11/15/2024
I saw this cloud over our house.
And there was a rainbow in the same day. And I recalled a parable :
A traveler was walking down the road. Her dogs were walking beside her.
The journey was long and difficult. The traveler was exhausted, but the end of the path was not in sight.
Her dogs protected her from wicked beasts and people. They warmed her on cold nights. They brought her food and found springs of water.
But days passed, and no drop of water or crumbs of food could be found. The nights grew colder. Wind blow stronger.
Her strength was fading. Her fingers were stiff. It was hard to put one foot in front of the other.
And then she saw a gate. Behind the gate was a garden with fountains, fruits, birds of paradise.
There was a guard at the gate.
The traveler asked, “What a wonderful place is this?”
“I must inform you,” replied the guard, “that you have died from exhaustion. And this is the gate to Paradise.”
“Can I enter?” asked the traveler.
“Yes, please do!” answered the guard.
“Can my dogs enter with me?” she asked.
“No,” replied the guard, “dogs are not allowed.”
“Then I will go on,” she said.
And she went on, with her dogs alongside her, protecting ,warming and loving her.
Soon she saw another gate.
Behind the gate was a well and a potato field.
She approached the gate and asked the guard:
“Can I enter with my dogs? To give them water and feed them?”
“Yes, you may enter together,” replied the guard.
“Thank you! And what is this place?”
“This is Paradise,” replied the guard.
“I passed by Paradise,” she said. “There were fountains and fruits, and fancy birds.”
“Oh, that,” smiled the guard. “That is Hell. Very convenient for us. Because those who leave their friends behind go to Hell.”
Hurricane Helen was blind. It smashed into mountains and opened the sky.
A waterfall, not rain, swept away Black Mountain and all life that was in its path... ➡️