Rain had come unexpectedly to the island and the traveler had decided to stay indoors today. He remembered a walk in closet in college where it was big enough for him to sit and study away from his sometimes noisy roommates. Sometimes he would pray there as well. The closet in his room was not as large but it was larger than the average rented accommodation. It was basically empty and it had a comfortable, clean carpet. He decided that he would go in there read and meditate on the scriptures.  He first listened to a song and as he listened the words and music spoke to his soul. He made his journey to the centre of the closet in the middle of the floor. John 5:30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
He thought about the way humans dish out judgment carelessly and callously. He thought about all of the adverse effects of judging others prematurely and the premeditated actions that result from it. Wars, squabbles, insurgencies, uprisings, civil disturbances, all begin that way. He thought of all of the conflicts around the world the ethnic cleansing, mass murder, mass raping of women and children. People lost limbs, fought in the streets schools, churches, religious building, hospitals and clinics were bombed and burned every week in the name of a greater good. The traveler knew in his heart that judging in led to many grievous ills. Judging led to the killing of innocent civilians, indulgent immoral and greedy power mongers globally seeking any and every way to gratify their lusts and appetites for self satisfaction at the expense of anyone and everyone who would get in their way. It was not just the drug dealer and politicians that craved this power it was the man on the street the lady on the bus, the child in school, the preacher in the pulpit – anyone and everyone was susceptible to it in lesser forms and in lesser forms they manifest in hatred, unresolved bitterness and anger, malevolent and maligning power moves and lies all just to get ahead.
The traveler thought about the fact that most people were oblivious top all to all of the sin in the world because they had been destined to it. Prior to this trip he had forgotten it himself. He too was involved in the rat race – where a rat would kill another rat to get a scrap of food. He paused … and silently repented.
He thought about humanity as it had truly become a festering open wound in need of washing and healing. The problem was that not many people saw the solution to the sickness that had fallen on mankind – Jesus Christ – in fact he was largely ignored and looked at as a placebo – a simple sugar pill with no real effect to rid society of its problems. He knew that humanity needed a break – a time to go into the closet lock the door and pray. A time to reflect on the things it had done on a collective and individual level.
He turned his bible to Isaiah 53:6 “6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Christ knew the pain and heartache associated with the sin of humanity. He knew that we have gone our own way and that we need to come to him, ask for forgiveness and repent – that is turn, change direction and never go back to our old ways. He suffered so that we might have this privilege, he died and was resurrected to set us free from this self imposed bondage. Yet many did not understand Christ mission and purpose while he walked the earth – and still few understand his words in hindsight.
The traveler held his head down and bit his lip because he knew that much of humanity was destined toward a tragic ending – oblivious to the pain that they are causing each other and causing God himself. The traveler vowed to live a life that would always bringing healing and strength to the world by first giving the world love. Love not found in sappy sentimentality or over used emotional outbursts – but love found in respect for God, respect for friends and neighbors in Christ. The traveler asked God for the courage to help pull the lost out of their confused states with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit and he asked for the faith and courage to keep focused n the task at hand. The traveler then closed his eyes and said another prayer before he continued with his task of studying and reading of God’s word.