Let us sit by that oak tree," Jacob said as he pointed to a proud tree that stood by a fence over to their left.
Somewhat surprised, as the quiet solitude had started to lull Pamela and even Elias into a trancelike state, they turned to look at Brother Jacob, which acted as a silent, though mutual, agreement to his suggestion.
Intrigued, they followed Jacob, and the three of them walked to the base of the tree. They followed Jacob’s lead after he sat down, with his knees raised to his chest and secured with his arms which were wrapped around them. Pamela and Elias adopted a more informal repose and sat on either side of him, still maintaining a healthy distance.
"I feel it is time for us to speak our minds. Forgive me but I must speak freely; I ask that you do the same."
"Go on," said Pamela, sensing that Jacob needed encouragement.
Elias had been waiting all too long for this moment; with great anticipation, he hoped he would not be disappointed.
"I came to this village as did you, to seek a better life. A life free from the cares of the world outside, free from the pettiness and evil of man. But living away from the world is not enough. We must draw on the strength of the Lord if we are to serve him. We must put aside pettiness, grievances and all that connects us to the world. Happy Valley is our world now. And I don’t want to lose either of you."
Jacob spoke this final sentence as he looked into the eyes of the two sitting on either side of him. Elias looked truly uncomfortable with Jacob’s statement, as did Pamela. She then asked a question of her own.
"Brother Jacob, don’t you miss the outside world?"
Jacob gave a quick spin of his head to turn and face Pamela with a scowl on his face. Seeing her resulting fear, he quickly mellowed and prepared to give an answer to what he nonetheless perceived had been an offensive question, at least to him.
"Sister Pamela, there are two worlds that you speak of, both of which are inhabited by the unsaved. One is geographical, and can be reached very simply, just like the road to Hades. Go through the woods which separate Happy Valley from such a world, and there you will be. You will have arrived in a world filled with the unsaved, people who have lust in their hearts and plot evil, and who serve only money and the adoration of man. These people are defiled, defiled by the world in which they live. This is a world to which I will never return. This is a world in which I want no part. This is the world created by the unsaved."
Pamela dared to give a brief glance to Elias while Jacob seemed to be in the midst of preparing his discussion of the second outside world. Jacob continued.
"The second world is one that can be inhabited regardless as to one’s geographical location. It is the world where our spiritual self exists. It is the world within us, where our secret desires and wishes are, though not secret from the Lord. The world that reveals how
Let us sit by that oak tree," Jacob said as he pointed to a proud tree that stood by a fence over to their left.Somewhat surprised, as the quiet solitude had started to lull Pamela and even Elias into a trancelike state, they turned to look at Brother Jacob, which acted as a silent, though mutual, agreement to his suggestion.Intrigued, they followed Jacob, and the three of them walked to the base of the tree. They followed Jacob’s lead after he sat down, with his knees raised to his chest and secured with his arms which were wrapped around them. Pamela and Elias adopted a more informal repose and sat on either side of him, still maintaining a healthy distance."I feel it is time for us to speak our minds. Forgive me but I must speak freely; I ask that you do the same.""Go on," said Pamela, sensing that Jacob needed encouragement.Elias had been waiting all too long for this moment; with great anticipation, he hoped he would not be disappointed."I came to this village as did you, to seek a better life. A life free from the cares of the world outside, free from the pettiness and evil of man. But living away from the world is not enough. We must draw on the strength of the Lord if we are to serve him. We must put aside pettiness, grievances and all that connects us to the world. Happy Valley is our world now. And I don’t want to lose either of you."Jacob spoke this final sentence as he looked into the eyes of the two sitting on either side of him. Elias looked truly uncomfortable with Jacob’s statement, as did Pamela. She then asked a question of her own."Brother Jacob, don’t you miss the outside world?"Jacob gave a quick spin of his head to turn and face Pamela with a scowl on his face. Seeing her resulting fear, he quickly mellowed and prepared to give an answer to what he nonetheless perceived had been an offensive question, at least to him."Sister Pamela, there are two worlds that you speak of, both of which are inhabited by the unsaved. One is geographical, and can be reached very simply, just like the road to Hades. Go through the woods which separate Happy Valley from such a world, and there you will be. You will have arrived in a world filled with the unsaved, people who have lust in their hearts and plot evil, and who serve only money and the adoration of man. These people are defiled, defiled by the world in which they live. This is a world to which I will never return. This is a world in which I want no part. This is the world created by the unsaved."Pamela dared to give a brief glance to Elias while Jacob seemed to be in the midst of preparing his discussion of the second outside world. Jacob continued."The second world is one that can be inhabited regardless as to one’s geographical location. It is the world where our spiritual self exists. It is the world within us, where our secret desires and wishes are, though not secret from the Lord. The world that reveals how
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