The clay and gravel mountain trail was long and winding. Woods on either side shaded it partly, then from place to place it entered grassy rolling hills, rising and falling across the ridges. Those that lived in that wilderness often called it the path of life. They said that for many it would take them from the city called Lost to a land called Found. Though they'd heard of it they'd never journeyed there themselves.
It was rumored that there was a guide that might be found along the way to instruct wayfarers from the city of Lost. Those that were so bold as to journey into the unknown to find what it was that lay before them on the one and only path that led to the city of Found.
There were many broad roads coming into the city of Lost but only the one narrow path that led away to another place. Most setting out on that path never returned to tell what was out there. Many said it led to a mysterious city whose name was Found. Citizens of Lost mocked and laughed saying "what could be better than our city of Lost? The city of Found is nothing but a myth, a fable. A legend and a wives tale. It's king was nonexistent".
There was an old man who walked slowly along that path far out from his home city of Lost carrying a deep and very heavy basket. He was partially stooped over under the great weight of it. His steps were small because of the load. He had walked many many hours on the path but had no idea how far it might be to the fabled city of Found. He'd met no one except for a few that had given up searching and turned back in discouragement toward Lost. No one could tell him anything, so blindly he stumbled on.
Up ahead of him alongside the right side of the trail he saw another man, younger, sitting with arms folded on the trunk of a large fallen tree. This stranger had fixed his eyes and attention on the old man as he slowly ambled closer. He'd been watching intently ever since the old man had appeared over the far rise.
Taking an opportunity for a short needed rest, the old fellow stopped next to the stranger but said nothing. He stood breathing deeply, feeling the weariness of his journey and the dryness in his throat and mouth. His feet hurt and his body ached.
The younger man asked "Would you like a drink of water"? Then he walked over and offered the traveler an earthen jug. The old man took the jug thanking him then drank deeply. After a pause he drank again.
Though he'd stopped walking the basket with it's seemingly great weight was not put down. He uttered a low groan from the stress of the load.
"why not set down your burden and take rest"? The stranger asked.
"oh I can't do that. It's my load and I must bear it. I've tried to put it down before but I can't seem to take it off. No matter what I do I still feel the weight. I've heard about a city called Found and thought I might try to go there and be relieved of my burdens. No one in my city of Lost knows how to find it though and I think I may turn back. A foolish and wasted effort I'm beginning to think.
"set your weight down for a minute, I want to see what you're carrying that's so heavy. What is it that can't be set down"?
Taking offense, the old man said "what I have inside there is my business and no one else's, certainly not a stranger's. Not yours".
"no matter" the stranger said "I know what's in your basket and I'm not a stranger. I know you very well though you don't know me at all."
Looking at the stranger the old man pulled the straps from his shoulders with a groan, setting the basket on the ground. He'd carried it so long that he still remained stooped. It was as if he still bore it's weight. As if he'd never set it down at all.
Fixing his eyes on the younger man as he handed back the water jug he said "I don't know you, I've never seen you before".
He wondered at the stranger's age. From a distance he'd thought him to be young but as he looked on his face and into his eyes he realized that there was more there than the eyes of a young inexperienced man. A deepness that was palpable. Something indefinable. He wondered aloud "Who are you sir"?
"who am I? I am Jesus whom you seek".
"But I seek God". The old traveler said.
"he that has seen me has seen the Father. I and my Father are one" Jesus replied.
The old man was quiet. After a long silence he asked softly "why did God burden me with these heavy things? I've been carrying many of them since I was a young man. So many other hard things have come to burden me and I can't understand why God did them to me. I've tried to talk to God a few times but never heard anything. Nothing ever changed. Surely he doesn't know I even exist. The citizens of Lost know nothing of God and I thought if I could journey to Found that those there might tell me more about him. I went to many religious leaders but they just gave me useless rituals to perform. I felt worse after I talked to them. They seemed as burdened as me".
Jesus replied, "Every man has his burdens and tribulations. As I've said they're part of this present world. But many of the ones you carry are of your own making. You blame God for your own sin. You blame others for your failings. You are untruthful with yourself and with God. You either moan as a dove or roar as a bear but find no peace".
"look at this one" Jesus said, taking a black, heavy gnarled and ugly rootlike object from the man's basket. "this is hate and a root of bitterness, the hate and resentment towards others that you've never forgiven. You mark every offense against you and forget your multiple offenses against them. Your hypocrisy is witness against you. You are angry at their cursing of you but forget that you've often cursed them".
Reaching once more into the accumulation of sins and burdens, Jesus pulled out a large, shiny gold appearing object that was like a large trophy.
Holding it up he said "this is your pride. See how it shines! The brighter it shines the tighter it binds. You boast about many things and are easily offended when others do not praise you. When they exceed your ability you make light of them, unwilling to give any praise at all to others. It is one of the ugliest things that posesses you. You wear it as if it were a cloak of royalty when truthfully it is to your shame and clothes you with nakedness".
One by one Jesus took many heavy, dark, ugly sins and severe faults from the strange basket and glancing at them as he cast them to the ground.
Continued below...
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It was rumored that there was a guide that might be found along the way to instruct wayfarers from the city of Lost. Those that were so bold as to journey into the unknown to find what it was that lay before them on the one and only path that led to the city of Found.
There were many broad roads coming into the city of Lost but only the one narrow path that led away to another place. Most setting out on that path never returned to tell what was out there. Many said it led to a mysterious city whose name was Found. Citizens of Lost mocked and laughed saying "what could be better than our city of Lost? The city of Found is nothing but a myth, a fable. A legend and a wives tale. It's king was nonexistent".
There was an old man who walked slowly along that path far out from his home city of Lost carrying a deep and very heavy basket. He was partially stooped over under the great weight of it. His steps were small because of the load. He had walked many many hours on the path but had no idea how far it might be to the fabled city of Found. He'd met no one except for a few that had given up searching and turned back in discouragement toward Lost. No one could tell him anything, so blindly he stumbled on.
Up ahead of him alongside the right side of the trail he saw another man, younger, sitting with arms folded on the trunk of a large fallen tree. This stranger had fixed his eyes and attention on the old man as he slowly ambled closer. He'd been watching intently ever since the old man had appeared over the far rise.
Taking an opportunity for a short needed rest, the old fellow stopped next to the stranger but said nothing. He stood breathing deeply, feeling the weariness of his journey and the dryness in his throat and mouth. His feet hurt and his body ached.
The younger man asked "Would you like a drink of water"? Then he walked over and offered the traveler an earthen jug. The old man took the jug thanking him then drank deeply. After a pause he drank again.
Though he'd stopped walking the basket with it's seemingly great weight was not put down. He uttered a low groan from the stress of the load.
"why not set down your burden and take rest"? The stranger asked.
"oh I can't do that. It's my load and I must bear it. I've tried to put it down before but I can't seem to take it off. No matter what I do I still feel the weight. I've heard about a city called Found and thought I might try to go there and be relieved of my burdens. No one in my city of Lost knows how to find it though and I think I may turn back. A foolish and wasted effort I'm beginning to think.
"set your weight down for a minute, I want to see what you're carrying that's so heavy. What is it that can't be set down"?
Taking offense, the old man said "what I have inside there is my business and no one else's, certainly not a stranger's. Not yours".
"no matter" the stranger said "I know what's in your basket and I'm not a stranger. I know you very well though you don't know me at all."
Looking at the stranger the old man pulled the straps from his shoulders with a groan, setting the basket on the ground. He'd carried it so long that he still remained stooped. It was as if he still bore it's weight. As if he'd never set it down at all.
Fixing his eyes on the younger man as he handed back the water jug he said "I don't know you, I've never seen you before".
He wondered at the stranger's age. From a distance he'd thought him to be young but as he looked on his face and into his eyes he realized that there was more there than the eyes of a young inexperienced man. A deepness that was palpable. Something indefinable. He wondered aloud "Who are you sir"?
"who am I? I am Jesus whom you seek".
"But I seek God". The old traveler said.
"he that has seen me has seen the Father. I and my Father are one" Jesus replied.
The old man was quiet. After a long silence he asked softly "why did God burden me with these heavy things? I've been carrying many of them since I was a young man. So many other hard things have come to burden me and I can't understand why God did them to me. I've tried to talk to God a few times but never heard anything. Nothing ever changed. Surely he doesn't know I even exist. The citizens of Lost know nothing of God and I thought if I could journey to Found that those there might tell me more about him. I went to many religious leaders but they just gave me useless rituals to perform. I felt worse after I talked to them. They seemed as burdened as me".
Jesus replied, "Every man has his burdens and tribulations. As I've said they're part of this present world. But many of the ones you carry are of your own making. You blame God for your own sin. You blame others for your failings. You are untruthful with yourself and with God. You either moan as a dove or roar as a bear but find no peace".
"look at this one" Jesus said, taking a black, heavy gnarled and ugly rootlike object from the man's basket. "this is hate and a root of bitterness, the hate and resentment towards others that you've never forgiven. You mark every offense against you and forget your multiple offenses against them. Your hypocrisy is witness against you. You are angry at their cursing of you but forget that you've often cursed them".
Reaching once more into the accumulation of sins and burdens, Jesus pulled out a large, shiny gold appearing object that was like a large trophy.
Holding it up he said "this is your pride. See how it shines! The brighter it shines the tighter it binds. You boast about many things and are easily offended when others do not praise you. When they exceed your ability you make light of them, unwilling to give any praise at all to others. It is one of the ugliest things that posesses you. You wear it as if it were a cloak of royalty when truthfully it is to your shame and clothes you with nakedness".
One by one Jesus took many heavy, dark, ugly sins and severe faults from the strange basket and glancing at them as he cast them to the ground.
Continued below...
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