Here I am lost in the myriad of people in this valley - this valley of decision.I see frustration and lack of content on all their faces. A desire to be free, a desire for abundance, a desire to be in control but it appears there is no way of escape . Or is it that the demands of the freedom are too high? At the top of one of the hills around I see a sign "This way to freedom" it reads. My heart leaps for joy at the thought of a way out of this choking valley. I wonder how people have been able to feel comfortable in such uncomfortable surroundings. Even though there was a promise of freedom. I advance towards the sign and I feel a hand tug my shirt. I turn and see an old, wrinkled face telling me to give up the move towards freedom. I yank my hand away and run towards the sign before fear made me change my mind.
At the top of the hill, I discover it is not a hill but a cliff. The drop goes on and I cant even see the bottom of the cliff. A couple of miles ahead is another cliff. This cliff is different though. Lots of people, dressed in better clothes than the rags I was wearing. An horizon of beautiful sunsets, breath-taking landscapes, eye-popping architecture, all the things I had always dreamed of. Between me and this new life was this chasm, this space and there were no bridges. I took a deep sigh and knew why many had refused to leave this valley. What was I to do?
On the other side, a sign appeared. "Jump", it said. The old man suddenly appeared and he pointed to the sign and began to laugh. His laughter questioned my trust in such a flimsy sign seeing the obvious folly of such an instruction. But deep within me I knew the sign was true. Having seen the promise of this new life, how could I return to this horrid valley? I slept there, at the top of that cliff, that night. Sights of the brightness that enveloped the plain before me lulled me to sleep. But even with that, I couldn't sleep for long hours as I kept waking up gazing at the world before me. The promise of a better life.
After what seemed like many days I knew I had to make a choice. A choice to forget this life before me and go back to the valley, back to the darkness. I couldn't think of going back to that life and I settled it.
This new life had to be mine and whatever it took, I would go for it. I looked up and said a prayer,
Father, I see the instruction You have given. I know that Your wisdom surpasses that of man so I will trust in You.
I'm about to jump and there are two things that would happen. When I jump, I will fall but You will provide a cushion for me at the bottom of this cliff so I wont be hurt. The second thing is this, and that is what I pray that You do, when I jump, You will give me wings that will take me over this wide expanse of space and land me into this promise of a new life.
With this much said, I walked back a few meters, preparing for a long jump. Sure that I had enough room to run before my jump, I drew in a long and deep breathe. Adrenaline pumped into my system and my heart worked at double capacity. This was definitely a death jump, the man shouted. But my mind was made up. Right now, the ball was now in God's court. My life raced before my eyes as the breeze blew against my face. I ran towards the cliff, my eyes focused on the beautiful city before me.It seemed like forever but I got finally got to the cliff's edge and I took the leap and then closed my eyes...
I opened my eyes. I was lying flat on my back. I was soaked in sweat. I turned to my side as I hear sounds of soft breathing beside me. Another reality hit me. I was in my bedroom. It was my wife's breathing that I was hearing beside me.
