Читать книгу A Hero's Heart - Joseph David Hightower - Страница 16

After traveling all day, Heru was exhausted. He had been busy all day, he had helped put out two fires, helped to move three wagons and find one lost yack. He slowly pulled his pack from his back, still unsure how he had come to have the pack in the first place, but grateful none the less. He laid it on the ground and stretched his tired body out and laid his head-on top of the pack, starring up into the dusky sky. As he fell into a deep sleep, he was once again pulled back to the refreshing waterfall. This was fast becoming his favorite spot, for it was here that his strength was renewed, his tired body was healed, and his hungry young spirit fed. He breathed in the mist rising from the pool as the waterfall poured down. He dipped his hand in and took a long purifying drink of the cold, crisp, clean water. He could feel it being absorbed into every pore of his body finding every spot that needed healing and healing it at once. He knew that Yeshua would be there soon, so he sat down crossed legged next to the water and waited.

Before long, the door of the cabin opened and Yeshua stepped out. He looked out at Heru and said, “You could have entered the cabin at any time, you are one of my many brothers and you are always welcome.”

“I didn’t want to intrude on you Master, I’m not worthy to even cross your threshold.” replied Heru.

“You are a child of my Father and as such you are entitled to the Father through the Son at any time.” Yeshua said with a smile. “There is much for you to still learn little brother, yet I will send helpers to you. In fact, you will meet the first one before you even see the sun rise. The rest, however, will not be so easily recognized, one will even need your forgiveness and patience. Take heart my brother, I know you will not fail because I know your heart! It is now time for you to wake up and continue your journey. Look to the vines just up the rode and rescue a good friend of mine.” finished Yeshua.

The cottage and the waterfall began to fade from Heru’s vision and as he rubbed his eyes he looked up and noticed the stars shining brightly in the night sky and realized that he was now awake. He arose and gathered up his pack and put out his small camp fire and started down the road, looking for the vines that Yeshua had spoken of. It was only about five or ten minutes into his walk that Heru began to hear someone calling for help. As he rounded a corner the sight that was in front of him caused him to come to an abrupt stop. It was an almost comical sight. An old man hanging upside down completely tangled in some Kudzu vines.

“Please, if you know my master, I beg of you to help me down. Please don’t pass an old man by.” screamed the old man.

Heru was so busy laughing that it took him a moment to pull himself together. “I mean you no disrespect young man, but if you could please stop laughing and help this old man down, I would gladly appreciate it!” the old man said in a spluttering voice.

“Do not worry old man, I am going to help you. After all, Yeshua told me you were here.” Heru said on a laugh.

He withdrew a small blade from his pack and began the arduous task of cutting through the thick vines, after several minutes, the old man fell to the ground with a thick sounding thud!

“Ouch!!!” cried the old man, “You could have been a bit gentler in the handling of an old man!”

The old man climbed to his feet shaking the dirt from his already filthy clothing. Looking at this old man, Heru just shook his head. This was not what he had expected of a guide, but this was the friend that Yeshua had spoken of, of this Heru was certain. The old man appeared to be about 5’, bald head, except for the two tuffs of snowy white hair coming out from above each ear, a full beard that at one time probably had been as white as the tuffs on his head, but now was a disgusting gray color, that reached his chest, small wire rimmed glasses, and to top everything off he was wearing a rust colored tunic cinched in the middle with a piece of hemp rope.

“Thank you for your help young man, but I’m not sure of the statement that you spoke of right before you cut me down. You said that Yeshua sent you? If this is true, tell me than, how does one to come to the Holy Father?” the old man asked.

Heru thought for a moment before replying, “I was told that one could reach the Father only through the Son.”

The old man sized up Heru for a few more minutes, “Well, I guess you are the one that He told me was coming.” He extended his hand out to Heru, “You can call me Ojiisan. I am from the coastal villages.”

Heru reached out and shook his hand, “You are a long way from home Ojiisan. Why were you tangled up in those vines?”

“I must confess young master, that I threw myself up into those vines.” He said. “I awoke one morning to the voice of the Father telling me to start walking, after I took that first step, I became unaware of my surroundings. That is until I reached these vines. I jumped into them because I was told to wait here for a hero to come and release me from the vines.” Ojiisan finished.

“Did you say Hero?” asked Heru. “My name is Heru!”

“Well, Heru it looks as if our separate paths are now one!” chuckled Ojiisan.

“I still do not know where it is that I am going, but I would love to have some company, so let’s get moving old man.” Heru said as he reached down for his pack.

“Just one moment, young man.” “One should always pray before starting out on a new path!” exclaimed Ojiisan.

The old man reached out and grabbed Heru by the hand and bowed his head and began to pray. After a few moments, he lifted his head and said, “Alright now we can go.” “We are to head towards those mountains there in the distance.” Ojiisan said as he lifted his hand and pointed to the west.

Heru looked out at the direction that Ojiisan had pointed, it looked to be a very long, hard, cold, and dangerous journey. Putting it simply he did not want to go in that direction, but he had been taught his entire life that you must respect your elders and that you never refused and elder’s request. He looked again out at the distant mountains and with a helpless shrug urged Ojiisan to climb onto his shoulders for faster travel.

“So, Ojiisan, tell me of your way, your life.” Said Heru. “Where is your family and what kind of work did you do before you were called to start this journey?”

Ojiisan thought for a moment gathering his thoughts together before beginning. A slight feeling of embarrassment of his past mistakes tried to overtake him, but he prayed and as he prayed he could feel the comforter surrounding him and giving him the strength to tell his tale. With a deep cleansing breath, he began his story, traveling, it seemed, to another time, another place.