David Pekrul

Jason And The Five Kingdoms - Chapter Two



Posted: Wednesday, December 16, 2009

by David Pekrul

In order to understand the story, please read Chapter One first.

Chapter Two – The Place of Promise

Jason sat on the stump at the edge of the forest. “What has happened?" he wondered, “Have I just been going around in circles? Is this not the same stump I have sat on day after day, and is this not the same meadow where I have enjoyed the colours of the wildflowers and observed the grasshoppers, butterflies, and small animals?" It seemed to him as if the whole last day and the treacherous journey had been for nothing, yet, as he sat there pondering, he felt different. The feeling of loss didn’t seem as strong as it had before. Something definitely was different about this place and he had to find out what it was.

Leaving the forest and the meadow, he walked back into the town. I say he walked back, because this place seemed no different than the place he had left one day ago. He knew exactly where the town was, and when he arrived, it looked no different than where he had lived before. There on the corner was the house where he lived with his mother and father, yet it was not his mother and father that he saw in the yard. Just down the road was the meeting place, where the religious services were held, and where the Orator spoke of ‘The Place of Pain and Confusion’ and ‘The Kingdom of the Glories’.

Yes, it looked like the same place, but something was different. What was it? Then he knew what it was. It was the people, their attitude and spirit. They were happy and content; yes, really happy and content, not like those in “The Place of Loss". These people were genuinely happy.

As he stood there pondering these things, he was approached by one of the townspeople. “You’re new here, aren’t you?" they said. “Yes I am", said Jason, “but where is ‘here’?" “This is ‘The Place of Promise’" was the reply. “Come, let me take you to see the Father; he will explain this place to you."

The Father’s house stood atop a high hill. Out of the hill flowed a quiet stream bordered by lush and exquisite vegetation. Majestic trees also grew on each side of this stream, each bearing twelve crops of fruit, so that a fresh crop could be harvested each month. The leaves of these trees were used as medicine, for the healing of the body, mind and spirit.

The house was an enormous structure, covering the entire top of the hill. The colour of the house was an azure blue. It had large balconies, tall statuesque pillars and many, many windows. Each window was made out of a single gem. There were windows of jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, beryl, topaz and amethyst. When the sunlight hit the windows at the right angle, they blazed with coloured beams that spread across the hill and down the banks of the stream. It was an amazing sight.

Timidly, Jason followed his host up the hill and stood before the massive front door. He rang the bell and a sound like that of an angelic choir filled the air. He waited nervously and expectantly for the door to open.

Then he appeared, the one known as the Father. “Jason, I am so glad you have come; I have been expecting you." The Father explained that he had been watching Jason from the moment he had pushed his way through the thick brambles at the beginning of the narrow pathway and started his difficult journey towards the gates of the kingdom known as ‘The Place of Promise’.

“Jason, you have made a very courageous and wise decision in coming here," he continued. This is indeed a place of promise, many promises in fact. Please have a seat and I will tell you of the wonderful things I have in store for you. Jason sat at the Father’s feet and listened to the first promise. “Jason, I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." The father then went on to describe a beautiful, peaceful kingdom known as ‘The Kingdom of the Glories’.

At that moment, he quit listening to the other promises being given to him by the Father. All he could hear was the phrase being repeated, “I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." His mind was transported to what he could only imagine the ‘Kingdom of the Glories’ to be like. He imagined a kingdom of lights and vivid colours, even more beautiful than those of the wildflowers growing in the meadow; a place of peace and contentment, where the feeling of loss would no longer torment him.

“There are a few rules that must be followed in order to reach this kingdom," the Father was saying. Jason’s mind returned to the present moment and he heard the Father say, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength and your neighbour as yourself. Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have. In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." The Father spoke well on into the evening, telling Jason of the many things that were expected of him, if he was to enter the ‘Kingdom of the Glories". He ended by saying, “Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live a long and prosperous life in the land you are about to enter."

His mind was in a whirl. There was so much to remember and do. Was he capable? Did he have the willpower and strength to complete the task and stay faithful to the Father? Yes, he could do it; he had the strength. He committed there and then to follow the commandments of the Father, to be a good and faithful servant and eventually enter into the ‘Kingdom of the Glories’.

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It had been many years since Jason first entered the ‘Place of Promise’ and life had been good. The commandments had been difficult to follow at first, but became easier as time went on, or so it seemed.  Actually, he really took little notice of them.  He assumed he was following them as he had been instructed. He knew for sure that he had done many good works since he had arrived here, and he assumed that they would justify any shortcomings when it came to following the commandments to the letter. As time went on, he became full of pride. He believed he had gained much favour in ‘The Place of Promise’, and that his many good works had truly earned him his rightful place in ‘The Kingdom of the Glories’. With that thinking, he became restless and dissatisfied with the life he had been given in this present kingdom and he wanted more.

He returned once again to the stump at the edge of the forest, overlooking the wide meadow. His mind was restless. He relived all the years since he had come to this kingdom, examined all the good works he had done and believed in his heart that he deserved more than what had been promised. The ‘Kingdom of the Glories’ seemed like such a far off place, and he was not willing to wait. He wanted what he felt he had earned, and he wanted it now.

Jason was once again hiking and exploring the forest, but this time it was not to enjoy nature, but to find something or some place that would be deserving of his good works and upright living.
David Pekrul was born in New Westminster, B. C. Canada.

He wrote his first poem in February, 2004, as an Anniversary card for his wife, Linda. Being rather pleased by the results of his first attempt, he wrote a second one, then another and another. He soon realized that he was in love with words.

The pictures that his words paint may not always be pretty, but they are pictures worth viewing, for he writes about the world around him, whether they be things good, bad or otherwise. He also writes about family, nature, God and faith.

His first poetry book, "Parts Of The Sum Volume One" has just been published and can be found at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3145051

David makes his home in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies with his wife Linda and spoiled pup, Tiki.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Lorrie Davids
 2 years 156 days ago.
96 fans.
Your story is coming along well, David...but I do miss the poetry. Did I say that? You have converted me!
» left by David Pekrul 2 years 153 days ago.
70 fans.
I'll keep trying to write the poetry. Haven't had a lot of inspiration in that department lately
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