The Light of Love

There once was a man and a woman who lived in a vast land.

They were friends of old, but the winds of change had flung them east and west to the corners of the map. While they could not see each other, they tried to send messages in order to encourage each other from a far.

One day, a wise woman appeared before each of them.

“A man from your past shall return,“ the first said to the woman. A vision flashed before her eyes of the friend of old.

“This is just wishful thinking” she said. “But I believe our elder has spoken true, so I shall wait faithfully.”

The woman who approach the man said, “The one whom your heart longs for exists. She will arrive in her White Chariot, and in one year from now you shall be married.” 

The man was thrilled and kept his eyes peeled. There was one other element to the prophecy however, that Light and Love have a sense of humor, and that the man would laugh along the way.

And indeed, Love does have a sense of humor. First, while they did not know it yet, Love would come from the most surprising place, but it could not be rushed or forced, for Love must come in its own time. Secondly, many chariots began approaching the man, all of them white! But in his heart he could not find any sense of definitive proof. He must be patient and wise, and trust the journey.

So the man tested each chariot rider, searching for the Light of Love. His heart indeed longed for Love and he believed in the promise, so he did not want to be blind and miss, nor hasty and rush. All the while, the woman waited faithfully, trusting in the Word.

During this time, an illness ravaged the world. Millions of people perished, and the vast land lived in fear. In this fear there was much fighting. Best of friends turned on each other over differences of opinion (for little was known and nothing was believed). The fear was so great that all the people in the land were told to stay in their houses. How would our friends find Love when confined to the home?

Sitting on the roof looking at the stars, the man kept his eyes peeled, and the ready woman waited faithfully.

The year progressed and time melted away. Our friends worked hard for their peoples, loved their families, and listen to the wind.

There came a day when a man thought he had found a possible chariot. He tested the rider in every way he could think of, and still was uncertain. For the fear of the land had also begun to creep inside him tearing him apart and blinding him, for the year was running out.

“This seems off,“ he thought, “but it is what was promised and am I being unfaithful or shortsighted?“ His mind wrestled back-and-forth trying to find wisdom.

The old woman appeared again to the man. “You have been cursed.“ She said “There is a creature in your gut tearing you apart.“ And she was right.

She breathed on his eyes and all became clear. A blindness was lifted and the creature was banished. He realized immediately that he had yet to find the true rider, and felt a peace beyond understanding which allowed him to trust the story again. He repented from this wrong of trusting fear and doubt, and renewed his faith in the promise. For faith is hope in the things not seen.

Meanwhile, the woman remained true, but she had let go of the promise and ceased to expect it’s fulfillment. She choose to just be and let come what may and not actively remember her vision. 

Then, eleven months after the prophecies, a Wedding came!

The man’s best friend was getting married back in the land of the woman, where the two of old had once become friends.

The man journeyed across the plains, over the mountains, and passed great lakes. Before leaving, he sent the woman a message asking if she would come with him to the wedding so they could celebrate the couple and continue to encourage each other. The day of the wedding came, and the man waited for the woman to take him to the ceremony.

Lo and behold she arrived in her own White Chariot. He did not know that she had such a ride, and she did not know of his prophecy. Realization crashed over him like a tidal wave that she was the woman spoken of. His heart burst into extreme colors that he had never known. 

But it was not yet time. The curse had tried to weasel itself into his world and the man had work to do in order to repair the garden of his soul.

So too, was the woman’s life changing. Her steadfastness to the community was so profound that she was asked to become an elder though she herself was still young.

Just shy of one month later, the woman and another friend tried to make the journey across the vastness to see the man and his famous mother, for his home was beautiful and his mother the most loving and wise of elder woman. She wanted to seek the mother’s advice if she too should become an elder of her own people.

But then a wild storm delayed them.

But the woman fought through the storm, and because of the delay arrived exactly one year to the day after the prophecy was given to the man he would be married.

In a quiet moment, the man asked if she would love him and receive his love for the rest of their lives. And she immediately said yes.

And they did! They survived the plague and summoned all of their beloved to gather and celebrate the Light of Love together. A lightning storm came, and the angels crashed their applause of the union and rain blessed the soil. 

Once the storm cleared, all gathered a top the tower in the center of the man’s town, for the woman had decided to adopt it as their own. Surrounded by their beloved, they swore vows to always shine their light as if they were forever on that hill unhidden. 

It was thus that the man and woman ceased to be friends torn apart across the land and became one. It was thus that each prophecy was fulfilled. It was thus that once more the Light of Love showed its great power, mercy, and beauty.