Life

Written in 2011 for a short story assignment

The weasels were jumping around, playing chase with the squirrels on the open field; a crystal-clear river separated the open field and a forest of majestic trees. Even from afar you could see beautifully colored fishes swimming in the river, some weasels and squirrels have made their way to the river, watching the exotic fishes intently and curiously. Suddenly, one squirrel made the decision to dive into the river and the others soon followed. They did not swim with their heads up, there was no need too. This place is different, life dominates.

Sitting on a hill, Selena gazed at the beauty the Creator had made in this eternal home. There are many more places that are greater in beauty to be explored, but for now she was where she chose to be. She then saw a man who was painting intently on a 10’x12’ canvas. The canvas stand is gold and intricately designed. He had a paintbrush between his teeth, another on his right hand. There was another man on the scene who sat down under a tree planted by the river, engrossed in a thick book; he turned the pages of the book at a speedy pace.

She observed that there were a pile of books beside him.

She heard him call out, “Hey Nate, are you done?”

“Almost…” his friend, Nate, replied.

“Let’s go eat!” said Jesse, the one who was reading. He put down his book, got up and walked towards his painting friend, Nate. There is no need to worry about the stack of books he left by the tree, it would still be there when he returns.

Jesse Williams has a toned body, sandy brown hair, aqua eyes and when he smiles you would not fail to notice his dimples. His friend-Nate, however, is a little shorter than he is. He is the owner of a Greek nose, a set of inquiring brown eyes and neatly trimmed brown hair.

There is one thing that you need to know about this place: there is no need for you ask for a person’s name. Somehow, you know; even if you’ve never seen or met him or her before…you just know. It’s one of the wonders of this place!

Selena started down the hill.

“Hullo there, Selena!” Jesse greeted when the three of them met at the crossroad.

“What do you think of this place?” Nate inquired.

“Oh, Heaven is awesome! It’s a dream come true, I’ve waited 18 years of my earth life to be here forever!”

Selena replied. “What about you guys? What do you think? What’s your story?”

“Well, join us for food at the Lavender and we’ll tell you our story” said Jesse.

Soon after they walked past a mass open field of lavender they arrived at a little English cottage. Roses clung to the walls of the cottage like clinging vines, and fragrances emitted from the roses and lavender blended sweetly. They walked to the side of the cottage that led to a garden where desserts were served; they asked for a jug of lemonade and carrot cake with lemon frosting. Then Nate and Jesse’s story began to unfold.

“Jesse and I grew up together,” Nate began. “My grandfather inherited a forest of sugar maple trees from his father and Jesse’s family owned a farm a little downhill from my gramps’ cottage. During summer and winter holidays, when my family would visit my gramps we’d spend time with the Williams as well. The children played outdoors during summer while the adults chatted amongst themselves. When winter arrived, we’d get the privilege of watching my grandfather work with the maple trees. We’d even get to taste fresh syrup!”

By now their jug of lemonade and carrot cake were served to them.  The waiter placed a glass and a plate in front of them each, and poured the lemonade into the glasses half-filled with ice cubes. Then he cut the carrot cake and put a slice on their plates. They nodded at the waiter in appreciation.

“I went to live with my gramps when I was orphaned at seven.” Nate continued, “I was reserved, seven years old and oblivious about death. I thought my parents and little sister didn’t want me and abandoned me.”            

Then Jesse said, “I was happy that he came, so the verynextday I went over to his gramps’ and asked him out to play. He didn’t want to. So I invited myself into his gramps’ cottage. I would read and talk to him but he would be silent the whole time. I even wondered whether he turned deaf. Three days, it took him three days to finally speak to me! Hahahah!”  The trios then took a sip from their glasses.

“Because of my reserved personality, my grandparents had me take up viola lessons from the Jesse’s uncle. ‘A medium of expression’ I overheard my grandparents. Our weekends were spent mostly in the woods when we grew older. Exploring, reading, or playing duets. It is a whole new world out there in the woods, the atmosphere is different. Ah, the sweet smell of maple, wood, and fallen leaves.” Nate reminisced while putting a spoonful of carrot cake into his mouth.

“Hmm…all that music, did you guys play swordsmen or fighting?” Selena asked.

“Ohhh yess, we did, being boys.” Jesse replied with a chuckled.

“Branches, sticks, whatever we can found or our imaginative minds invented. Once, we pretended the bows of our musical instruments were swords…….that was the first and the last time we used them.” Jesse recounted.

The two guys laughed, looked at each other then said in unison: “Hey, let’s do that again sometime!”

 “Hahahah…We had costumes as well, from old clothes in Jesse’s attic. Hahah…and we pretended whatever we wanted to be-knights…”

“Kings, princes,”

“Commander…”

“The years went by quickly and soon we found ourselves going our own separate ways…education. We did not want to leave, but our elders insisted that we did for our education. ‘Make us proud’ they said, as if all those while they were not proud of us. Hahah! I entered the university and majored in architecture in a different state while Nate got a scholarship to major in Agriculture and Arts in Paris. Then somehow we lost contact.” 

“So then, how did the two of you meet again?” Selena queried.

“Eight years later, when I was preparing the launch of my art book in London. An agriculture art book; watercolor paintings of flowers and trees I studied. Jesse was also in London because of a project. Here’s where it got interesting…”

Jesse leaned forward and whispered, “We met in the elevator.”

There was a burst of laughter from Nate and Jesse. Selena stared at them, “aaannnddd….what’s so funny about it?”

Finally, Nate answered, “Because of what took place,” trying to control his laughter.

“You see, I wasn’t at my best when we met in the elevator……it was the most embarrassing moment of my earth life.”

“This was what happened: We stayed in the same hotel but on different floors. When the elevator’s door opened, I saw a guy in his towel. The look on his face when he saw me was epic, but weird enough, he winked at me. On our journey down, I can’t help not to stare; I was amused. Also, he looked familiar.

The guy couldn’t take it and said, “What you lookin’ at?” then I told him that he looked familiar.

“No. no. no. No.  I don’t know you. You don’t look familiar.”

So I remained silent. Then in a split second, it dawned on me. “JESSE!”

“I did not appear wrapped in a towel on purpose. I was locked out of my hotel room when I checked who rang the doorbell.” Jesse informed, shaking his head.

"Hahah...it was the time of your life!"

"Indeed," Jesse grinned to himself.

"We exchanged contacts and met the next day. Here’s what happened,” said Nathan, and with a flick of his finger a screen appeared before them; Selena saw that the two guys were in a café in deep conversation…

“

Okaaay, Nate. Let’s play catechism.”

“Wheert?”

Jesse ignored Nate and went on, “Do you believe in life after death? I think, I think, that the belief that people would cease to exist after death is intriguing…or reincarnation for that matter…but uh, even at the end of the reincarnation cycle…ultimately people…still…cease to be nothing.”

 “Intriguing? Hmph…I think they may have misinterpreted the belief. Karma, sin. Buddha was trying to explain the seriousness of sin; that no matter how much good works we did to outweigh our own sin, there’s no use. It’s as if an angel is given the chance to sweep the dust off an enormous chunk of gold ONCE…a year. The gold signifying sin.”

 “Seriously. That can’t be true. Did you learn all that from your Masters?”

“Uh-huh. Nooope, reading. Go discover it for yourself. It won’t take you long since you can speed read.”

Jesse then looked at Nate for some with eye contact, looking a little annoyed he asked, “What is life to you? What is the whole point of life?”

When Nathan said nothing, Jesse continued, “What do we work so hard for? A better standard of living? To fill our stomachs? Pleasure? There seems to be more to life than these. Have you not wondered about it? Life, for urban people, seems to be about being well educated to get a better life and job. Finding the love of your life to raise a family, and pay for their children’s education. Have grandchildren; so routinic. If life is about gaining wealth, material things, and status then life is meaningless when one dies. I’ve got a feeling we were created for something more. Ultimately, all would be summoned by death. Regardless of one’s status, wealth, and power.”

“Wow, you’ve given a lot of thought about it. You said created. We were created for something more. Then I guess we must look to our Creator for the answers. A watch would have to go to its watchmaker to seek its function.”

“Hmm…Okey. Perhaps I will seek His face tonight.” There was a sense of sarcasm in Jesse’s tone.

"Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless!’ You sounded exactly like Solomon, just that the present scenario is better than his. He was disappointed to a greater extend. Achievements, power, constructions, treasures, pleasures, and he denied nothing his heart desired. He tried everything under the sun but what did he conclude? Fear God, and keep His commandments. For it is the whole duty, of man."

“I think otherwise. I think we are no better. To know is one thing, but to understand is another thing. What did Solomon mean - fear God? The Ten-Commandments is IMPOSSIBLE! INhumane. Who could keep all of that? Who other than God himself? What more if we break just one of it, we are already considered lawbreakers. God is such a joker. What a joke man!”

“Fear of God comes by knowing who He is and His ways; knowing that we will be held accountable. It probably came as a result of His love for us. We love him because He first loved us; sending His only Son to die for the sins of mankind. We desire to obey and please him, and to keep His commandments because we love Him, just like the relationship with spouses. Concerning the Ten-Commandments; what if the Ten-Commandments was given just so that we humans would be conscious of sin? To show that we need Jesus. Where there is no law there is no transgression. But all of us have conscience; even if there is no law we still would know the basic right and wrong.”

Nathan continued, “We're justified by faith. God does not declare us righteous because we observe the law, if He does, faith has no value. Unless our righteousness surpasses that of the meticulous Pharisees and teachers of the law, we can't enter into the kingdom of heaven. But our human righteousness are like filthy rags to Him, no matter how righteous we appear or claim to be. Howeverr, if we have Jesus in our lives, we have his righteousness. It's not about us. It's all about Him. We can never enter heaven by our own righteousness. Jesus is the only way, truth and life. No one goes to the Father except through Him. He came to save the sinners, the lost, the outcast, the abandoned, and those who need the unfailing love of God. To give them hope and a future with Him. It is the sick who needs a doctor.

“He may say He is the only way to life, there should be some short cut. Well, if He created the universe, the earth, and treasure the relationship He had with us, He sure won’t let us spend eternity in Hell. He could send humans to another galaxy or somewhere in the immeasurable universe to be nothing, rather than having people spend eternity in Hell.”

"Ah hah, people always equate our God with love when it comes to this matter. They have forgotten that God is not only God of love; He is also God of war. He too, has emotions. He sent the flood to destroy mankind because they were too wicked. I can give you numerous examples, but the best way to seek answers to your questions is still in the Bible and in Him. Read about the journey of the Israelites to the promise land, read about King David and King Saul. And you'll know that God is not love and love only; weak and mushy. No." 

Nathan continued, “There are many questions which we have no answer, perhaps it is not necessary for us to know the answers to them. Perhaps it won’t be beneficial. Well, because even if it were to be revealed to us the answers may be too great for our finite mind to comprehend.”

“But we should still seek for it,”

“While suspending judgments.”

 “Until we find the answer…but how do we know whether it’s the answer for sure?”

“I guess, we just know, if not……”

“Take a leap of faith, trust or go back to suspending judgment.” Jesse sighed.

“Do you need to understand how does a TV, computer, or touch screen gadgets work before you use them? Rarely. So likewise.”

“Be credulous. Have faith. Like little children. Blessed is he who believes yet does not see. Ah, how I wish I was a child again. Carefree. Burden free. ”

“You can cast your cares on Jesus. He said his burden is light.”

“Oh, shut up already.”

“There will come a time when all our unanswered questions will be answered in a twinkling of an eye.”

“And when will that be…?”

“Soon.”

This scene came to an end, another scene soon followed. This time Jesse was sitting alone on a park bench eating a sandwich, and a sudden conviction came upon him, “God, whoever you are, whatever you’re doing, thinking. I give my life to you. Be my Savior. I’m sorry for my ignorance and how I’ve lived my life. Help me know you more. Redeem me from my sins.” Jesse pondered in his mind.

When Jesse got up after finishing his sandwich, there was a loud clamor of a trumpet, and his body ascended.

“Well, this is our story.” Jesse said.

“Whoa. What a narrow escape!” Selena said.

“We were indeed created for something much greater. To reign with the Most High, to be heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ for eternity. We were put on earth to prepare for eternity. Test, trials, challenges in this life does the character molding for this age. God set eternity in the hearts of men when He created them, just that many of us don’t realize it.  Our likes, interests, desires even since we came into earth are chosen, all our days are ordained by Him. We now see this more than ever before, now that we are here. All our questions and doubts answered, and if we want to know more we can get answers instantly.” Jesse concluded.

Store up treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. Heaven’s foundation will never be shaken, because its builder is God Himself, who remains faithful even when we are unfaithful. Heaven, is the land of the living.

Nothing matters more than knowing God’s purpose for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them. Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial. When life has meaning, you can bear almost anything; without it, nothing is bearable. –Rick Warren

Therefore, live a purpose driven life. 

Thank you, God, Aisha Tan, Jonathan Tan, Vivian Yap, Sam Chen, and etc for making this happen! Also thank you, Steve Cioccolant (From Buddha to Jesus), Rick Warren(Purpose Driven Life), Virginia Sorensen(Miracles on Maple Hill), and many other unnamed people for your written work.

Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash