The bag was packed.
John wanted to travel as light as possible. He trusted that he would find what he would need whereever he ended up. He only took what he felt he would need. He was happy to let his brother, Carl, take everything else. All the clothes, the furniture and rather cool other objects he’d picked up in the years he lived there. He knew Carl would love taking all that, so he knew it was going to a good home.
John’s parents still didn’t understand why he had to go. It was odd to them. They had seen him put a lot of effort into sorting out his life to that point. He had a decent job and was getting on in his social circles. Things were looking up for him, the opportunities appeared to signal great things ahead for him. To turn his back on all that to go to the middle of nowhere to do something that was unknown to him with no one they knew just appeared to odd. John’s Mum did not hold back in expressing her concerns and even his usually laid back Dad mentioned how he had reservations about the enterprise. Yet when they saw his determination and more startlingly his sense of peace about it all, they knew it wouldn’t be worth looking to persuade him to do anything different.
Of particular concern to the rest of the family was how John appeared to be setting things up as though he would never see them again. He continued to make mention of a sentiment that they all needed to remember the good times they had. Carl was the first to question him on why he was behaving that way.
“Bro,” began John, “I don’t know if I am coming back. What I do sense very strongly is that wherever I am going is somewhere that will change me. Change me to the degree that if I get the chance to return, I’m not sure it will be the me you remember and are familiar with. I won’t necessarily be the same John you know. No, not in a bad way. Hopefully not. But change is coming, Carl. Change is coming. So I’m just saying before it happens that we are to be grateful now for what we have and what we had.”
Carl looked a little perplexed and sad. He wasn’t quite sure what his brother meant and got the impression that things were not going to go well. His brother smiled, reassuringly, “Come on, bro. It’s for the best. If I don’t do this, I know that I would not be doing what’s right. I know I’d forfeit the peace that I have. I cannot afford that. And you wouldn’t want to live with me in that state.”
John picked up his bag at the front of the house. He deliberately left early in the morning before everyone else was awake. He had said his farewells the night before.
As he closed the door behind him, he took the step forward. Grateful for the good memories he would take with him.
(Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 