The morning had crossed the sky like a perfect rainbow. The weather was warm and even the dew on the flowers was drying. In fact, it was hot enough that my friend, Elijah, phoned earlier that morning and requested we meet at a local church to go rollerblading. I must say, however, that it had been years since I had rollerbladed. But, none the less, inspite of my lack of experience, I agreed to meet him and go.
Now as the day ambered on in slow progression, like the rythmic ticking of the clock, I found myself in a state of total boredom. Being unmotivated to do anything else, I chose to venture down to the church, before the time I was to meet Elijah.
So, I walked. The hill was gradual from the house, and beautiful views of green, forested hillside attracted the attention of my eye. They rolled in magnificent splendor through autumn colored valleys. There, of course, was the house on my left. The old, abandoned mansion, taken by vines and bushes, like a spider had woven a web of greenery across the face of this house. Since, I had passed this house hundreds of times, I thought nothing of it, and continued on, forgetting about it until much later in the day.
At the church, a large congregation in the downtown area of the city, I managed to make my way inside the foley and back toward a youth hall. There, in the afluent and prospering church, I came across a well-known pastor at the church. With him was two of his own co-pastors. Now, being as socially gracious to these men as possible, I inquired as to their business.
"A concert!" Cried the pastor, pointing to a small add of his in the local magazine. I could sense the irritation in his voice. As soon as I did, he said, "It's too small."
He was right. The add was inbetween another add to the church, and a coupon for a local restaraunt. He quickly gestured to me and asked, "What do you think?"
"I don't know, it is pretty small."
Again he looked at me, and smiled. "Well, we can fix it later." He said. "We've got to go."
When I was about to ask where, Elijah walked through the doors and grabbed me, saying, "there you are." As quickly as he'd come we were on our way out the door, and putting on our rollerblades. After only a moment we were heading down the street. We hadn't gotten around the corner when someone came rushing over on rollerblades too. A stout man with a kind smile. I got a better glance. It was a good friend of mine and a related cousin.
He stood there starring and then finally spoke, "Can I come along?"
Elijah and I both shrugged our shoulders, as if to say why not.
So, up this city hill we began. At first, it wound its way through the conjestion of busy street corners and high offices. But after a time, I found the bustling streets had transformed into quiet countryside. I was enchanted by the solitude of our ride. We were deep in the wooded forest above the city. Twisting and winding our way up an even steeper hill. The trees loomed above us like skyscrapers, and because of their thick foliage, little light passed through their covering. But the light that did seep through danced hypnotically across the air, like candles flickering about in the wind.
About this time, I came out of my amazement with the forest and noticed an ever growing group of people riding bikes, rollerblading, walking and coming up the hill in all manners of methods. It appeared that they were heading toward an opening in the steep hill. A cavern!
As I got closer to the opening I stopped. To my side was a deep shaft that seemed to fall into an endless abyss. As I looked at it in awe I lost my balance and nearly tumbled into the hole, but Elijah caught my fall, at which time my cousin piped up and said, "That's the old mine shaft, don't want to fall into that. Let's go on up there." He pointed to the opening in the hill, and to all the people that were entering.
My friends weren't hesitant in the slightest bit to enter in. So, we followed behind the group of people and waited our turn to enter the narrow way in to the cave. Inside the cavern, it opened up and a long pathway could be seen dug deeper into the edge of the hill. Lights had been spread across the roof of the cave so the people coming in could see. And as I walked further in, I noticed a bright light ahead, through a door. I came closer, entering it, suddenly the room expanded, rising two and three stories high; a magnificent attrium, with beautiful paintings on the ceiling and carvings on the wall. Here the crowds conjested. There were rows of pews. All were filled except the one row to my left.
Behind me I heard Elijah say hello. When I turned to see who it was, to my amazement, it was the pastors we had seen down at the church (but what were they doing here?). They shook hands and then filed into the pew to my left. Elijah followed and sat down beside them filling up the rest of the seats. Suddenly, I realized I had no where to sit. So, as awkward as it was, I stood in the isle, as people tried to bussle around me.
I looked to the man on my left and asked what this place was. He was older and had aged hands with wide wrinkles and deep scars. He replied to me in a kind way.
"This is a church!" He rubbed his chin. "It was built many years ago, when I was a boy." He leaned back in the seat, thinking about the past. "You see, along time ago, ages and ages, a boy stumbled into a deep shaft outside of his mansion high on the hill. The one that is now overgrown with bushes and vines. He almost lost his footing and stumbled into the abyss, when his sister pushed her way into the shaft and grabbed him. But although the event was certainly frightful, the boy showed no fear. He quickly responded to the girl that the large cavern would be their hiding place. As they looked around, it became clear that it was a mine shaft with chains and ropes holding pullies and wheel barrows high into the air of the cavern. Over the years his hard working hands have turned it into this underground church."
"Who comes here?" I asked.
The old man looked at me with a stare that penetrated. "Oh. . . ! There are too many to seat in here. They come from all over. That's why, as you can see, it is a never ending service. To accomodate all the people." He smiled.
With that, the old man stood to his feet and walked down the isle, leaving me his seat. . . . . .
Posts
