Kurt Morgan 5/10/10 Mythology writing assignment per. 2 It began with a god.

One all-powerful god, he was gazing at an empty space, lifeless. He reached out his hand and placed a galaxy, and in this galaxy he placed a small solar system, and in this solar system he created a small blue planet, a perfect distance from a perfect sized star so that it may sustain life. And so he created on this insignificant rock, some creatures known as humans, who have great enough knowledge to have wits, and work beyond just instinct, and God instilled within them great wisdom, so that they may not fall to terrible temptation. And they lived among animals, and they ate, and they reproduced, and they formed civilization on what their god had created for them. 2,000 years later we have a thief, and in times of bad profit, a beggar, feared by all. Little did this thief know that his destiny was one of greatness. This thief was searching through a cave searching for booty when he heard a chanting, not a normal chant, nor one that he could comprehend. He searched further to find a dove chanting by a fire, in a language he had never heard before. The dove heard his footsteps and whipped around to see the thief. He saw this and said to the dove Be not afraid, I am Saul of Israel, I have come in search of treasure and have no intention of harming you. The dove replied in the same strange language and darted deeper into the cave. Saul, unsure of what mystic powers this dove may hold, followed the dove in the mystic light that radiated from its feathers. The thief followed in a sprint, struggling to keep pace with the creature. He ran until his veins pumped battery acid, simply for a bird. When the dove saw this, it perched down on the ground and spoke again in the unknown language. Just as the dove spoke, a strange man emerged from the darkness that held Saul blind. The man opened his mouth and said You will get nowhere following that creature unless you understand the words it speaks. Luckily, I do understand the dove. He tells you that you have a great journey ahead of you. If you do not follow this dove you will surely die here. I will aid you in understanding this beast; allow me to follow in your path. Saul heard what the strange man had said and agreed to allow the man to follow. So they followed the god-like dove deeper and deeper into the darkness of the cave, unsure of what may lie before them. As they walked and gazed in the direction of the bright dove, they heard the sound of falling water and grazing cattle. They both raised their walk to a sprint, and in doing so, Saul tripped and fell on a rock. As he did this he had a pleasant surprise that he felt no pain, for he was in water. And as he floated to the surface he watched the dove light torches to reveal the cavern that they were in. This prodigious cavern contained a small pool of deep water underneath a waterfall which seemed to have no top, but only to be falling water. He looked around to see large, strong cattle grazing around the cavern grazing on grass that grew without sunlight, something which Saul thought to be impossible. Saul lifted himself and saw the dove perched on the ground; the dove spoke again in the foreign language. The man came to him again saying it is telling you to slaughter and feast on one of the cows, as well as to drink of the water. After this you will fall into a deep sleep, and when you wake, your journey will begin. Saul then asked the man this whole cave seems to me, a dream. Grass does not grow in darkness, nor do cattle thrive in it. I demand you give your name and tell me how all of this is possible. The man replied I am Isaac of Egypt. But it is not your destiny to question this, nor is it in Gods plan for you to know. For now you must eat and rest, for your journey will be long, and you cannot bear it without being well rested. So Saul did as the dove had commanded, and the dove watched as he ate

and drank, still glowing with the light of the heavens. And as the dove said, Saul fell into a deep sleep. And he dreamed. Saul felt awake in his dream. He saw himself in darkness, much like the cave but with no walls, and the ground was no longer rough. He suddenly saw a light, one that in any normal setting would have blinded him, he found himself surrounded in the light. But his eyes did not dilate, and he felt no pain, for he knew that he was in the presence of the creator. And a voice came to him saying Be not afraid, for I am God. I am everything you know to be real, and everything you have been searching for. So as Saul was in the presence of the almighty, he asked him Why have you brought but a lowly thief into your presence? And God spoke to him in a booming voice Your place is not to ask why! So Saul spoke to his god once more and said What will I encounter on my journey tomorrow? To which God replied you will encounter great hardship, but you will be strong for you are walking with a man sent by me, he will be your Sheppard. Be strong, Saul, and carry on with your journey. Saul saw the light vanish and he woke. When he woke he saw Isaac by the fire with warm coffee, its aroma rose from the pot and drew him to it. Isaac (still half asleep and waiting for the coffee to kick in) asked Saul How did you sleep? Saul replied, not wanting to speak of his dream and said I slept well and I am prepared for the long journey ahead of me. Thats great. Said Isaac, For you do have a long journey ahead of you. Sit, have some coffee. Saul drank of the heavenly brew that Isaac had prepared. So today we must explore the depths of that small pool of water. Said Isaac, Saul stared into its glistening wake, reflecting the warm light of the bonfire. We will surely die of drowning if we attempt that. Said Saul, to which Isaac replied You have been sent by God, do you think he will let you die on the job? Saul pondered the response for a moment. No I suppose he wouldnt Said Saul Thats what I like to hear. Said Isaac as he plunged into the cool waters. Saul hesitated for a moment, wanting to believe that he could survive, but eventually he did dive into the depths of the unknown. He felt the cool water surrounding him and he breathed not water, but air. He looked deeper and saw Isaac motioning for him, and Saul obediently followed, deeper and deeper into what he believed to be his doom. And surprisingly, the deeper he went, the more light he saw, until he came to a surface. The surface at the bottom of the pool? Before today he would have said it was impossible. But after what hed seen that word was no longer a part of his vocabulary. He found himself in a bright meadow, no longer underground. Isaac sat on a tree stump gnawing on a piece of bark. Saul pushed himself out of the water and plopped down next to Isaac. Where are we? inquired Saul. Well believe it or not we are sitting right outside the Garden of Eden. We traveled back in time through a portal in that water, to when man had just been created. You have been brought here as a test of wisdom, and to turn you of your wicked ways. Are you ready to enter? Saul, having been raised of the Christian faith, had another question I know what happened here, but what does one like me have business here? Isaac replied You will make a choice, this choice will directly affect who you are and what you will become. Now let us go Isaac stood up and walked towards the garden and motioned for Saul to go in, and as Saul did so, he saw a woman talking to a serpent. Isaac whispered to Saul The fate of humanity lies right before you, choose as you must. Saul pondered his choice, looking deep within for wisdom and decided not to, just at that moment Saul had a vision of death, fire, and brimstone, the very fate that humanity had been led to. But then Saul remembered that if it were not in Gods plan, it would not have happened. He returned to Isaac and said It must happen, it is in his plan Very good said Isaac You have passed the first test. Saul felt somewhat doleful, for he knew that he had just allowed sin to enter the world when he could have stopped it. Isaac, watching the woman eat

the fruit turned to Saul and said to him The next test will change your life forever. Sleep, and when you wake your test will begin. Saul obeyed and laid down on the soft grass, he closed his eyes until he fell into a deep sleep. When he woke he found himself in a scene where he saw his savior being crucified. Isaac, standing beside him said You have full control to stop what is happening, choose as you will. Saul watched his savior, being tortured for his sake. Tears streamed down his face as he watched a man who never did anybody harm, was being tortured and killed so that he may have eternal life. He felt the urge to pull him from the cross, but he would not allow himself to get in the way of Gods plan to save the world. He ran away until he passed out. When he awoke he was back in the cave with Isaac and the dove. Isaac sat by the fire, looking at his reflection in the water. Isaac turned to him and said Now do you know what your destiny is? Yes Said Saul I must show great selflessness and put others before myself just as my savior did for me. Isaac looked back at the water and said You are a wise man Saul He continued This is your destiny, you will leave this cave a changed man, and when the time comes, you will join your savior in eternity. Isaac looked at the dove and said Now, what is the significance of the dove? Saul looked at the magnificent dove and said it represents the great wisdom that God instilled in all of us, as well as selflessness and forgiveness. Well done said Isaac Now follow it out of the cave, I bid you farewell. Saul obeyed and followed the dove as it flew slowly out of the cave, guiding him through the darkness. After about an hour he was outside the cave, breathing fresh air. He headed back to his hometown and greeted everyone there with kindness. Those who asked him why he was not so rotten and fierce as he once was, he replied with That man is gone, I have changed, and I have come to do good and spread good word throughout the world. All the townspeople were shocked at this, but they were glad to hear the good news. The first thing Saul did as he reached his house, was that he went inside and brought out all the treasure he had looted and gave it back to the people of the town, repaying that which he so selfishly stole. Saul went towards the train tracks in order to spread the message of selflessness, forgiveness, and wisdom all throughout the world. But when he reached the tracks, he saw a young boy fallen asleep upon the tracks, no doubt the work of a very evil man. Saul saw the train which was headed straight for the boy, he felt his heart break at the thought of this boy suffering such a death. Saul raised his walk to a sprint, all of his muscles straining to save the boy. Saul leaped with all of his might and pushed the boy out of the way just in time to save the boys life. But it was too late to save Saul. And the boy watched as Sauls life ended in a split second, astounded that the man saved his life. The boy lived to be very successful, and was a missionary to spread a message of selflessness, telling his story to the masses. Saul, on the other hand found himself standing outside a big, pearly gate. He saw a man standing by the gate, glowing with a light much as the dove did. And he spoke to the man and said Oh good sir, please spare my soul. I have lived my life as a thief, but I have changed, and I was sent as a messenger of God. The man looked him up and down and replied I know, for I too work for God. I am saint peter, and it is my orders to allow you through the gate for an eternity with God in heaven. Saul thanked him and watched as the pearly gates swung open. Saul walked slowly through the gate into what would be his eternity. For God had allowed this man who was once a thief, to live forever with him. Although his past was filled with fury, his future holds great good. His check was good with God. Thus ends our tale of the pitiful thief who displayed Gods message of selflessness, forgiveness, and wisdom. That is the greatest treasure to be found in this world, and it is found within.