I open my eyes. I am lying on the ground In a fertile river valley On a small patch of dust
This place Is beautiful Like a garden But completely natural As if the plants themselves Willed it into being To showcase their glory
I look around But do not see The eagle who brought me Through a hole in reality
I do not see My animal companions The mouse, dog, and snake Who guided and goaded me On my quest
I glance down at my side Where my liver was sacrificed To power the eagle
The wound in my side Is still open But no longer bleeds The scar Already healed The pain Already faded
I carefully stand up I don’t even feel sore But then I notice I am not wearing clothes
And yet I don’t feel naked It is as if Like the flowers I have willed my own glory To cover my shame
I look up And see two figures Walking towards me Hand-in-hand
They too Are naked-not These two Are known to me
Adam & Eve
Me: Adam!
Adam: My son! Welcome home.
Eve: Welcome back, my beloved child!
I glance around I am sure I have never been here But her words ring true
This feels familiar Right As if my whole life Began here And was spent Trying to return
Then I look at them And I realIze That the love between them Is a tangible thing
Perhaps the most real thing In this Or any universe.
And their love… is where I belong.
Victory
Adam grins, and claps me on the shoulder.
A. You did it, my son!
I am confused.
M. But… I did nothing. You were the one who sacrificed yourself in the Box of Hades. For… her.
I am afraid to look at Eve, remembering how Wisdom had stood against Freedom and Love to keep her from him.
To my surprise, she laughs.
E. Yes, yes he did. But he would not have come back to me unless you had first sought him out, to remind him of who — and whose — he was.
She blushes, and takes him by the hand.
E. As he reminded me who and whose I am.
A. And as you yourself have continued to do, facing down your pride and shame to redeem and rename the spirits who have gone before.
M. But… I thought I came here to find an army. To retake the world from Satan.
E. And so you have!
She turns, and gestures behind her.
The Multitude. Reborn.
A blinding light flashes over me. I fall to my knees, overcome.
The angry multitude that had surrounded her. The broken, despised and abused children of Adam that had comforted Eve in her despair. And kept them apart.
They… are glorious.
Not merely happy, like innocent children who have never known pain or betrayal. But over-flowingly joyous, like mighty warriors who have defeated an unconquerable foe after endless battles. True Valkyries, who bear their scars proudly as evidence of how deeply they have been redeemed.
For whom death holds no more terrors. As it has already done it’s worst. And been defeated.
“For whom death holds no more terrors. As it has already done it’s worst. And been defeated.”
My eyes fill with tears. I am in awe. I feel so unworthy. I could never have endured what they went through. Who am I to lead them?
J. Really?
Jesus
I turn and see Him.
M. Um, did I say that aloud?
J. Does it matter? If anything, I’d be shocked if you did not question your worthiness after your pride was so thoroughly crushed.
J. As you say, they have all been broken through suffering beyond your ability to understand. Even as they have become mighty warriors by the grace that has redeemed them. Their scars are their strength, yet their strength is also their weakness.
“Their scars are their strength, yet their strength is also their weakness.”
Jesus
M. Huh?
J. They are too close to the battle, and the enemy, to see the big picture. Your weakness and strengths are the inverse of theirs. That is why I have chosen you to lead them. That is why they have been waiting here for you. Because you have the missing piece.
I stare at Jesus, confused. What does He mean?
I think back on all the treasures I have gained and lost along the way. A mouse. My pride. Hestia’s food. The keys of Hades. A sword…
As I think the thought, the Sword of Love suddenly appears in my hand.
J. Yes, Ernie. The sword of double-edged empathy. The world considers it cursed. Because any pain it inflicts on others The wielder feels tenfold.
“The sword of double-edged empathy. The world considers it cursed. Because any pain it inflicts on others The wielder feels tenfold.”
He smiles. In the distance, I hear devils shriek and tremble.
J. But for my army…
He turns and gestures to the multitude. They erupt with hoots and hollers of rejoicing. Drinking in His approval And roaring it back at Him.
J. They consider it the greatest weapon ever forged. And the only one they would ever trust. Wielded by the only one they dare follow.
M. I… I don’t understand.
J. My army is powerful beyond anything the enemy can imagine. But their power comes from their very brokenness. Their scars are glorious, but they are still scars. Any attempt to coerce them with Law, Power, or Cruelty will unleash the wrath of God. Yet they still must be disciplined if they are to function as my soldiers.
“Any attempt to coerce them with Law, Power, or Cruelty will unleash the wrath of God. Yet they still must be disciplined if they are to function as my soldiers.”
Jesus
He turns to me. Suddenly sober. I sense a deep weariness coming over Him. To my horror and amazement He begins to sweat great drops of blood.
I stare at His brow. And only now notice the crown of thorns. Pressing its wicked spikes into His flesh.
Oh no.
J. Yes, Ernie. Now is the time. My army is ready. But they are waiting. Waiting for someone they can trust. Who is willing to wield the sword That cuts both ways And wear the crown Whose points slice inward
J. Who will not use them To avoid his pain But will take their pain So they can be of use
“Who will not use them To avoid his pain But will take their pain So they can be of use”
Jesus
I tremble. Violently. Yes. This is why I came. This is the Quest I’ve been on. That God has been preparing me for my whole life. But… It is too much.
Me: Father… is there no other way? This cup… it is too much.
I feel a presence overshadow Jesus. A tri-toned voice.
“Too much pain… or too much glory?”
M. Um… both?
The Breakup
I hear a low rumble. Almost subsonic. The ground trembles. And begins to crack.
The sound grows Like distant thunder.
The people start chattering to each other. And rushing back and forth.
Not scared. Excited! As if they have been waiting their whole lives. Preparing For all eternity For this very moment.
The noise is like enormous drums. Sonic booms.
The earth splits apart. The crowd cheers. They form into squads. Platoons. Companies. Battalions. Regiments. Brigades. Divisions. Corps.
They are laughing. Each group jumps together onto an appropriately-sized rock. And flies down. As our world slowly falls apart.
And only then Do I realize Why they are so happy.
Because the rumble The sound The noise Is God laughing.
Radically Happy 
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