THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT
By
-Daniel-
©
Though we be apart,
we are but a heartbeat away.
I have come to share a Truth
upon this blessed day.
There once lived a mighty ship's captain named Neriah,
who had sailed the seven seas, mastering the element of power
hidden beneath the deep and foreboding blue.
A cautious man was he, who had never lost a ship nor a single
seaman to the depths of a watery grave, for it was said that
Neriah never slept while putting out to sea;
And that known unto him was the location of every lighthouse
upon any coast that he had ever neared.
And Neriah's fellow mariners loved and trusted him with their
very lives, for they knew that their captain had attuned
his awareness to the One that was master to the element of Water
and all was well.
But during the blackness of night, came the storm from which
there was no escape.
And terror began to seize the hearts of all, save the captain
as he alone stood upon the deck peering out into the blinding
fury of the storm...
...searching, ever searching for the lighthouse that he knew would
keep them safe from the hidden perils of that rocky coast.
But no light was to be seen, no horn was ever heard as the captain's
ship crashed upon the rocks and sank beneath the thunderous waves.
Seventy and seven went down to meet their fate and now remains
only one left to save.
To the shore was he delivered, the captain of this sunken ship,
and in the darkness did he curse the element that saved and
slain upon that very night.
There was remorse deep within his heart as he struggled to
understand why and his single wish was to join the men who had
only sailed to die.
In despair did he cry aloud unto the heavens...
"Why, my God, oh why did You choose to save the one that could not
save his fellow seafaring men?"
And with the first slivers of dawn came the answer to his anguish,
as he lifted his eyes unto the rocky cliffs above.
There, high aloft, stood the lighthouse he had so desperately
sought in the blackness of that night...
...abandoned by its keeper, devoid of its life giving light
did it stand...
...the fallen savior of seafaring men.
Up the rocky bluff did this captain climb, determined to know
the truth of his ship's demise,
but as he stood before the lifeless tower, only the moaning wails
of those who had perished filled this captain's heart.
And as he ascended the spiraled staircase did he see the ghostly
reflection of every man who had died upon that night;
Aye, and at every step did he pause to greet that mariner's spirit,
calling out to him by name.
Each spirit answered by pleading with Neriah not to let them die in vain,
but through the tears of his regret could the captain only vow...
"Never, shall I abandon thee."
...as he made his way to the tower's top, intent upon throwing his life away,
joining his crew in the depths of their watery grave.
But as he entered the watch room, he found himself in the presence
of his life's Holy Four.
Ahead stood the Guardian Angel, blocking his path to the balcony of Death.
To his right stood the Archangel, whose element was Fire,
to his left stood the Archangel, whose element was Air;
And behind stood the Archangel, whose element was Water...
...the One who had guided him, all his seafaring years.
In agony did Neriah fall to his knees, unable to speak the confusion
of his heart and afraid to face this moment of truth.
It was then that the Guardian Angel came near and softly spoke...
"Neriah, the time has come for you to choose...
...to take your life,
falling victim unto the rocky element of Earth;
or...
...to give your life in willing sacrifice
and come to know the meaning of your name."
Thus it was, that Neriah faced his darkest moment, choosing the
sacrifice of life that the seventy and seven should not die in vain.
And he worked with the first Archangel to understand the element of Fire,
lighting the wick of the Argand Lamp for all to see.
He worked with the second Archangel to understand the element of Air,
sounding the horn through the foggy mist for all to hear.
And with the third Archangel did he watch over the sea that he
would never sail again, safeguarding all who neared the perils of
the earth's rocky coast...
...forever protecting them from their own demise.
The years came and went as Neriah learned to master the elements
of Fire, Air and Water to put asunder the destructive power of Earth.
And while on the balcony, as he peered off into the vast calm of a
summer's night, did the Guardian Angel come and speak unto him...
"Neriah, my brother, you are now master of the four elements...
...Earth, Fire, Water and Air.
Do you now know the meaning of your name?"
And Neriah, the once mighty sea captain, answered...
"Aye,
God is the lamp of my life,
for God spreads Light abroad.
And forever shall I be...
...the Keeper of the Light."