****
With angry clouds streaking across the sky, Mr. Grief awoke with dawn’s first light as was his custom. His mind was made up to find this man people called Rabbi rain or no rain. As so often his custom, his mind wanders down memory lane wondering when it all went wrong. When did his life begin to disintegrate? Shaking himself loose, he mutters, “Not today Grief, not today.”
Showering quickly, he steps out of his house and almost unconsciously, glances towards Salvation Street. It had become habit. Everything looks better over there he thinks. With a fresh resolve, he enters his car and drives off to find the man they called Rabbi.
****
After driving a long while and nearly having an incident with the cops, he finally locates this Rabbi. It had taken him all day to track him down and so he took a moment to collect himself now that he had finally found him.
He is struck by the large crowd that seem to surround this man, he must be an enigma he concludes.
“…blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…” That voice, he was certain he had heard it before. All of his life, that voice had prodded him, pushed him and encouraged him when all he wanted doing was to give up and die.
“…blessed are they who hunger…” But I know this voice! Grief says again in his heart and this time, it is with conviction he thinks it.
He hasn’t so much as gotten a glimpse of this man called Rabbi but already, he could sense a change washing over him, like cool cool water on an overheated body. He most certainly would enjoy talking to this man but first, he had to find a way to have audience with him, he wouldn’t want anyone recognising him. Finding a cool shade just far enough from the crowd but close enough to hear the man’s words, he waits, carefully keeping his face averted.
***
The Rabbi goes on with his teachings seemingly oblivious to the little man standing just beyond the edge of the crowd but he is very much aware of him and had anticipated his coming. This Pharisees he thinks, they will not hear and even when they hear, they will not believe. Yet, they leave him not alone. Let him wait.
***
The last stragglers finally leave and Grief rushes to seek audience with the young Master. Master? He stops short, where had that come from? He must really be tired he thinks. He stands before the Rabbi, he looks younger than he had imagined. They look at themselves as if asking, “What next?”
That was actually what Grief was thinking, now that he had come, what next? He suddenly finds that he cannot look the man in the eye. He feels so sad and tired and ashamed. Get a grip on yourself man, you are way older than he is.
“Master,” he finally croaks out. That word again. “I have heard that you have a solution to everything. I have a problem and I need you to help me.” He went on to pour his heart out to this young man called Rabbi, his fears, anxieties, worries, his fights with Mrs Bile, his desire to move to Salvation Street and very recently, his guilt. He just couldn’t stop, it seemed a dam had been opened. By the time he was done, he was surprised to find that he was crying and the young man was still listening, his composure oozing patience and love.
“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
That sounded familiar, Grief was sure he had come across that before but where? The young man called Rabbi wasn’t done.
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Grief is crushed, he does not understand these words but surely they mean something? “But Master,” at this point, it no longer feels weird calling him that. “How does that help me claim residence on Salvation Street?”
The young man looks at him ever so lovingly and says, “Go home and ponder these things.”
Grief walks slowly back to his car. Admittedly, the young man called Rabbi had not said anything about his transition to Salvation Street, but he could sense that everything will be alright and for the first time in a long while, there’s a spring in Mr Grief’s steps.
No. 1 Salvation Street, that has a nice ring to it he thinks.
***The end.
Photo Credit: Jesusdaily.com
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