The eagle stands apart on a nearby rock, delicately nibbling a newly-harvested liver. The mouse looks on in horror; The spaniel-coyote with amusement.
The snake loosens its suffocating grip on the former owner of that liver. The man slowly regains conscious, groaning in pain. The snake raises its head to stare into the man’s face. The man opens his eyes, and gravely greets the snake.
Yesterday I was laid off from the startup I’ve worked at for the last six years.
I am incredibly privileged to be a highly-educated tech worker in a growing industry, from a (formerly) two-income family. But it still hurts. Especially since we haven’t really recovered (financially or emotionally) from my prior layoff.
Which is why this post today from my friends at Pure Glory really spoke to me. Rather than reacting out of fear and dread, I choose to believe God is using this crisis to confront the doubt, deceptions, and division that have stolen my joy and crippled my impact.
Because the only thing truly standing in the way of my destiny is my own sin. So I rejoice that God is using these challenging circumstances to bless, purify and heal me in ways I could never imagine.
No matter how much it hurts.
by Apostle Gabriel Cross God is going deep to heal each one of us. God is dealing with the deep things in your spirit, the hidden things in your …
Then I hear his cry Shadow on the wall And discover he’s not What I expected at all!
Aquila
Aquila: Ooh, you brought lunch!
Earnest: You’re a girl?!
Yes, the manly eagle I had sought turned out to be a female. And not just female, but a tween girl; some sort of teenybopper. And I don’t like the way she’s eyeing my companions. Apparently, neither do they.
Sminthus: Eek!
Nehushtan: Hiss!
Qhuinn: I believe the correct canine response is: “Grr, stay away from me and my friends!”
A. Ooh, you can talk. Who’s a cute puppy? Who’s a cute puppy!
Qhuinn the coyote-cum-spaniel
Q. I say, stop that. I’m not actually a dog. No, please, not the feathers. I’m really the incarnation of… Ooh! Right there. Ahh…
Qhuinn flips onto his back and starts flailing his legs while she scratches his belly. So much for my fierce protector.
E. Um, excuse me, we’re actually here on a serious quest.
A. Of course you are. Who’s a serious doggie? Are you a serious doggie? Are you enjoying your quest?
Q. Best… Quest… Ever.
I start to interrupt her, but then realize that tickling my friends is vastly preferable to her eating them. I decide to wait it out.
A. Okay, there you go. All done.
Qhuinn mumbles something inaudible from where he is sprawled on the floor. Aquila giggles and slaps him away.
E. What did he say?
A. “Marry me!” [snorting]
This encounter is not going at all like I planned. Sminthus is still too terrified to be of help. I gaze imploringly at Nehushtan. He sighs and raises himself up on his coils to look Aquila in the face.
N. Greetings, fair maid…
Before he can finish, Aquila transforms from dreamy schoolgirl into fierce predator. She lunges into the air and pounces on Nehushtan. One razor-sharp talon pins his head to the ground — facing away from her — while the other hovers a fraction of an inch above his throat.
A. Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh! No lookee-lookees from the snakie. I’m not old enough yet to face all my future fears. [She turns to me and winks] My parents don’t even let me date yet!
E. Oh! Parents. Er, could you perhaps call them? I’m sure there the ones we were supposed to meet. You see, we are on…
A. I know, a really serious blah blah blah save the world blah blah quest. My parents already know all about it. That’s why they sent ME!
The sight of a killer eagle batting her eyelashes is apparently enough to shock Sminthus out of his stupor.
S. My lady… are you really the one meant to help us? Then were you… just kidding about… eating us?
With a flick of her claw, the young eagle casually tosses the massive snake against the back wall of the cave. She walks over to stare out the opening, a heavy weight seeming to descend upon her young shoulders.
She doesn’t meet our gaze. Her voice is soft, almost a whisper, with none of the frivolity she so recently displayed.
A. I… am sorry. I did not realize this would be so hard. Yes, I am here to help you. But you know little of what you ask, and less of how much it would cost me. If I am to survive long enough to be of use to you, you must feed me… a sacrifice.
Cold dread freezes my bones. Could I really sentence one my companions to death, if that’s what it took to achieve my goal?
You must be logged in to post a comment.