The spirit within me
Trembles at the approach
Of Your presence
And rises in
Anticipation
At the touch
Of Your Word
The weight of Your glory
Presses upon me
And though
I sink beneath it
I know it frees me
From the world’s
Impressment
Rather
To be stamped
With the visage
Of the One
Who loves me.
RWOz2
Besides Reuben and Sy, all the leaders asked to accompany us to Jerusalem – Elam, the Raj twins, Quasimo and his cousin, Jordan, Jezer, Meesa, Lung, Mr. Kagi, the Purser and Mary, and Mawuli.
Only Mei did not.
I took her aside and surprised her with a request. I knew that I had to lay down my writing chores and asked her to assume those responsibilities.
At first she demurred, proclaiming inadequacy. At that point Elijah stepped in and placed his hand upon her head.
As he spoke over her I saw the strength of the Spirit descend.
Then we told her she would accompany us.
And after bidding our friends farewell, the Spirit bore the three of us to Jerusalem.
We no longer have a reason to go onward to Babylon. For the Spirit has delivered Mr. Kagi to us. Leastways as it seems to our understanding.
But we had much discussion on this point after Mr. Kagi and Elijah’s disciples filled us in on the situation there.
According to Mr. Kagi the coalition of the armies of the East and North will need to act soon while they have the supplies and the strength.
The desalination plants in Babylon have been reduced to rubble. Though possessing a huge reserve they want to advance and capture their enemy’s before theirs is consumed.
Elijah’s disciples believe that the time is imminent and they desire to depart before their armies flood in.
Elijah had chosen three of his disciples to go to Babylon. They had acted on a suggestion he had made to them long before they had last parted from us. He had told them that the Spirit would nudge them to the task when the time was proper.
And when it had came to pass, at that self-same instant one was given a vision of Mr. Kagi. That disciple was with that worthy somewhere on the path behind them.
We dispatched the Captain and one of the disciples to bring them in.
We waited and waited. Through a long night. And when they arrived this morning even Tomas and Mawuli abandoned their lookout to come greet our old friend.
I was in the set apart place when Elijah entered. I could sense he had arrived to talk. But he patiently waited not wanting to interrupt.
For my part I didn’t want to be interrupted either. I was intent one more time to petition the Spirit to move on Mawuli’s behalf. My mind was losing its concentration, however, and I was straining to focus.
Suddenly the Spirit interrupted me with two words. “New moon.”
I was startled so I turned to Elijah and repeated the words.
He nodded, his lips compressed into a grim line.
“The next one is in ten days. From Tomas’s report we know Stan and Moglen missed the last one. We shall thwart this one too.”
Elijah has a bead on an explanation behind all our questions. He took me on a walk. Alone this time – across the entire cavern to the set apart place.
He posits that our movements and certain interactions with others had influenced the actions of the armies in question. In essence we kept the conflicts from escalating because the energies of one or the other was focused on us.
The Spirit has used us to hold the enemies apart until the fullness of time.
But once we were alone in the set apart place, far from listening ears, he disclosed the most harrowing details. The designs against Mawuli, he fears, will not only include his sacrifice but also some unnamable abuse.
We gathered last night to debrief one another. It is clear that Mei and Meesa have managed everything in the most harmonious fashion. Peace and contentment crown all their efforts.
And we shared the details of our adventures and the faithfulness of the Spirit towards us.
I marvel at how quickly things can settle into normalcy. Both for us who have been gone and for those who stayed. A welcome circumstance.
The Captain and Jezer again set out for the task that we had interrupted yesterday.
Elijah disappeared into the set apart place. I feel the same need but I have one other thing to do first.
Quasimo had asked my help with the drones. That done, I joined Elijah.
Conjecture is all we have as to the why of Mawuli’s departure. His parents, the Purser and Mary, had no inkling that he would do such a thing. Though they did note that he has grown quite independent.
It is my considered opinion that he would not have acted without first consulting the Spirit. But why he had not sought the wisdom of others for a confirmation has me puzzled.
As for myself I feel an overpowering desire to go up to Jerusalem to look for him.
Elijah, however, remains noncommittal. He will not budge an inch until summoned to do so.
Magwich has come to us today with the Raj twins and we allowed them to make the attempt.
We have arrived at the parting of the ways. The last trio of disciples is off to Jerusalem, resigned at last that Elijah will not be of their number and affirming our individual responsibilities to the Spirit.
The drone activity continues nil. Our watches throughout the day reported no one stirring anywhere. We have the main Damascus – Jerusalem road in sight and this total lack of people and vehicles is striking.
The four of us debated the merits of continuing on in the daylight and without resting. In the end we agreed to continue with our present plan.
In talking with Tomas and Reuben, there is excitement and anticipation about being with their friends again. I share the same feelings.
No answer yet. And we are still convinced of the need to wait upon the Spirit for direction. However, we did agree with Reuben to move around to the other side of the high place in order to be closer to the routes that will take us to the hiding place.
This we accomplished during those times Moglen was absent from before the altar. And none too soon. We had just settled in when Moglen reappeared, escorted by a drone.
It ascended above the altar and began circling the same.
Without warning it streaked out to the point where we had been and hovered there.
We held our breath until it slowly flew back to its station above the altar.
Watch This Space 