Tag: Fiction

“Yinney” Chapter 33

Path Without End

Rachel had fallen into a routine of working her night shift at the Coffee Cafe, followed by a lonely walk to the subway and thinking about how much she missed Frank showing up, shower and bed when she got home, short conversations with Clara when she could, then dress for work but go to the hospital, where she would sit at the side of Frank’s bed praying he would suddenly wake up.

“Where are you God?” she found herself asking on the 7th day of her vigil, but then caught herself. “I’m sorry God. I know you’re here with us. I’m sorry for getting discouraged and doubting you. Please forgive me.”

Once again she began questioning her relationship. Is this what Jesus did? She felt in such a hopeless rut. The really good Christians, as she thought of them, were at church services 2-3 times a week. They were involved in various church programs. They tithed at least 10% of their gross income. They became church members, read their Bible through in a year, every year, so many things the church recommended doing to be a good Christian. Rachel had never quite lived up to all those things. Her life just didn’t fit that box. But from what she could see, Jesus didn’t fit the church box either. But what did she know? They were the experts. Pastor Simmons had a Master’s Degree in Theology. She could only be more wrong, and that made her feel even more unworthy.

How could she rise to that level? Every time she thought of it, all she saw was a prison of programs digging an even deeper rut! She loved freedom! A life flowing with meaning, purpose, and opportunity. And so as she dared to rise from her chair one more time and pray a prayer for Frank, she began, “Dear Lord, I’m so confused on what is right. I’m sorry I fall short in so many ways. I must be such a disappointment. I’m sorry such a programmed life does not appeal to me. And my prayers seem shallow. But Frank needs you, and for some reason I’m the one you put here at his side. I know the church is praying too, and Pastor Simmons stopped in on his hospital rounds. I do appreciate that, Lord. I’ll try to do better, but please let Frank come back to us. In Jesus name, Amen.” 

Having an after thought, Rachel added one more thing, “Lord, I’ve been telling Agatha, at the cafe, about you. She enjoys our conversations, but does not want to go to church. She says she don’t need all that hype. I don’t know how to convince her, Lord. I mentioned Baptism and she said I could baptize her! I don’t know how to do that! I’m not even qualified, am I? Please help me to help her, Lord. Amen.”

Once again thousands of miles away in the Amazon jungle, Yinney was in his 7th Day Tree teaching. Lu-Lu, Me-Me, and Jo-Jo had showed up to hear about his 6 day journey. And after telling them in detail about Capy, Kujo, and Bubba, he went on to ask a question, “So how do we create true ‘community’?” he asked. “How do we have true ‘communion’?”

The question hung in the air like a lead balloon. Me-Me looked at Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo looked at Lu-Lu. Lu-Lu looked at Me-Me. No one was saying anything until all three suddenly answered at the same time and Yinney couldn’t decipher a single word they said.

“Okay. Very good!” he said. “Lu-Lu, why don’t you go first.”

“Love your neighbor as yourself?” she answered as a question.

“Me-Me?” Yinney said.

“Invite people to join our fellowship!” she proudly answered.

“And Jo-Jo,”

“Pray for people,” she stated.

“All very good answers,” Yinney confirmed, and the macaws looked at each other very happy at their performance. Then he asked another question, “What does it mean to be a priest to your neighborhood?”

“It means being ordained after much study of God’s Word, so you can teach it properly,” Jo-Jo quickly answered.

“It can mean that,” Yinney agreed, “But, what if I told you, you became a priest of the Most High God the moment you entered into Christ by your own profession of faith? And God considers you a priest to wherever you are planted, i.e., your own neighborhood, workplace, wherever God has planted you. You are a priest of God’s ‘Communion’, even the Lord’s Welcoming Table, his Last Supper. As a priest you have a Communion with our Creator that only a child of God can offer to your community. The community we hope to grow, like a garden, is a community in love with God, knowing God, and coming to know him more as we fellowship like a family in Him.”

The 3 macaws stared at Yinney as if he had just invented the light bulb, or time travel. They were in awe and dumbfounded at the same time. Lu-Lu finally began slowly asking, “Could you say that again so I could write it down? I’m not sure I heard you right.” All three macaws were nodding their heads in agreement.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. A people for God’s own possession…” (I Peter 2:9)

“…you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood…” (I Peter 2:5)

“And he has made us be a Kingdom of priest…” (Rev. 1:6)

Yinney ended his quoting. Then Lu-Lu said, “I guess I did hear that right. Could you repeat those three verse locations?”

Yinney smiled.

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The continuing story of “Yinney the Sloth who needed to Poo” is property of Don Allen and Fellowship of the White Path.

 

 

“Yinney” Chapter 29

Path Without End

BLOG-16-05-2017-2 The desires of the flesh are a hungry thing indeed, unless tamed by the spirit. Dorothy wrestled with herself as to what to do? Did she really want to? There would be no going back.

She had been hunting Jack for a while now. Jack had a wife and child. He would have as much to lose as her, if they were caught. She knew he was ready, even if he didn’t admit it to himself. If she offered he would say yes. The hunt had been successful and she had been in control the whole time, slowly leading him down her lonely path.

Dorothy was proud of her figure now. As she worked hard at the spa and the pounds rolled off and muscles tightened up, more guys came around, but Jack had been her target all along.

Even her husband, Jerry, had complimented her, but nothing seemed to get through that workaholic mindset of his. Her home continued being a lonely and passionless palace. She loved her two children, but she had a big empty place they could not fill, and maybe Jack could. So as she threw her stuff in the car and headed towards the spa she knew what was in her mind to do. She craved romance, and Jack was offering.

Many times predator people don’t even know who’s hunting who? Jack would have said he was the hunter and Dorothy the prey. She couldn’t resist his macho charm. But one thing is certain when uncontrolled desire is at the driver’s wheel, no one is thinking clearly, and in the pursuit of what they want, neither may like the total of what they get.

Frank headed out for another night of patrolling his New York City beat, but first his usual stop at the coffee shop to get Rachel. She had been really shaken by the high rise execution she witnessed that night, but between Frank and her daughter, they made sure she had all the support she needed.

Rachel was falling in love with Frank, but he had been in love with her all along. However, that night of the execution had put a fear in her she did not know if she could get past? Her only problem with Frank had become his job! She didn’t know if she could live with knowing every time her husband went to work, he would be facing animals in the night, and he might not come back! This had been eating at her ever since that night, but she could not bring herself to tell him. She was praying hard she would get over it, but so far that fear was holding her kisses at bay. As he let her off at the subway entry, her quick good-bye kiss remained purposely shallow, even though she loved him so much. She didn’t know what she was going to do?

She paused at the steps of the subway and watched his squad car slowly driving away. A cold wind whipped at her neck and face as she stood there watching. Before he was even out of sight she saw his lights come on, heard the siren wail, the car made a sharp turn and he was hitting the gas. Something was happening! And he was on his way. What was he on his way to face this time? He was a hero protecting people like her from the predators in the night. She loved that about him, but hated it too. She said a prayer under her breath and descended into the concrete opening.

Frank hadn’t picked up his partner yet at the precinct, but this was an all-points emergency call. A large gang-fight had just broken out in the midst of Central Park. Innocent people were caught in the crossfire. Other officers would be converging on the park and his partner would catch a ride. He was not far from the site, and one of the first to arrive.  Another squad car was already broadside to the park and officers outside the car, using it as a shield and guns pulled.

Frank ran the nose of his car close to their trunk and jumped out to join them. A lady jogger came running out of the dingy lit streets screaming for help. Her leg was bleeding as she struggled to run. Frank managed to leap out and grab her, pulling her behind the car.

“What is your name?” he asked as he assessed her wound. She was so panicked she couldn’t do anything but cry. Two more squad cars came racing in. Soon they would have enough to enter the park, but Frank needed to help this woman. An ambulance would be arriving anytime, but until then, he needed to keep pressure on her leg.

Two more citizens came running out. Neither of them hurt. One was able to give information as to where the fight broke out. Two helicopters began lighting up the area. Riot gear and shields were quickly being handed out. An ambulance arrived and two officers assisted the lady to it. Frank would soon be entering the woods of Central Park.

Rachel’s phone lit up with an alert, warning everyone to stay away from the Park. News stations were already at the scene as close as they could get, broadcasting as much as they could. A shaking began in her body as she rode the subway. This was not the normal shaking, but a fear of knowing Frank was there, and what if?

Thousands of miles away in the Amazon Rain Forest, Yinney was enjoying being home in his 7th Day Tree after his six day voyage through the neighborhood. He fully expected Lu-Lu, or Me-Me, or Jo-Jo, or all three to stop in at any time and he would tell them of his encounters with Capy the capybarra, Kujo the spider monkey, and Bubba the Buddhist howler monkey. He was looking so forward to the fellowship.

High in his tree he heard Jag crying somewhere distant in the jungle. The Jaguar was hungry again, and letting everyone know. How had such a good God designed such a horrible world, he asked himself. Then just as quickly reminded himself, this was not God’s design, this was man’s. Man blamed it on the woman. The woman blamed it on the snake. But God held Adam accountable. He had failed to keep and tend the perfect garden.

In the end, Dorothy would probably blame Jerry. Jerry would say he was just trying to provide what his family deserved. Jack would likely try to blame Dorothy, but that boat really wouldn’t float. The gangsters would likely blame their horrible childhoods, and maybe rightly so, as their parents blamed their horrible childhoods. But who did it first? Yinney decided Adam gets the original blame, but blaming wouldn’t solve anything as the world turns on planet earth. Only the love of God can change a predator’s heart.

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“Yinney” – Chapter 20

Path Without End

sla-industries Rachel had just witnessed a murder. She was in no physical danger herself, but her mind kept repeating the execution style actions so heartlessly carried out. “How can people do that?” she almost yelled into the phone without realizing.

Unfortunately, Frank was still tied up at the precinct, but the call was immediately put forth and Officers were on the way. “You got at least two squad cars that will be there in less than two minutes, Rachel. They’re on the way. Are you sure you’re in no danger?”

“Yes, I’m too far away. They couldn’t see me, but I watched the execution like black shadows performing on a high stage. It was awful, Frank. I can’t get it out of my head. How do you deal with such things on a daily basis?”

Rachel didn’t even realize the light drizzle had returned and she was shivering from head to toe. It was a chilly nasty night in every way, and now her mind would be scarred forever with what she had seen. She considered going to the scene where the man’s body had fallen. It couldn’t be far away. She actually heard the body slam the concrete; or did her mind play tricks?

“I would like to say you get use to it,” Frank answered, “but you really don’t. I do it for people like you, Rachel. Most of us are what I call ‘human’, we have a conscience and a set of morals. We just want to live and let live. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. But there are other people who are nothing but animals. They live like animals and die the same way. These people take the theory of Evolution to the extreme. Somebody has to be that hedge of protection from the animals in our world. I’m part of that hedge.”

Now she understood. No matter how much she thought she understood before, she did not. Now she felt the difference in her very soul. Thank God for people like Frank, she thought. “Do I need to go there and be a witness?”

“No. Don’t even go there. I’ll add your name to the list and someone will probably meet with you. Just to be sure if you have anything important to add, but from the sound of it, you don’t. Unless there is some hard evidence turned up at the scene, most likely these guys have disappeared into the night. They might be living right next to you, Rachel. You can never be too careful. Make sure Clara understands this too.”

“I will,” she said, and began walking towards her apartment at a rather rapid pace, her heart still racing, and suddenly realizing how cold she was.

“I’m leaving now and heading to the scene. I’ll see what I can find out. How soon can I see you? You’re gonna need to talk to someone. I know Clara is there, but what about tomorrow?”

Rachel thought for a moment as she hurried down the cold wet sidewalk. “I guess a morning coffee would be good, if you want to join me?”

“Just name the time. I’ll be there.”

Rachel finally reached her apartment and immediately grabbed Clara in a big hug. Clara looked at her mom wondering what was going on?

“I saw a man cold blooded executed tonight!” she began. “He was on his knees begging for his life and these animals shot him in the head like he was nothing! As if life means nothing! I actually heard his body hit the ground! I can’t get this out of my head! I keep seeing it and hearing it. I don’t know how I’m gonna sleep tonight?”

The look of horror on Clara’s face didn’t last long as she immediately went into rescue mode for her mother. This was a new twist, but they would always be there for each other. “I know what we’re gong to do. First we’re going to make sure all our doors and windows are locked tight. Then I’m going to fix us some hot chocolate and you’re going to talk as much as you need. Then you’re going to take a sleeping pill tonight, and tomorrow will be all better. I assume you called that boy friend of yours. At least I hope you did.”

“Yes, I did.”

Frank arrived at the scene of the usual police tape marking off the area and squad car lights flashing. “I wonder what this guy’s story was? Well, whatever it was, it’s over now.”

We all have a “The End” to our story, whether our book has many pages or few, we do not know. But the only thing that really matters is what we have filled those pages with. Will those who have read our story, been affected by our story, will it be worth reading, does it lead somewhere worth leading?

Many many miles away in the Amazon Rain Forest, Yinney had predators of his own to deal with. His was a peaceful world high in the trees, while slowly eating leaves. He started every day with his sacred morning song as he sang to his Creator and prayed for a supernatural protection. God had a hedge of protection also, and even though the will of God sometimes meant very hard things, at least what God chose had an important purpose, like Jesus on the cross. He would thank his God and never take for granted the precious blood of his Lord and Saviour.

Rising morning sun, I greet you. Singing morning birds, I thank you. Gentle cooling breeze, I welcome you. Great and mighty tree, I hang from you.

Predators may lurk jungle below, but our ways are higher in the trees. Our ways are touched with cooling breeze. Our ways invisible in the leaves. Our ways are blessed in peaceful flow. Our ways are blessed with S-O-U-L.

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“Yinney” – Chapter 19

Path Without End

sla-industries Frank had just enough time to swing by the Coffee Cafe and check on Rachel before going on duty. Actually, this cafe was part of his territory. Had it not been, they probably never would have met.

The night was wet, chilly, dark and nasty as he made his way down the tight streets. Horns blared and echoed on the concrete walls every time a red light turned green, the very second it turned green. It was a New York City tradition. The locals thought nothing of it. The glare of headlights and store lights made driving extra hazardous, but then the driving was always hazardous in the Big Apple. Vehicles passed each other with inches to spare. Bicycles darted in and out. It was crazy as usual, and normal for NYC.

Fortunately, parking was not a problem for him, a back alley spot served the purpose and he came in his usual way for his usual coffee. Of course Rachel was expecting him. He had been doing this every night she worked. Not so much in the beginning, but as their friendship grew closer, he always wanted to check on her, and she appreciated it.

Rachel was a bit gun shy about a new relationship. Her first marriage had turned into a nightmare. Alcohol was mostly to blame, but after years of abuse and unfaithfulness, she finally filed for divorce. She had one daughter named, Clara, and both of them had been through a lot together, but it had only served to draw them closer. Clara was a young teenage lady now, well able to take care of herself, and she was wise beyond her years. She did not want to repeat her mother’s mistake.

Nor did Rachel, and now with Officer Frank showing up, she wanted to be sure not to rush into anything, and Frank said he understood. She knew he had been a good husband before, in a relationship that lasted, until the cancer took Jane away. She had every reason to believe Frank was a good man. Clara liked him too. She was even allowing herself to “hope” again; something she had not done in some time.

“Hey tall dark and handsome. You here checking on my welfare again?”

“You know I am,” he quietly admitted, and then almost as an afterthought, “Oh, a black coffee would be good too,” he smiled.

Rachel already had it behind her back. Pulling it forward, he smiled again, they laughed and began quietly talking as he leaned on the counter. Things were always slow at this time, which was why she was about done with her shift and ready to head home.

After a few minutes of talking and no new customers walking in, Frank asked, “You ready?”

“Hey, Doris, my time to go. Frank’s here. You got this?”

“I got it, Honey. Another slow two hours and I’ll be locking her up. You get on out of here.”

“Thanks…I’ll see you tomorrow.”

A subway entrance was only three blocks away. Frank gave her a ride to that entrance where he would drop her off and head to the precinct. Usually within twenty minutes Rachel was home to her small apartment where Clara greeted her. The bond between them was strong. They were survivors.

Frank stopped his car and reminded Rachel one more time, “Now remember, you got my number. Anything at all don’t look right, you call me. This is my beat. I won’t get in any trouble coming to your rescue unless I’m already involved with something. Which doesn’t usually happen until after I leave the precinct. Got It?”

“I got it, Officer Frank,” Rachel confirmed with a smile, before adding, “You know, you don’t really have to do this. I’m a big girl. I walked this three blocks many times before you came along.”

“I know I don’t. But I want too. If it’s alright with you. I look forward to the free coffee you give me.”

“Ha!” she laughed. “Now the truth comes out. Okay. You make my day, Frank. See you tomorrow.” A quick kiss and out the door she climbed. Waving bye, he watched her disappear into the subway. Saying a little prayer under his breath for her safety, he hit the gas and shot forward.

Once Rachel got off the subway, she had another four blocks to walk. No one thought anything about it in New York City. It’s just the way things were and people did it. It was a way of life. Everyone was aware of bad things that could happen, but even at that, the odds were still in your favor. Most people lived long lives in the big city without any horrendous events, but everyone kept both eyes wide open, because you just never knew. People did crazy things.

She was only one block from the subway, with three still to go, when she thought she heard a man crying, even begging for his life! The sound of his voice, the terror, immediately sent chills though her own body and soul. Quickly ducking into a dark place, she strained to control her emotions. She was afraid to go forward. Where was the sound coming from? She might walk right into it!

Her eyes widened, finally locating the sound, and she could not believe it! A man on his knees begging! High on some piece of construction. Another man with a gun pointed right at the begging man! Even two more dark figures backing him up! Their forms were silhouetted against the lights of taller buildings. A man was about to die, and there was nothing she could do!

Frantically reaching into her coat pocket and grabbing her phone, she hit the speed dial for Frank. She was in no danger.  They could not see her, nor could she identify them, but a murder was taking place and she was witnessing it! Before Frank could even answer, the shot rang out. The begging man went limp, slowly crumpled over, his form falling from the building. She heard the sick sound of a body making contact with concrete. Immediately a woman screamed, and the men above simply disappeared into the darkness. Frank answered the phone knowing something must be wrong.

“Rachel, what’s wrong?!”

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