“The Sacred Place”

1  2 The Sacred Place A Tale of the Heart Written by Marc Francisco  3 Pass It On publisher This is a non- published book, this series of five books are not for sell. Text copyright©2010 by Marc Francisco Illustrations copyright© 2010 Marc Francisco All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author or Pass It On publisher. Pass It On publisher Nuereuter str.73 76185 Karlsruhe, Germany  4 The Sacred Place A Tale of the Heart Thanks Man cannot do it alone; other souls are needed if one is to evolve. So to all the other souls who supported and encouraged me along the way I thank you all.  5 The Sacred Place A Tale of the Heart This tale is dedicated to my daughter Izura. “Good luck on your journey Papa loves you.” To all other beings who seek their Truth: if my words in any way inspire you along your path- “wonderful” – for that was my soul‟s intention  6 Dear Reader, You hold in your hands one of five copies of my nonpublished book. „The Sacred Place‟ which was printed on the at a small gathering, each one of the five copies were given to a select person with these instructions; The Sacred Place, was to be read, their name and comments should then be written on the blank pages found at the end of the book. The book was then to be passed on to another: this person should do the same until the end of the sixth month. The person in possession of it at this time should then return it to the address below. The idea is simple; randomly the book is passed on making its own journey, but returns one day with its own story to tell, your story. Pass It On! Marc Francisco - marcfrancisco1@yahoo.com CMR 420 P.O BOX 1237 APO, AE. 09063  7  8 The Sacred Place A Tale of the Heart Introduction O nce upon a time, on the great earthly village there lived a man who awoke one morning with a voice inside his head saying; “go forth; seek God “so man packed the things he thought he would need for his journey and set off on his way. In the beginning man thought not much of his journey he would seek God and find him or her… so was it written, so shall it be… right? Man first journeyed west there man found many wonderful words that spoke of God but God himself/ herself he did not find. So man journeyed on.  9 Man‟s journey then led him east. There man also found wonderful words that spoke of God, but God himself/herself he did not find. So, of course man journeyed on. Man continued on his journey searching left then right, up and down, to and fro, yet always only finding words that spoke of God. God himself/ herself he did not find. So time passed as time always does, and after many years of searching, yet not finding man became weary and his hope of finding God was as no more. With all his heart had man searched, now it seemed, as though man had failed. Man‟s failure soon turned to anger, and, in his anger, man cursed life itself, giving up and vowing never to search again. Man then returned to the old life he knew, yet unhappiness followed him wherever he went. Man‟s mind was without rest; man‟s thoughts day and night were filled with worry, where had he gone wrong?  10 Man‟s worry soon turned to fear; perhaps God did not exist at all. Only words, speaking of him/her existed. God himself/ herself did not. If this was the truth, then man was truly saddened. So time passed as time always does, and man‟s fear grew and grew until they consumed his being, creating inside man a living hell, a hell in which man saw no escape. “How,” “when,” “why” man would ask himself? If this was all to life, then man wished not to live on. One day when man felt he could take no more, he surrendered to that which was and in that moment, a stillness entered man‟s being and in this stillness the One voice began to speak; not as male nor as female but as a holy union between the two, and not with words, for words are only words. The One voice spoke in silence from the soul of the world to the soul of man which in truth was one:  11 “I am that which was in the beginning life without end, eternal. Call on me all who thirst and drink from me as an infant drinks from his mother‟s breast and ye shall not want, for one taste of my truth will surely set you free. Let them with open hearts hear my words. I am all that there is. Nothing exist that I am not. Nothing! All of life is a manifestation of the One. I am the wind that blows through your hair; I am the blue bird in flight; I am day; and I am night; I am mother; I am father; I am your divine parents. And you, you are my divine children conceived in love, so “Be Still” and I shall reveal to you the wonders that have always been there inside of you. To search for it takes one off the path. Just “Be” and you shall see the perfection.  12 With this truth came freedom and man set out on a new journey, A Sacred Journey. One day soon thereafter, as man sat without thoughts and without words the One spoke these words to his heart-mind; Go forth and put that which I reviled to your soul into words, so that all may drink and taste my truth, so was the beginning of “The Sacred Place.”  13 The Sacred Place A Tale of the Heart  14 O nce upon a time on the west side of a large village there lived a Boy. Now Boy, along with everyone else from the west side of the village lived there because they all had something in common. All who lived on the west of the village were believers in the same truth. They were all believers and followers of the West Truth Church. Boy and his family were not only devoted followers; Boy‟s father was a high member in the Truth Church. Boy‟s father was highly respected and much feared amongst all West villagers. One day Boy would also become a high member of the West Truth Church. That is if tradition was to be followed and it almost always was.  15 So someday, but not knowing exactly which day Boy would be sent away to study the ways and laws of his villages God, and his truth his truth according to man that is. After two years of study at the West Truth School, Boy would return home and take his place along side his father and the other high members. That much Boy knew to be true, if tradition was to be followed. What Boy didn‟t know was that his father was making plans, plans that would change Boy and Boy‟s family life forever. If things went as his father had planned and Boy finished the West Truth School with honors, not only would Boy become a high member, but a position amongst the Holy Ten would be opening up soon and it was Boy‟s father‟s dream that Boy be the chosen one to fill it.  16 With the right connections and West Truth Church contributions, father‟s dream for Boy could come true. What an honor this would bring to the family, amongst other material gains! Until Boy was sent off to the great West Truth School he would spend his free time shadowing in his father‟s footstep. Learning what he could of the ways of a high member, and also attending the many West Truth Church services, which were mandatory for all West villagers, to miss one was considered a great sin. These things kept Boy very busy and out of mischief. Free time to run and play with the other boys his age was not allowed. There was no time for fun and games „his father would always say. Serving their god and his truth was his calling and a very important one at that. No there would be no time for fun and games.  17 One thing Boy really enjoyed doing besides following his father around all day and attending the many mandatory West Truth Church services, was going off into the woods behind their house. Boy liked running wildly amongst the many trees; it made him feel free. When he would tire from this, Boy would sit and just enjoy the sounds of the woods, such as the birds, and or the wind blowing through the tress. The woods behind their house were a special place for Boy. Yet because of the demanding responsibilities that fall upon the son of a high member of the West Truth Church, very little free time was left for Boy. So, once a week Boy‟s father allowed him two hours of free time to spend in the woods behind their house. Boy‟s father actually thought it was good for Boy to spend some time alone to reflect on his future, a future that would soon be upon him.  18 So went Boy‟s life for the next three years: shadowing in his father‟s footsteps, attending mandatory West Truth Church meetings and weekly trips to the woods. So time passed as time always does and Boy grew older. Boy was now fourteen years old, and for the last three years he had never missed his weekly trips. As long as he performed his Church responsibilities he was allowed to visit the woods behind their house. Now that Boy was older he didn‟t run wildly amongst the trees anymore, he now enjoyed taking long walks and just listening to the sounds of the woods. When Boy found a nice spot, he would sit. He would not think about his future as his father had wished. No, Boy thought about nothing at all. Boy found so much pleasure when he could just sit and be without thoughts and without words. Boy often wondered,” how this emptiness, this stillness of the mind could make him feel so full?” Boy couldn‟t quite explain it with words, it was like … Magic. Yes, to Boy it felt magical.  19 Boy understood and accepted that soon he would be sent away to become a student of the West Truth School. In two years he would return home and take his place as a high member in the West Truth Church. This was Boy‟s family‟s tradition: his father was a high member, as was his father‟s father, and so on and so on. Boy would follow family tradition; in truth he had no choice, for to go against it would bring a great shame to the family, the Truth Church and their God. So when Boy got older he would marry and have children of his own and Boy‟s first son would also take his place as a high member. Girls weren‟t allowed as high members, for it went against their God‟s truth and tradition; and what was life without Tradition? A true believer and follower of the laws and ways of his villages truth was Boy, for he knew nothing else. So time passed as time always does and Boy grew older.  20 Sometimes when Boy was sitting in the woods, listening to the sounds, questions would arise in his heart‟s mind. One such question was, “why were there so many different truths?” Boy had never left his village, but he knew of them from his father. He knew his God was the one and only true God, and that all other truths and Gods were on the wrong path and that their so called truths were considered untruths. They would all go to hell for their sins. Yes, it was true; God gave man free will but according to Boy‟s village and their truth, if one should choose wrongly, woe unto them, so where Boys beliefs at the time. The large village was therefore separated by truths into four directions: the West Truth, where Boy was from; The East, North and South Truths, with each area having its own God and his truth, a truth according to man that is. The North side of the village is where the Free Thinkers lived. Anyone who wasn‟t a follower of the other three main truths could live in the North, free to believe in their own truth, God and or Goddesses.  21 This way of life of course was thought of as blasphemy by all the other truths. It was rumored that the North village was a modern day Babylon full of chaos and disorder. In reality, no one village knew exactly what was going on with the other village, for you see, interaction between the different truths was forbidden. For Boy and his village it didn‟t really matter what the others believed if one was not a follower of the West Truth Church, then one had gone astray. God have mercy on their souls. So was Boy taught, yet Boy still felt this sadness in his heart for the lost ones and at prayer time Boy would always say a quiet prayer for them. Boy had many questions such as this but not many answers. Boy‟s father informed him that once he started the West Truth school all his questions would be answered by the Holier than Thou teachers. Boy would have to wait. “Be patient,” Boy‟s father would always say.  22 The following week, when Boy was allowed to take his two hour journey into the woods behind their house, he was more then ready. It had been a long week; Boy had had no time for himself. Boy‟s father was preparing him for the time when he would be sent off to the great West Truth School. Boy didn‟t know exactly when this was to happen but he felt inside that the time was near. Boy would cherish his last trips to the woods behind their house. After three years the woods had become a special place for him, like a friend you could say. As Boy started on his journey, he mentally let go of the past week and began to walk.  23 On this particular day Boy walked and walked. The more he walked the emptier he became, until at last, Boy was without thoughts and without words. Boy felt this strange oneness with the woods. Yes, he had always felt special here, but this time it was different. It was as if he was being spoken to, spoken to by the sounds of the woods: the wind that blew through the trees, the bird‟s song, the falling of a leaf… Every sound that was heard became a voice. Though there were many sounds, there was only one voice, and this one voice was speaking to Boy. “Come, come to me;” was what Boy heard. No, not with his ears, the one voice could only be heard with the heart-mind, the soul. So sweet was the voice, that Boy walked on. Soon, Boy came to a spot where it seemed he could go no further, so thick was the bush. The one voice became louder and sweeter: “Come, come to me.” So without thinking Boy began to push his way through the thick bush and as he did, the bushes seemed to open up and make a path for him.  24 When Boy finally reached the end, what he saw took his breath away. Before his eyes lay the most magnificent garden he had ever seen in his life time. Flowers of many kinds and many colors filled the garden floor, their scent was beyond compare. A small water fall lay in its center which formed a small pond whose water was crystal clear. Birds of many kinds flew about, but not away, their song so sweet to the ear. In Boy‟s heart-mind he heard the one voice welcoming him to “The Sacred Place.” Boy was overwhelmed with love as tears of joy fell slowly down his face. Holy was the moment; a peacefulness filled his being. Boy thought: “could this truly be the work of the one true God of my village?” As Boy began to drop to his knees in prayer, to give thanks and praise to his God for such a blessing, something from the east caught his eye. When Boy looked up there stood “Girl.”  25 O nce upon a time on the east side of a large village, there lived a Girl. The east side of the village, being not much different from the other sides, also had its own God and his truth, a truth also according to man. Those who lived there were great believers and followers of the East Truth Church. Girl‟s family was not only followers; Girl‟s father was a prayer leader in the East Truth Church, one of the highest positions man could obtain. Girl‟s father was highly respected and much feared by all who lived and believed in the East Side truth. Prayer time was a major part of their laws and ways, and to miss one was considered a great sin. Therefore Girl‟s father led the East villagers in their mandatory prayer time day after day and year after year without fail.  26 Girl came from a fairly large family. There was herself, mother, father and three older brothers. Girl also had an older sister, whose name was never to be spoken. Girl‟s father and brothers spoke as if she had never existed. They were always saying that Girl was their only sister. This was as it was because sister had shamed the family, their God and their truth. Girl‟s sister had fallen in love with a boy her age and they had run off together. This of course went against their tradition and was considered a great sin according to the laws and ways of the East Truth Church. Girl didn‟t know the whole story; she was too young at the time to understand what had really happened. From one day to the next, sister was gone without a trace.  27 What little Girl did know about her sister disappearance she had overheard from her mother and the other women from the East village? They would sometimes talk about it together, when the men were not present. It is believed that Sister was living in sin somewhere in the North village, where the free thinkers lived. One East truth tradition was that all girls would be given away in marriage by their fathers. This was an arrangement that was usually made before most girls turned ten years old. Because of Girl‟s sister‟s betrayal, Girl‟s father and brothers never let her out of their sight. Girl was not allowed anywhere without one of them to accompany her. So was life for Girl. Someday, but not knowing exactly which day, Girl would be sent away to the East Truth School for girls. There she would learn the laws and ways of her people‟s God and His truth, His truth according to man that is. Girl would also learn the proper way to submit and serve her husband and her God.  28 After two years, Girl would return and be given in marriage to a man fifteen years her elder. A man she had never met before, as was tradition. Girl‟s mother was so married, as was her mother‟s mother and so on and so on. That these arranged marriages were the cause of much unhappiness didn‟t matter; tradition was tradition, and tradition would be followed. Girl didn‟t think so much about it at the time, she was young and that day still seemed so far away. Girl‟s mother‟s heart was filled with love for her; she had lost one daughter, she would not lose another.  29 Because Girl was not allowed out of the house without a male to accompany her, she didn‟t get out much. The men were either too busy or too tired to take Girl out, so she was forced to stay indoors most of the time. Girl‟s mother felt for her and together they had made a plan. On the one day Girl‟s father and three brothers went into town, which was once a week, her mother allowed her to go out into the woods behind their house, where Girl could run free for two hours. As long as Girl was not late in getting back, her mother saw no harm in this. Girl‟s mother knew how much it meant to Girl, and how happy Girl would be when she returned. Girl would always return on time, bringing her mother the most beautiful flowers. They would then sit and talk about all the wonderful things Girl had seen.  30 So time passed as time always does, for two years Girl had visited the woods behind her house. Girl was now fourteen years old, and as one gets older so does one‟s ways. Girl didn‟t run wildly through the woods anymore, picking flowers for her mother and singing childhood songs. Girl now walked through the woods, and when she found a spot that was right she would just sit; sit and listen to the sounds of the woods. After sitting a while, Girl would sometimes become without thoughts and without words. At these times Girl felt a special oneness with the woods, and sometimes questions would come to Girl from somewhere deep down inside her. Girl knew her fate, one day, but not knowing exactly which day, she would be sent away to the East Truth School for girls.  31 Within six months after her return, Girl would be given away in marriage. This was the East Side tradition and unlike her sister, Girl would follow it. She had no choice. Still Girl had questions, such as, why did her people‟s God and truth favor the men? It seemed as though God had something against women. Were they guilty of some great sin long ago that could never be forgiven? When Girl was alone with her mother she would ask such questions. Girl‟s mother‟s reply was always the same. She would stroke Girl‟s hair and say, “My dear daughter, if God wanted us to ask questions he would have made us men”. Girl was not satisfied with her mother‟s answer. So Girl stopped asking, the questions had come from within and so too would the answers, so was Girls thoughts at the time. The following week when Girl was free to journey into the woods behind their house she was more than ready. Girl‟s father and three brothers were extremely busy that week, preparing for the annual East Truth prayer rituals.  32 They had no time to take Girl out. She was forced to stay in the whole week. When the men left that day to pick up supplies in the city, Girl ran to the woods as fast as she could. Girl would be sent away soon; no one had told her so, yet Girl felt it. Every trip to the woods became extra special for her; every trip became sacred. As Girl entered the woods she inhaled and exhaled a few times; this helped her to relax and let go of the past week and the future that would soon be upon her. A future she had no control over.  33 On this particular day, Girl walked and walked, the more she walked, the more centered she became. Soon Girl was without thoughts and without words. Yes, Girl had always felt special here, but this time it was different. It was as if Girl was being talked to by the flowers, the trees, and the flapping of butterfly wings. They all spoke to her, no not separately, but as one, and this one voice was calling to her, saying “Come, come to me.” So sweet were the words, Girl walked on. Soon she came to a spot where it seemed she could go no further; so thick was the bush. The one voice became louder and sweeter, “Come, come to me.” Without thinking, Girl pushed her way through the bush and as she did the bushes seemed to open up and make a path for her. When Girl had finally reached the end, what she saw took her breath away. There before Girl‟s eye‟s was the most magnificent garden she had ever seen. Flowers of many kinds and many colors covered the garden floor.  34 Their scent filled the air, and how sweet it was! Beautiful trees in different shapes and sizes encircled the garden keeping it hidden from the outside. In the middle stood a formation of large rocks where a water fall splashed into a small crystal clear pond. Butterflies flew about but not away. The fluttering of their wings seemed to play a song so sweet to the ear. And the words they sang were words of welcome. In Girls heart-mind she heard the One voice welcoming her to “The Sacred Place.”  35 Holy was the moment, Girl was so overcome with love that tears of joy fell slowly down her face. Girl thought, “Could this be the work of my people‟s God?” No, this was something different, something very sacred, and words could not explain it. As Girl began to fall to her knees to give praise and thanks to this Sacred Place for such a blessing, something from the west of the garden caught her eye. As Girl looked up, there stood Boy.  36 Girl stood completely still, looking into Boy‟s eyes. She knew right away that he was not from the east side of the village. Boy‟s clothing was different from that which the boys of her village wore, but that was not what gave it so clearly away. It was the symbol Boy wore on a chain that hung around his neck that let Girl know Boy had come from the west side of the village. Straight into Girl‟s eyes Boy returned Girl‟s stare. The symbol worn upon Girl‟s head was clear; Girl was from the east. Boy had heard about the symbol the girls and women of the East Truth Church were forced to wear upon their heads. However Boy had never seen such a one in person. Though Girl‟s hair and forehead were covered, Boy still saw Girl‟s beauty, as he stared into her eyes. Being here in The Sacred Place, Girl and Boy‟s fears and judgments were as washed away by the manifestation of love that surrounded them.  37 Here only love existed; the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth and this Truth had set them free. Well at least for the moment. Without breaking eye contact, Boy and Girl moved closer and closer together. Now face to face, Girl reached out and touched Boy‟s face ever so gently, with trembling hands. They both smiled. Something inside the both of them began to awaken. Hand in hand, Boy and Girl sat upon the rocks, as this something inside of them began to dance. Girl spoke first, breaking the silence between the two: “Do you hear it? Do you hear the voice?” Boy just nodded his head; the spoken word had failed him for the moment. “How could it be that one from the west and one from the east can hear the same voice,” asked Girl? “I do not know I do not understand it. I thought it was the voice of the West Truth God, but if you also hear it then I am not so sure anymore, replied Boy.  38 I have traveled these woods for many years now and when I am here I feel special. I have never felt like this before,” said Boy. “I can‟t seem to explain it, “with words, “Girl said, before Boy could get it out. They both just sat in silence, holding hands and looking into each other‟s eyes. Soon Boy and Girl were without thoughts and without words. An emptiness filled their being, and there in this emptiness the One voice began to speak; not as male nor as female, but as a holy union between the two. And no not with words, for words are only words. The One voice spoke from the soul of all that it was to the souls of Boy and Girl, which in truth were one.  39 “I am that which was in the beginning, life without end. “Eternal” call on me all who thirst and drink from me as an infant drinks from his mother‟s breast, and ye shall not want, for one drink of me and the truth shall be known and my truth shall set you free. Let them with open hearts hear my words. I am all that there is; nothing exists that I am not. “Nothing”! All of life is a manifestation of the One. I am the wind that blows through your hair. I am the blue bird in flight. I am day and I am night. I am mother and I am father. I am your divine parents, and you, you are my divine children, conceived in love.”  40 Girl and Boy not only heard these words spoken to their heart-mind, but they felt that what the One voice was saying as to be true. They felt the oneness with all that was. They saw how all things were interconnected. Boy and Girl saw and felt the true meaning of love, which is freedom. Before the one voice could continue, a sound, which came from the outskirts of The Sacred Place, distracted them. Girl and Boy‟s union with the Oneness was broken. The One voice suddenly stopped as though it had never existed. Both Boy and Girl jumped to their feet and quickly embraced one another. Before either one could speak a word, they heard their names being called from somewhere in the distant woods. When Boy and Girl failed to show up at home on time, their families began to worry. The men were sent out to find them.  41 For both Boy and Girl it was considered a great sin to be together like this. It went against their laws and ways, absolutely forbidden by their Gods and his truth. No, this could not happen; wars between the different truths were sometimes started for far less. Without as much as a goodbye, Boy ran west and Girl east, both with fear in their hearts Later, when Boy and Girl were questioned about their lateness, they both lied, saying they had wondered off too far and gotten lost. Neither had lied to their parents before. What was happening to them, they both had wondered? That night they would both say extra prayers of forgiveness to their Gods.  42 The lies of getting lost were believed by their parents, but still both Girl and Boy were forbidden to go into the woods for the next two weeks. “This is not a punishment,” their fathers had said. There were things to do, more important things than wandering off into the woods. So for the next two weeks, their families kept them very busy with meaningless tasks. At night when all were asleep and all was still, both Girl and Boy would have thoughts about their experience in The Sacred Place. It was a miracle, magical. It felt so holy, “But what if it wasn‟t “thought Boy? Could it be evil tempting him? Boy saw what he saw and felt what he felt, but Boy‟s intellect would not accept it. Boy had been taught differently, and these thoughts went against his God and his truth. Everything Boy and his people believed in was now questionable! Boy would put the experience out of his mind; “it was surely the work of evil tempting him, “so his intellect told him. He would pray to his God for guidance and strength.  43 Sometimes the truth looks like a lie and a lie like the truth, right? Girl on the other hand saw what she saw and felt what she felt and believed. For the next two weeks it was all Girl could think about. When Girl wasn‟t working, she would often sit for hours staring out the window, lost in thought. Girl‟s father‟s concern for her soon turned to fear. Girl was changing, he felt it. It was time, Girl‟s father thought to himself.  44 Girl was confused; she knew she would be sent away soon, what was she to do with this new truth? “Why me, why now?” so were Girl‟s thoughts. Maybe it was best if she just let it go, put it out of her mind. That night before Girl slept, she wondered about Boy. What would he do? The next day, both Boy and Girl were called to family meetings. Their fathers went right to the matter at hand; it was time. The following week Girl and Boy would be sent away for two years to learn the truth of their Gods and his ways. All was prepared; all was set. That night when Boy and Girl were alone to think about what was to come, The Sacred Place kept invading their thoughts. As hard as they both tried to forget, it would not go away. Before going to bed, they both prayed to their Gods for help; what else were they to do? In a week they would be sent away and the light of The Sacred Place would soon be dimmed by the truths of their Gods, the truth according to man that is.  45 Both Boy and Girl had mixed feelings about going away. On one side they would miss their families, especially their mothers. On the other side they looked forward to seeing new things, and making new friends. That would be great, for both had not many friends because of their many responsibilities at home and to their Truth Churches. So Time passed as time always does and in a day and a half both Girl and Boy would be on their way.  46 Boy would be driven the two hours it took to get to the West Truth School by his father. This was of course tradition, and tradition would be followed. Girl, on the other hand, would be riding the old rusty village bus with many other girls that would be picked up along the way. A male East Truth Church member would be selected to accompany them to ensure all went well, as way of tradition of course. The night before they were to depart, large traditional celebrations were held so family and friends could say their goodbyes. Boy and Girl were being sent away as children and in two years they would return as young adults, ready to carry on their peoples‟ truth and tradition. This was as it was, whether they wanted to or not. Their fathers were proud and relieved. Proud because not all children were allowed to attend these special schools. One needed money and connections which both families had.  47 Parents whose children could not attend these Truth Schools sometimes had difficult times keeping their children in line. Adolescence was not something easily handled within the villages. Troublesome children of parents who could not afford the special schools were given up to the village to be raised. Where sometimes more damage then good was done. Boy and Girl were the lucky ones, so to speak. Their families had money and high positions in the Truth Churches. The morning arrived without much sleep; both Girl and Boy spent most of the night in deep thought. If only they could just visit The Sacred Place one more time, but that wouldn‟t happen; for time was as no more.  48 With all goodbyes said and done, Girl and Boy set off on their separate journeys. Each taking different path‟s but which would eventually lead to the same destinations. Paths that neither had chosen for themselves, but which had been chosen for them, journeys that would not lead to freedom, but rather away from it. Two lives are then created from half truths and illusions. Boy and Girl would become Prisoners of laws and ways and of traditions like their parents and their parents‟ parents, and so on and so on. A life without change and without growth awaited them. This was as it was all because of man and his truth about God. Most villagers believed these truths, according to man, to be the actual words of God, the Gospel. They accepted them without question, even if at times they seemed a bit strange and contradicting. The villagers weren‟t taught how to think for themselves but what to think. The thinking would be done for them by others, mostly by the Holier than Thou Ones of the Truth Churches.  49 So was such a life for those who chose this path, prisoners. Perhaps such a life wasn‟t so bad, for many had chosen it and after a while one could learn to ignore the prison bars and just pretend to be free, living in the illusion as though it were real. Most villagers lived this way, Boy and Girl would also, as shall their children and their children‟s children and so on and so on. Right or wrong, this was tradition and tradition would be followed, for what was life without tradition?  50 So time passed as time always does, the two years had come and gone, with boy becoming a top student, as well as a leader amongst his peers in a class of thirty other boys. Boy had dedicated himself to the West Side Truth School, his Church, and their God. Boy was known as a great messenger of the word and was ready to lead the lost sheep to salvation and redemption. Boy learned the laws and ways of his God and His truth; the truth, according to the men of the West Village, that is. Although Boy‟s God was a jealous God, easy to anger and vengeful at times, this was all on account of his love for his children. Maybe Boy didn‟t get of all his questions answered by the Holier than Thou One‟s as his father had promised, but Boy did learn that one should not question God but fear him. For without his mercy, one would not see the Kingdom of Heaven that would surely someday come.