The Torch (part 1)
I am a missionary. When I say this, you immediately form an image in your mind of what that means. The problem is that there are many different images that we have of what a missionary is, depending on our upbringing and experiences in the past. Since I want you to know exactly what I mean when I say that I am a missionary, I want to illustrate with a story.
Within the cold dark cave huddled the man with his wife and child. The cold was brutal, and despite their being deep in the cave, the wind still invaded their home as an uninvited intruder. Their food supply was almost depleted, and tomorrow the man would have to strike out on another journey to the forest to try to spear some more game. At least with it being winter, they would not have the usual problem with spoilage. But that was tomorrow. Tonight, the foremost thing in their mind was to stay warm and not freeze to death. His last hunting trip had been very successful, and the large fur under which they huddled would help keep out the cold.
The next morning, as his wife and small one remained under the fur until the warm sun brought some welcome relief from the cold, the man tied pieces of fur to his feet, slung a smaller fur wrap around his shoulders, picked up his spear, and struck off with the sun at his back. He might run across an early forager, and the sun in the animal’s eyes would help to mask his presence long enough for him to approach within throwing range, but the forest seemed to be empty as he stalked further and further away from the comfort of his cave.
Nightfall had come twice, and he still was unsuccessful. The first night, he had been lucky enough to stumble across a small cave in the hillside to bed down in, but last night he had had to find refuge under a fallen tree. The wind and cold had robbed him of most of his sleep, and the wrap had done a very poor job of shielding him from the elements. Just as the sun was beginning to fall to the ground for the third day, he suddenly heard something moving stealthily just over the top of the hill he was climbing. Maybe this was to be the end of his journey. If he was quick and true with his aim, he may not have to go out again for another week or more.
(to be continued)
Within the cold dark cave huddled the man with his wife and child. The cold was brutal, and despite their being deep in the cave, the wind still invaded their home as an uninvited intruder. Their food supply was almost depleted, and tomorrow the man would have to strike out on another journey to the forest to try to spear some more game. At least with it being winter, they would not have the usual problem with spoilage. But that was tomorrow. Tonight, the foremost thing in their mind was to stay warm and not freeze to death. His last hunting trip had been very successful, and the large fur under which they huddled would help keep out the cold.
The next morning, as his wife and small one remained under the fur until the warm sun brought some welcome relief from the cold, the man tied pieces of fur to his feet, slung a smaller fur wrap around his shoulders, picked up his spear, and struck off with the sun at his back. He might run across an early forager, and the sun in the animal’s eyes would help to mask his presence long enough for him to approach within throwing range, but the forest seemed to be empty as he stalked further and further away from the comfort of his cave.
Nightfall had come twice, and he still was unsuccessful. The first night, he had been lucky enough to stumble across a small cave in the hillside to bed down in, but last night he had had to find refuge under a fallen tree. The wind and cold had robbed him of most of his sleep, and the wrap had done a very poor job of shielding him from the elements. Just as the sun was beginning to fall to the ground for the third day, he suddenly heard something moving stealthily just over the top of the hill he was climbing. Maybe this was to be the end of his journey. If he was quick and true with his aim, he may not have to go out again for another week or more.
(to be continued)
posted by GrandFather at 10:29 AM
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