 Once upon a time, a little boy went into the woods to play. He had been
warned by his mother and his father not to venture too far into the
woods, for there were dangers there too dreadful to consider. But, as
little boys are apt to do, he did not heed his parents' warnings. The
bright sun soon lost its strength as the trees thickened, and the blue
sky above became barely a rumour, blocked by leaf-filled branches. The
deep forest was dark, and dank and soon dread filled his little heart.
He turned to go back home, but his path was masked and soon his
direction became confused. The little boy cried out for help, but his
small voice was swallowed by his surroundings so that not even an echo
could be heard.
As the boy walked aimlessly for some
minutes, a shining light caught his attention. It was as though the sun
had fallen from the sky, and was now pursuing him through the thick and
scattered woods. The boy began to walk faster, but the light drew
nearer. He began to run, but still the light overtook him. All at once
the boy tripped on a tree root and fell headlong into the soft earth.
Covered with dirt and moss, and fearful of the unknown, the boy rolled
on to his back to catch his breath. There hovering above him was the
light, as bright as the sun, but as cold as the winter winds. The sight
was at once beautiful and terrible. The little boy shook in fear as he
turned his head away.
Suddenly, the light was gone. The
forest was quiet, apart from some distant bird song and the moaning of
the light breeze through the branches of the trees. The little boy
rolled over onto his hands and knees to stand up, when he caught sight
of foot prints in the soft earth. His foot prints! He easily followed
his own path home. He was warmly received by his worried parents, who
through hugs and tears reaffirmed their love for him, and their warnings
about going too far into the woods. Soon the little boy had been
cleaned up, his scratches treated, a warm stew in his stomach, and he
was safely tucked into his bed. In the quietness of pre-sleep, he asked
his mother about the light.
"I would not have a clue,
son." She responded. "There are stranger things on God's good green
earth and in his holy heaven than I can ken. I thank the Lord above for
that light, for although it terrified you, it also helped you find you
way home to me." After a hug that lasted a little longer than usual,
and a deep and long kiss on the forehead from his doting mother, the boy
fell into a deep and restful sleep. And he dreamed of future
adventures in the woods, but they could wait until he was a little bit
bigger.
Verily verily I say unto you, the church of
God is like a little boy who wandered too far into the deep woods.
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