Day One Thousand One Hundred Fourteen #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

The harbor was empty by the time we left last night. And not a soul around to ask what was going on. Even our guards were in the dark.

They took us back to the villa (or as Elijah likes to say, we escorted them to safety). And while he held vigil in our set apart room, I turned in.

I felt groggy upon waking, almost drugged. And I had some difficulty gaining entrance into the set apart room as Elijah did not answer my knocking.

I was at the point of asking a guard’s help, when Tomas exited the room with Elijah.

Tomas worked the rest of the day on the villa’s power problem. And Elijah filled me in.

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Day Nine Hundred Seventy Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Our friend could talk of nothing else but the explosion. He was well past the town where it went off when it went off. He turned around and ran back to investigate. But he couldn’t get any closer than the fields outside. Nothing stirred, except the raging fire – everywhere. It seemed to be feeding on something within itself.

When he passed through before, not a soul would answer him. So he had wiped his feet and left in search of us.

When Tomas had unburdened himself, Elijah had us all turn in. Only with the new morning did we open up about our journey and about the rumor we had heard.

We parlayed and unanimously decided to pursue the lead.

Day Four Hundred Seventy Nine #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

We should arrive at the next port of call sometime in the early morning. Plenty of time to prepare my lists. Or add to the one I had put together already.

In any case, I’ve been instructed to offload the containers due at the port we could not enter. The Captain reasons that someone who can claim them, may be at this “neighboring” port.

I’ve not seen Elijah all day. And Tomas repeated the same observation to me when he dropped in after dinner. He helped me plot a way to bring up the mystery container before making a search for our elusive friend.

Afterwards I swung by the special cabin. No Elijah.

I refreshed my soul before turning in.

Day Two Hundred Eighty Four #DiaryoftheEndoftheWorld

Elam brought back a message from Sy for his parents. It was a heartfelt plea. It has decided the father to send his wife with the next group. She would prefer to make the journey some time later before the twenty five days elapse, but she has agreed to go tomorrow.

I wonder if Sy’s father will ever leave.

When we arrived at the administration building, there was not a soul anywhere. But this time the doors were unlocked. So we entered.

It was an expansive area, designed to intimidate.

We approached the only occupant, a man of formidable size. Elijah asked to speak to the city ruler. He blanched on seeing us, and begged us to leave.

We did.

Hunger and Thirst

There is a hunger
that is not of the body.
A hunger that by the soul
only is known.
A thirst for the gentle curve
of another’s face
looking back into your own.

It’s a thirst not often sated.
It’s a hunger often prolonged
Our own desires oft times taint it.
Other times we’ve clearly been wronged.
Either way we come up empty
and in the midst of a famine again.
Instead of the self-promised plenty
we’re left with nary a friend

We begin by others forsaking,
we end by ourselves being forsook.
We never see ourselves making
our lives to others a sealed book.
With a strap and a lock
binding us tight
with the key having locked it
clasped in our fist-
shoved in our pocket
-deep down-
out of sight.

Still the desire within is to be opened –

to be read – and understood-

and loved.

There is One only who can do it.

One tender enough not to tear

the pages as He goes through it.

In fact, He’ll mend and repair

and pour Himself into it

and shoulder each burdensome care.

“Come and eat,” He says, “at my table.”

“Come and drink,” He says, “of my wine.”

“ Come to me,” He says, “I’ll make you able.”

“Come to me,” He says, “abide in my vine.”

“By my side you shall no longer hunger.

“By my side you shall no longer thirst.

“You shall no longer labor under

that despot, sin, for which all is curst.”

True to say
that first time I heard His voice I dared not to answer
at His look I turned and ran the other way
I sensed the cost would mean all of me
and I knew I could not give that away.

Yet He persisted in pursuing me in my flight.
(As He is pursuing you, my dear friend, even now)
For all around us we are finding only deeper night.
(As I am sure if you’re truthful you’ll allow)

So turn, as I did, to enter His Light
Give Him the key to your life
you’ve been holding so tight.
Why get your fill of meaningless strife?

As I lay starving in that uttermost place
I turned and my gaze was drawn His way.
Drawn to the warm, gentle curve of His face-
and I drank in all He had to say,

“I was broken in my body for your hunger.

“Iron spilled my blood for your thirst.”

As my eyes clung to Him, they were opened.
In all His pain He showed me my worst.
“It was for me You bled,” I said.
For all my blackness inside – His heart had burst.
In response to such love I could do nothing less
than find all my joy in putting Him first.

From that day to this
there’s been no turning back
I look to Him so I will not miss
the way or take the wrong path.

Cleaving to His side
I no longer hunger
Leaving all my pride
I no longer thirst
I find I can bear up under
all life’s problems, even the worst.

Now, the desire within

now I am opened.

Is to read of Him

and to Him understand.

For I realize that it’s me He’ll send
(That’s always been part of His plan.)

Sent to love others

so it says, as my very self
and to proclaim to my brothers

that from His table He shares His wealth

and to love Him with all that I can

And to love Him with all that I am.

RWOz2