THE GOLDEN CHALICE
By
-Daniel-
©
Though we be apart,
we are but a heartbeat away.
I have come to share a Truth
upon this blessed day.
Three lifetimes ago lived a man who tended his Master's
vineyard from sunrise to sunset.
Joyless were his days, endless his toil and dreamless
were his nights.
And while digging in the vineyard, he broke his hoe
upon a buried stone.
He cursed the stone that he clawed from the earth
but then discovered an ancient chalice encrusted
by the ages of neglect.
But as he held the goblet in his bleeding hands,
he saw not the beauty hidden beneath the crust
and stain and thought only within himself:
'Of what use is this discarded relic to me?
I have not the time to clean and polish and
I have long since lost the desire to sip from it,
the Master's wine.
Oh why did this not come to me in my youth
that I might have enjoyed the sweet taste
held therein?'
And with the tears of a wasted life staining
his cheek, did he throw the cup back into the
depths of the earth and went his way in
Sorrow.
Two lifetimes ago lived a man who tended his Master's
vineyard from sunrise to sunset.
And his days were spent in dreams that eased the
burden of his labor and his nights were filled with
longing for that which he did not understand.
And while digging in the vineyard, he found the
ancient chalice and as he held it in his anxious
hands, he thought within himself:
'At last, here is the treasure of my dreams
and the key to my future.'
As sunset fell, he went rushing home with
his treasure, and spent the evening cleaning
and polishing the golden chalice.
Only the outside did he tend and when it sparkled,
he placed it upon a high shelf for all to admire.
And the people came from near and far to marvel
at the delicate workmanship of this treasure
found and its owner was exceedingly pleased.
But late in the night of his deepest longing did
this man break into his Master's wine cellar and
steal the finest vintage and without remorse did
he pour the Master's wine into the chalice and
press it to his lips.
The taste was not the sweetness of wine but of
burning bile and it caused him to curse the wine
and the chalice and the longing of his dreams.
And in the darkness, before dawn's first light,
did he return to the vineyard, buried the chalice
within the depths of the earth and went his way in
Sorrow.
One lifetime ago lived a man who tended his Master's
vineyard from sunrise to sunset.
And his days were given to quiet contemplation that
turned his mundane labor into a wondrous joy and
his nights were spent in selfless prayer that others
might know the blessing of Love.
And while digging in the vineyard, he found the
ancient chalice and as he held it in his loving hands
he blessed the goblet, the artisan who had fashioned it
and the secret dreams held within.
For twelve years did he reverently polish
every bit of this cup without telling another
of the treasure he had found.
And upon an evening of quiet reflection did the Master
knock upon his door and from the winery did the
Master bring to the servant his finest wine.
The Master poured his gift into the golden chalice
and the servant thankfully tasted of its flavor.
Held within his humble hands were the Eternal Secrets
of the Ages and at the bottom of the chalice appeared
seven precious jewels of shining brilliance.
The Master smiled, the servant smiled,
and they went their way together in
Peace.