Post by Trista Vaporblade on Mar 23, 2015 6:01:51 GMT
Hey'a everyone, guess I shall create a new writing thread to throw ideas and writings on. So, welcome.
Wish I could find a good place to write here in the Down Under, I have so many ideas its insane! But I did get a bit of time to write the following; it turned out longer than I thought it would, so feel free to read at your leisure.
~The “No Trespassing” sign hangs on the tree, marking the distinct boundary between the woods and field. The field lies wide open and the wheat-colored grass is knee high so that it tickles my legs; freedom is in this peaceful domain, but so is vulnerability. Reaching toward the sky, the moss-covered trees crowd each other for space while their leaves block out most of the sunlight overhead; shadows play in their branches, secrets and the safety of being obscure within the thrumming of nature fills the atmosphere.
There I stand, the sign right before me on the first tree of the forest, my feet planted firmly in the field of golden green. My fingers twitch on my left hand, I want to go in there; imagine the adventures that lie around each bend! Imagine! I peak over my shoulder, the grainy grass wisping back and forth in the comfortable breeze, and a butterfly is flitting across the tops of the blue flowers which slip between the grass every now and again. It looks serene, tranquil and beautiful in its own way, and yet its so...boring. I've been through it all, I've seen all there is to see, my mind craves something new and exciting. Wouldn't this just be perfect for that, going into the forest? I'd only be stepping over a few boundaries, nothing huge.
The “No Trespassing” sign blares its bright red background from where it hangs and the white words stand out in my mind's eye even when I look away from it. Going in wouldn't be that big of a deal, its more like a suggestion anyway. I'll just take a quick look in the forest and then I'll come back. I won't bring anyone else, I won't tell anyone, and it won't ever have to be a problem, right? I smile, this is just what I need anyway: some excitement.
I cross over the line from the field and into the shadows of the tree line; my heart beat sores – I'm doing what I've never done before! O, the thrill of it all! At first I keep the field in view, the bright spot in my peripheral vision; my safety, what I know. But slowly I get board with just dabbling and decide to delve deeper into the mysterious shadows and crazy new sounds; and slowly I lose sight of everything I've once known. How long have I been here anyway? I can't remember. Somehow I know I need to go back but its just a niggling in the back of my mind and I push it away.
Then the hunter finds me. He waits in the shadows, prowling in the darkness disguised as a lion who weaves his way among the trunks of slippery bark, waiting. He's been waiting for me. At first I look on his being with fright in my eyes; how had I come to this? How could I have ignored the sign that was so obviously there for my protection? But then, as he draws near and his eyes look softly upon me, my heart slows and my breath goes out of me in awe. He's so beautiful, far more beautiful then the place I've left, for more intriguing than anything I've ever seen. And powerful, how powerful he must be. Time and place slips from my memory, what was I doing again? Where was I going? I guess it doesn't matter anymore, whatever he wants I'll do it. How can I not?
The sunlight hurts my eyes when I see it trying to break through the dark of the foliage. A moth whispers its wings along my cheek and I swat at it. I crave the shadows, I cling to the close trees, and I peer at everything that moves from under hooded eyes. Why? I've done things I'd never thought I would, crossed over lines that were never imaginings in my mind to step over, I've compromised too much now to ever go back. Go back to what? I've forgotten. Nothing can help me now; the hunter has laid his trap and I've walked right into it. Now I'm stuck. I want to get out but I'm a fly in the web of the most malicious of spiders. Its sticky here, sticky like a web of honey and lies. Sweet with a bitter after taste. Here I am, in a dark world, a dark prisoner.
A thousand times it feels like I've been here, doing what my master asks of me. Here I am yet again, doing the same things, and yet they never get what I would call boring – that's not in the vocabulary here. No, instead I'd call it more like these things are disgusting. I feel dirty but as often as I try to stand in the shallows of the streams and scrub it off I never get any cleaner. It's like the muck has penetrated into my very soul and now I'm bleeding black and breathing out shadows.
Suddenly as I'm walking toward my goal, the prize for my master in sight, I trip and fall to my knees on the forest floor. I can't take this anymore! I promise I've tried everything to get out, everything! There's just no way, I can't go back to him. I fall to my stomach in the dead leaves and mushrooms, the smell of decay rising up to my nostrils and I wretch. What have I done!? I sob into the ground and wonder how long I lay here in my sorrow and disrepair. I don't know, but with my ear to the dirt I can hear the sounds of the hunters footsteps; he's coming after me. He knows he has a foothold in my life and he knows he can exploit that. But, someone, anyone, I just want to get away! I feel like he's gonna kill me if I stay, if not him then the things he persuades me to do.
My heart beat and my heavy breathing are the only two sounds that now fill my mind, I don't know if he's nearby or not anymore, I feel like his presence is hounding my every footfall though. He wants me back and he's willing to fight for me. I'm running, I'm running blindly because I honestly have no idea what to do next and sooner or later my body will fail me and I'll come crawling back to my master, I know it and I hate it.
Here I fall, here I fail again to escape, here in the forest glade as darkness surrounds me and shadows immerse me in their dark presence; I feel as if a wet blanket has been draped over my head and I can't pull it off, I can't see, I can't breath, and soon I think I won't be able to feel anymore. Here in the small clearing as I grovel in the dirt and mold of the leaves and worms, I come to the end of myself and in my end as I see it I call out. I cry in the desperate need of emptiness that is within me, dwelling like a gnawing abyss that is eating away at me from the inside out; I'm almost gone. And I cry out, my spirit groans for release; for rescue, for aid.
And there the King finds me, in the dirt, broken, needy, and covered in the scars of my mistakes. There He chooses to meet me, in my sorrowful state of existence; He doesn't demand me to return to Him, He comes looking for me. Honestly, He's been here with me all the time in the shadows- the sunlight, the moths, the beauty in the darkness is His goodness and presence within. He's here even when we can't see it, He's always right beside us along even the darkest of paths.
He picks up my broken body and carries me in His strong arms. We pass through the shadows together, He carries me for I am not strong enough in myself. Suddenly the light breaks forth as we emerge from the woods and enter back into the field of golden grass and butterflies. I close my eyes and let the warm air flood over my wrinkled skin and fill my cold body with heat from its rays. This is where I belong, how could I have ever doubted this?
Healing has come to me and I can once again roam through the beauty of this field and its life, and the adventures. Funny thing, now that I know my King and my Savior and His ideas and plans I find so much more...well, more here in this place. There's so much more to know, my King is so amazing and there is so much to His character that there is never a dull moment in His presence. It gives me chills, I'm so excited to get to know Him!
I hear my King calling me to come and walk with Him. As I slip through the tall grass and follow the sound of His voice calling out to my spirit, I glance back once over my shoulder. The “No Trespassing” sign hangs on the tree, its red and white colors seeming less exciting and the darkness of the forest seems less dark in the light of the greatest of Lights; my Savior. I turn from the sign, and walked into the loving arms of my King.