Much Afraid, now named Grace and Glory, and her handmaidens Joy and Peace, stayed on the High Places for several weeks and explored, learning many new lessons from the shepherd King. He encouraged them to explore on their own, too, for there were so many things to discover. There were still Higher Places than where they were, but only those who had finished their pilgrim life on earth were free to go there. They could also look down on the valleys below to gain an understanding of the many things which had previously puzzled them. But the first thing they realized up on the slopes was that there was even more to see and learn when they went further up. What they could see now was but a small portion of what lay beyond.
And so our little Much Afraid realized she had a new viewpoint on life below as she saw it from the perspective of the Kingdom of Love. What she could see almost intoxicated her with joy and thanksgiving and sometimes even inexpressible relief. Things which she had thought dark and terrible, which had made her tremble, now seemed alien to her from the Realm of Love, and just a part of a wonderful whole that has been altered and modified. Even things written in the Book of Books can be astonishingly misunderstood while one lives on the low levels of spiritual experience. She knew, with astonishment, that no one who finds herself up on the slopes of the Kingdom of Love can possibly be absolute about what is seen, because one can only comprehend how small a part of the glorious whole can be seen. It gave her a strong desire to go higher and to see and understand more. Now she knew, truth comes from personal growth and development, and she remembered the prayer of the blind man, "May I receive my sight, that I might open myself up to even more light by fuller understanding.". The other thing which delighted Grace and Glory was the unbroken communion she had with the King. Wherever he went she and Peace and Joy went, too, for he taught them by example. Our newly named Grace and Glory could hardly bear to cease from the joy of cavorting through the rocks, and rarely took a rest. At one point, she looked up into the face of the Shepherd King and said, "My Lord, I cannot tell you how greatly I want to regard others in the same way that you have regarded me." And a great smile broke out on his face. But she continued, The other thing I learned up here is this. Every circumstance in life, no matter how crooked and distorted and ugly it appears to be, if it is reacted to in love and forgiveness and obedience to your will, it can be transformed. Therefore, I think, my Lord, that you may purposely allow us to be brought into contact with the bad and evil things that you want changed." And thinking a bit, she added, "Perhaps that is the very reason why we are here in this world, so that we may let you teach us how to react to these things and that from them we can create lovely qualities that will help us to live the right way. In other words, "Deal with evil, but overcome it with good."
Then came the most memorable part of her life on the mountain, for he said, "You have learned well. But I must add one more thing for you to remember: as long as you are willing to be Acceptance with Joy and Bearing all in Love, you can never again become crippled, and you will be able to go wherever I lead you. You will be able to go back to the Valley of the world to work with me there, for that is where the evil and sorrowful are and that is what is necessary to be overcome." And He rose and invited her to leap along behind him to a higher part of the mountain. ( The End)
I am sure, if I listed all the things which can be done here on the lower part of the earth, you would not be surprised. And so, I leave it up to you and God. What can you do here on this wicked, yet wonderful earth to change it to be a good place to be? Each of you will undoubtedly have a different answer. Only one thing I know...there is a lot to be done. Do you have a heart for children? young mothers? our servicemen who have been so beaten even in victory? the old? the infirm? the ordinary, who keep their sorrows to themselves? Perhaps you yourselves are in pain. Seek to find others that have the same hurts and bind then up, working together. Small groups working together are great, too. We can always enjoy new friends!
Loving you,
Jo INMN
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