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blogging101, Creative Writing, Faith and Writing, Fiction & Fantasy, Seeker, Uncategorized, Writing 101
The rest of the night passed peacefully for the Seeker. She felt she had been tested and failed, but as the Spirit had said, there was a purpose for her failure. She was learning about her own humanness. So at cockcrow she broke her fast with the food from the village and set out once more on her journey. She did not bid farewell to the Spirit, for she felt this One who was the embodiment of the Water of Life that now flowed within her from the King’s cup would be with her always.
The sun had not yet risen and the stars still glittered in the dawning sky. She walked along a well-tread path enjoying the symphony of crickets and other insects that made their homes in the meadows through which the path meandered. She had not walked far when she heard a loud roar, and ahead she saw a strange sight. For there coming toward her was a beautiful young woman in the company of a magnificent lion. The lion was plainly not tame, and yet these two of the Creator’s creatures walked in peace. The woman gently stroked the lion’s back with her hand as they ambled along. She was dressed in a delicate pink gown that rippled in the breeze. A garland of red and white flowers was wrapped around her and draped over the lion. The Seeker was struck at how vulnerable she was in the isolated countryside with the wild beast. In fact, she, herself, was feeling somewhat frightened by his presence.
“Good morning, Seeker,” the woman said as they drew near. “You come from seeing the King?”
“Indeed. I spent the night and learned many things from the King and the Spirit.”
“You are surprised and somewhat fearful of us I think.”
The Seeker lowered her eyes so the woman could not see her embarrassment. “You seem odd companions,” she said.
The woman laughed. “So we must. But because we recognize the wildness in one another, we have learned tolerance and created a safe space for a trusting relationship. This is a lesson all of Creation must learn. It is the balance of human, animal, and divine natures that the Spirit of the Water of Life seeks to impart to all.
“There is a wildness that lives within you, too, Seeker. From this wildness comes your inner strength, your stamina, persistence, and the power of your human spirit. But the veiled qualities of courage, patience, and compassion are waiting for you to master your raw emotions, such as anger and impulsiveness, so you may move on to the spiritual tasks ahead.”
The Seeker thought back to her reaction to the thief. Yes, those emotions felt wild and chaotic. Her logic and learning had deserted her, and she refused to see the man as anything but a thief. She could feel her cheeks growing warm at the memory.
“I was angry,” she replied, “for the sake of the King.”
“Emotions must be transcended if spiritual wisdom and intuition are to be awakened, my friend. You will find your inner wisdom is often drowned out by the constant noise of feelings and a preoccupation with fear. You must make peace with these to find the silence within where you can meet yourself and the Creator. It is only then that you will be able to connect your inner with your outer strength.”
The Seeker was awed by the wisdom of the woman. “Who are you, if I may ask?”
“My name is Faith. I am a Seeker just as you are. I am learning patience, self-restraint, and compassion; to not be afraid to let the gentle and loving side of myself be revealed. It is only my faith in the King’s Law of Love that is making my journey possible. Put your trust in that faith, Seeker, and it will guide you where you need to go.”
The Seeker was amazed to find someone like herself wandering in the wilds of the world. Especially someone she did not recognize. Surely she would have known the woman from her time at the temple. “Where do come from?” she asked her.
Faith smiled sensing her confusion. “I am not from the temple mount, Seeker. I come from a small village east beyond the mountains. There are many of us wandering these lands, seeking the Creator in our hearts, longing to live our lives as the sacred scrolls command. No doubt you will meet many in your travels.”
The Seeker pondered this turn of events. What, she wondered, did this mean for her own journey? Would she find a place to call home after all?
Faith had anticipated her question. “There are many gathering places where Seekers meet to commune together with the Creator. They are special times, indeed. But a permanent home? No. Remember what the King said? It is WITHIN the Creator that we live. The Creator is all around us. We ARE in the Creator’s home every moment of every day.”
Though the Seeker had understood and accepted as truth the King’s words, she was still struggling to grasp the reality of it. For so long she had felt herself separated from the Creator. She had worked hard at her studies and doing good works so as to be acceptable to the Holy One when the time came to pass into that heavenly realm. But the King, and now Faith, were both saying that the realm of the Creator was here on earth now, not in some distant time.
The two stood talking on the path for a long while when the lion finally began to issue a low growl. At the Seeker’s anxious expression Faith laid her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “All is well. But we must be on our way. We have traveled far this past fortnight and it is time for us to rest with Spirit at the castle of the King.”
The Seeker was sad to see her go, but she understood the need to continue on her own path. “I hope,” she said to her new friend, “we will meet again.”
“Of that I am sure,” said Faith. Then she raised her hand in blessing wishing the Seeker strength in her trials, compassion in her dealings with others, and joy in her journey. And with a smile and a farewell embrace, she and the lion walked on toward the castle.
© Cheryl D. Carter
Part 21 — Reckoning
Part 23 — Retreat
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Picture Credit — personal (see also www.aeclectic.net)
Perpetua said:
There you are, you are not alone in your journey as you commented in your previous post. Faith.
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calensariel said:
Thank goodness we never travel alone!
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Pingback: Retreat (Seeker Part 23) | Impromptu Promptlings
platosgroove said:
True faith is both fierce and sensitive at once. Well done!
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calensariel said:
Still say it needs an actual plot… 😦
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platosgroove said:
Quit girl. Just see where it goes. The plot will unfold.
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calensariel said:
Iffin’ you say so, your dudeship… 😉
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janebasilblog said:
I like reading this story in big chunks – it gives a picture of just how much you’ve achieved with this story. It’s amazing Calen – full of great advice and remainders of all the things we so often forget, or are perhaps not even aware of.
I love it 🙂
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calensariel said:
Thanks, hon. It’s become quite an experiment!
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janebasilblog said:
I’m blown away by it.
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Colleen Keehne said:
There’s good advice for all of us in this part. I’m not about the last paragraph through. To me it doesn’t feel like it’s part of the rest of the story in this part. It could just me over thinking it.
Luv Ya!
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calensariel said:
This was a hard “prompt.” I had NO idea where it was going. It doesn’t feel like it ended on the right note. I realized there were going to be some pictures that would be that way. If I want to go back through it afterwards and try to make it cohesive I will have a lot of work to do. Which paragraph do you see as the problem?
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Colleen Keehne said:
The last one just seemed to…tidy. It seemed to just leave Seeker standing there. Seeker has wondered through out the story if she was the only one that had gone out to find amswers/herself. Now she’s found another that did the same thing and she just lets her walk off with no acknowledgement or questioning of this other Seeker.
Or I could just be talking out of butt. LOL
Luv Ya!
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Colleen Keehne said:
And I really need to slow down. I think faster than I type which means typos.
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calensariel said:
I’m so glad you amswered my question!!! I intended to go back through these comments when this journey was over and collect the observations. So that’s very helpful and I know exactly what you mean. I was telling Plato I wasn’t happy with this piece because it’s representative of the fact that there seems to be no plot. There also needs to be other recurring characters. Perhaps for right now I need to just be satisfied with getting the backbone down and then I can go back through it and make it a story. I also wondered if any folks I KNOW will show up!
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Colleen Keehne said:
Reblogged this on and commented:
Reblogged to Freeing My Muse
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Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature said:
So many beautiful lessons in each one. I love what Faith said about wildness and about emotions and balance. I’m still loving this and I look forward to each one, though, I’m having trouble getting on line these days.
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calensariel said:
Well I always appreciate your input, Mary. I hope you’re just busy and everything is ok?
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Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature said:
Yeah, busy, but also I’m having a technology issue. My computer is in the shop having the whole hard drive wiped clean, so it will be like factory new. I am using my old computer, but it has very little memory, so it’s hard to post. Taking off and putting on pictures with a flash drive. Also, it has been cloudy and internet stops at the sight of a cloud in the sky. I guess the satellite can’t get a signal through. It goes off, of course, at the worst times! Oh well. Not a bad woe to have. 🙂
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calensariel said:
Well I sure hope you get your new & improved version back soon!
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Soul Gifts said:
Aslan the Lion ? aka God/Creator
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calensariel said:
Well, the thought did cross my mind. But I’m guessing that would be plagiarizing. 🙂
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Soul Gifts said:
Not if it’s referred to/mentioned in the context of the story
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calensariel said:
I will ponder on it! 😀
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Opher said:
Still seeking but will she find?
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calensariel said:
Heck I don’t know. I’m more wondering if she’s learning anything!
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spiritualdragonfly said:
Are you really still questioning that C?!?!? She’s headstrong, and she’s smart…it’s just hard letting go to all that she’s been conditioned to believe…..
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calensariel said:
Yes. I peeked ahead to the next seven “prompts” to see if I could get a sense of where this part was going — I’ve come to the conclusion this was a CRAZY ARSE thing to try, btw — and I think her bullheadedness is going to land her in trouble. Not sure yet. And not sure how much to embellish the story. But I guess if I ever wanted to seriously do anything with it there would be time for that in a second draft. I guess…
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