mused, "but its enemy plots war against My children’s innocence, against My plans, against Me...." The glimpse of future pain brought a stab of sorrow. He knew the time had come to share His heart with His precious human companions - and to show them how to preserve this beauty. But would they understand His plan, respond to His love, and cherish the relationship He offered them? Would the challenges ahead cause them to turn to Him for wisdom and strength? Or would they seek counterfeit power and become enslaved? The answers tore at His heart.
“Don’t forget, dear children," He whispered. But tears welled up in His eyes, for He saw their weakness.
The Destroyer spoke first to the woman. He looked charming in his shiny garments, and his voice sounded smooth as silk "Don’t worry about those instructions. The Maker wouldn’t deny you His best gifts, would He?"
"But didn’t He say?..."
“The details aren’t that important. Just remember that He wants you to be happy. Follow your feelings. Your own desires will lead to life, not death. You’ll find hidden wisdom - wisdom to become a maker yourself...."
"Really?" It seemed so good.
The woman believed and convinced the man.
Generations passed. No longer innocent, people everywhere listened to the seductive voice of the shining one.
Few remembered the Maker
.
"Let the stars guide you," coaxed the Destroyer. "Tune your minds to the spirits of trees and rocks. Draw strength from the mountain, the eagle, the oak, the goddess.... Use drums, drugs, chants, and sex. Ecstatic rites will connect your minds to Mother Earth and invoke her forces."
Fascinated by the false promises, the people followed.
"Build a tower reaching to heaven," the voice continued, all can be as one. Worship the god of the sun and the goddess of moons. They will empower you to remake the world.”
Brokenhearted, the Maker watched. "My children were born free,” He whispered, "yet they have become slaves to evil - to a mythical distortion of the good I offered them."
His thoughts carried Him to the end of time, when He would permit the Destroyer to fulfill His global plan - for a moment. "But this is too soon," He said to Himself.
At the Maker's command, the illusion of oneness was broken and the people scattered.
Ages passed. Nations pursued the visions of the shining one, but found neither peace nor fulfillment. Apart from the Maker's calming touch, nature turned cruel. Rains ceased. Rivers dried. Droughts brought famine, disease, and war. Longing to comfort and provide, the Maker sent messengers to bring the broken and lost back to His care.
Some believed and came. When they followed His guidelines, the rivers flowed with clean water and the land bore grain in abundance. But apathy and waste usually followed health and wealth.
"Let the weak follow the Maker," the proud would boast. "We can take care of ourselves!"
Barely visible in the cloudy moonlight, shadowy figures were moving toward an open field. Standing on a large, flat rock near the center, the Destroyer surveyed his gathering armies. "Hurry" he screamed in a voice opposite the one he used to lure humans. "We don’t have all night The twentieth century has almost passed.”
The dark forms were still scurrying to their places, when the Destroyer began his interrogation.
"Three waves of deception were planned for this generation. Two have passed: What happened? Where are we now?"
"The first wave, the youth rebellion, went well, sir," reported a trembling captain. "We appealed to their noble but naive idealism, emphasized the hypocrisy of the elders, and suggested they remake the world according to Your wisdom, sir.”
“Ah, good. How did they respond?"
“They loved your ancient practices, sir. Free sex, entrancing rituals along with drugs, drums, and meditation to alter consciousness and make spiritual connections… Everything we suggested fit their own desires.”
"Fine, fine. How are those fools serving us, now?”
“That brings us to the second wave, sir. Determined to spread your wisdom, many became your most faithful teachers, artists, entertainers, politicians, and media messengers. They taught and demonstrated your ancient ways until many of your practices became quite acceptable to the masses."
“What about the resistance - and the Maker's disgusting manual?" The icy chill in the Destroyer's voice sent a shiver through his armies.
"Banned!" shouted a bold ruler. "His guidelines are no longer permitted in public places - and the media ignores them. Of course, your religions are filling the gap.
Looking up at the full moon, the Destroyer grimaced. "We are ready…” he paused a moment, “for the third wave.” Suddenly he began to laugh - a cold hateful cackle, which turned his cruel face purple. The watching armies cringed with anxiety.
"The third wave!" he repeated when he caught his breath. “Back to nature and its – I mean – our – secret wisdom! Ecological spirituality. Earth-centered environmental religion. All is one. The notion that nature is its own divine maker.”
“What do you mean, Sir?" asked the captain.
"Look around you," hissed the Destroyer. “See the pollution, waste, famine, death…”
"Yes, I had this great idea,” boasted a commander. "I urge people to litter and waste. 'Just toss it,' I whisper into their minds…”
"That was my idea, not yours!” screamed the Destroyer. “I’ve always told people to pollute. Pollution and destruction fit my plan."
The impulsive officer slunk away as Destroyer continued.
"The simplest way to spoil the earth is to lure people away from the despicable Maker. When they forget Him and His vile manual, the earth suffers. Then we can blame Him for the destruction, and convince people that my way - my natural kind of oneness - will heal the earth."
"Why should they believe us?" bellowed a loud voice from the mass of soldiers. "The nations you already control are in far worse condition than these lands."
"No problem, you lunkhead," yelled the ruler. "We've already weaned the people away from facts. Now they want myths to live by just as in the old days. Our writers have introduced a delightful assortment of old and new stories. Our loyal artists are painting images that will make them come alive.
"Children are learning to hear the wisdom of Mother Earth. I order my slaves to masquerade as tree spirits, river gods, love goddesses, whichever voice those fools want to hear.”
"Good work," purred the Destroyer. "Be those voices. And what will they say?"
"That humans can help restore nature's original harmony if only they will believe in Self, connect with the Earth, and follow the spirits of nature."
The Maker watched from a nearby hillside. A white-clad messenger arrived, bowed, and knelt silently before Him.
The Maker touched his shoulders. "I understand your grief," He said softly. "My people suffer much pain and confusion. Continue to guard and encourage them. Remind them that they are on the winning side. Even the worst of the Destroyer's schemes will ultimately serve our purpose."
"Yes, my King." The angel looked up into the gentle face of the Maker. "The struggle is intensifying, but it has awakened Your people."
Another angel arrived. "I bring good news," he announced. "There's an army of people out there who worship only You. Some continue to spread Your love in schools. Others broadcast Your warnings and demonstrate Your power to heal wounded soldiers and restore damaged lands. Though many feel weary and isolated, Your people are rising together against the false unity of the Destroyer.”
The Maker glanced at the dark armies below. "Those poor rebels fight a losing battle - and they know it, in spite of their bravado." A quiet joy filled His voice as He continued. "The powers of heaven belong to Me, and the earth is in My hands. Nothing can defeat those who love Me and share My concerns. Watch and see the final victory."
From Under the Spell of Mother Earth, 1990, which is now out-of-print.
