Stay True.
Author's Note:
This is a tale based on a photo.
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I drove up to the
farm in the borrowed pickup as it's too far to walk. It's been like twelve
years since I took this trail, and nothing has changed since then. The cedar
tree still stands at the third turn and so is the wooden bridge. I thought of
by now they would have done it better or make a new one, but the old one still
stands. The stream below still flows like it was then when I ran across it to
avoid the dogs. But those are the past and now I am back at the camp. On my
next turn, I would come up to the main gate to the camp.
There its; the
place I grew up in with my family and many others in the same area. We used to
number about a hundred then from about fifteen families and some unmarried
couples. Pop was the leader and me his second in command, even though I was
thirty-five then. There was Ma, my brothers Irwin and Matthew plus my younger
sister Annie. We were one happy family in a larger community of people who
loved and cherish everyone in the camp. It was named the Community then, and we
lived and protect each other. Everything we need was in the camp or the
adjacent lands. It was fine then until the others came. They claimed to be
Federal authorities and demanded to come into our camp. They said there have
been reports of us kidnapping children and also of committing heinous crimes. Pop
being our leader denied all that but he also refused them entry into our homes.
By then the men
including myself have armed ourselves with guns to protect our homes and
families. The unarmed folks stood in four lines with the children in the fore.
They clamped their fists and raised them to their chest with elbows locked between
them like a chain. On each of the people's inner sides of the palm including
children are the words 'Stay True'. It's our call to stay true to the family
and community. The joining of the first is to show our call to joins the two to
become one. It means either one is the same as family and community are one.
They soon chant the words that inspire us all then; stay true.
It was an action
that nobody could explain what happened. One moment we were singing and then
the shots rang out. I remember shooting the deputy who released his gun at my
Pop. Then I remember being surrounded by a dozen or so men in the blue. Then I
remembered the three shots that hit me causing me to blackout. One week later,
I was to wake up in the hospital with my legs shackled to the bedposts. They
sent me to Federal Prison for manslaughter twenty years but were later commuted
to fifteen. I am on parole now.
But I am back.
There are two men
at the gate, and they are armed with rifles.
"Howdy, I am
here to see Irwin Wallace. I am his brother." I introduced myself to them,
in case they forgot who I was. A decade of years can change a man and I am one
of those.
"We know who
you are. Irwin told us you might come back today. He is expecting you at the
house." They raised the bar that latches the gate. They then pushed open
the gate for me to drive on in. There have not been many changes since I left.
The houses are all still there and so are the barns. There are farms and the
orchards as where I remembered them. I saw the main house and I pulled up
there. When I got out of my truck, I saw the kins coming out. It's a long-delayed
reunion for all of us as no one comes to see me in the Prison. I embraced
everyone but I can't find my Pop.
"Pop died
three years back and I am in charge now. He was sick." I fell to my knees
to asked for forgiveness as I was not there to see his soul leave for a better
Kingdom. I hugged my Ma and we all went to the house. It was fine to be back
and seeing the family but I had my chores to do. I asked Irwin if I could have
a piece of land to build my house. He told me to do so at the adjacent land
next to the house. I looked at it and find it's also next to the Community Rest
Place. I agreed to the choice and I stared at my house. Everybody wanted to
help me build my house, either with the assistance of hands or materials.
Finally, I build
my house. It's a simple one with a high roof that projects up to the sky. It
has one large hall and a smaller one in the rear. There are three windows on
the sidewalls and a double door to act as the entrance. I furnished it with
some benches to fill the hall. Then I build a small platform at the end of the Main
Hall.
"It does not
look like a house to me, brother." I looked at Irwin and smiled.
"The house of
the Lord need not be lavish but it needs is the congregation here to rejoice
and be praised in his presence. It's the same as we do here in this community.
We are one big family who chooses to live together, rejoice in the love we all
shared, and be praised for our community achievements. That's what Pop wanted
to do when he started this camp. He wanted all his family and friends to be a
happy community that can be lived together and is at peace. I am expanding his
dream. I am bringing the belief of faith to his community. We all need faith in
our life or we will be like floating driftwood on the ocean." My brother
looked at me with disbelief. He's never been to a House of the Lord although he
was brought up on the laps of my Ma with a book of faith read to him when
small.
"You changed,
brother. What did happen to you? Look at your fist. It says 'Stay True'. Are
you diverted to something else?" Irwin has stepped back from me. He held
onto the words that our Pop gave us years ago. It's his belief we shall always
stay true to the belief. His belief then.
"I am still
the same." I showed him my fists. The words are still there. "I stay
true to our Pop's belief. But I place in now the final puzzle to his plan. I
placed in it the love of God. Our community needs faith to believe it. Every
community has one but we do not. We will grow better as one with the faith of
God in our belief." I held out my arm to Irwin. "The House of Lord
welcomes anyone anytime. My door is opened to all who wish to join me in having
faith. Give yourself time and come when you are ready."
In the next five
years, my congregation grew from my first guest which is my Ma, and then slowly
the others. I did not get all to come into the house, but those who did were
welcome with love. Irwin was one of the later ones to come. That evening after
my congregation has gone back to their homes, I sat alone on the bench in the
big hall. I took out the letter from my vest. It was written four years ago.
"Son, I could
not come to see you where you are now. You are serving a period for my sins. I
am so sorry. It was me who shot the Deputy first, and not you. But that is the
past. Today, I am here to tell you I am sick. I would be going away soon, but
hopefully, I will be seeing you again before I do. If I don't, I need to ask
you a favor. I know of your conversion to your Ma's faith. She is a strong
woman and a stronger one in her faith. She tried to raise all of you as God's
children but I did not offer her that opportunity. Not even in this camp, I
built myself. Over the years, I find something missing here and also in my
life. I know now what it is now. Please come back to us and build a House of
the Lord for the community. They are good people but they need a place to
complete their faith in this lifetime. I begged of you to do so for that would
strengthen my call of 'stay true'. Let them stay true to their faith in yours
or any, but allowed them to display it as I had barred it before. I hope you
would forgive me for denying you this too until now. Love, Pop."
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