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Prayer 1- Voice

The voice is a little wavering and unsteady, but quiet and reverent all the same.

Are you there, Heavenly Father?

It's me, Kevin.

I know I've done the unthinkable, abandoning Elder Cunningham in Uganda and breaking rule seventy-two- and I understand that it's Your righteous judgement that I've not done enough to be forgiven. I thought at first that- well, that's not important. He clears his throat. I should never have questioned You, and this is my punishment-

No, not my punishment. This is the opportunity that You've granted me to redeem myself.

I read the words on the fountain, thanks to the guide You placed in my path. 'What once was whole, now 'tis shattered'- I understand! Now, his voice steadies. It's been my mission all along, to do something so incredible- to gather together these tortured souls that have been shattered from beneath Your sight and make them whole again. Make all of us whole again.

'It's power is great, true depths untold'- it's the power inside of me. I understand now.

So, Lord- if You could see fit to put a patient, forgiving crew in my path as well, I would really appreciate it- I understand You help those who help themselves, but growing up in Utah didn't really prepare me for sailing- not that I'm complaining, mind you, it's just an observation.

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How is it possible? Following the Way. How do I know it is true? There is quite a lot different in the world between then and now. Even my lord Crown Prince Kamitsumiya no Umayado no Toyotomimi no Mikoto, is regarded as a legend in modern times.

The... "Way"?

Kevin still sounds dumbstruck.

What way is this? You sound... Japanese? I'm not familiar with a lot of Japanese religions...

The Way, the Tao. It is not Japanese but from the mainland, China, though it is quite compatible with Japanese traditions. I do not like much from outside, but I discovered that the Tao was something respectable from overseas.

And you say that this has made you... immortal.

He sounds a little uneasy.

Why would you want to live on this world forever, without change?

Yes, of course it is a state few can attain and takes great discipline and will.

[She however is proud of her hard work.]

Why would I not? It was my lords wish, and as a loyal retainer I followed my lord to support them. There is little one can do in a single life time, and considering the amount of time one has to really do anything of worth it's even less. How long does it take to get to an age of affect? Fifteen? Twenty? And by then how long do you have? Twenty? Thirty? Perhaps forty if lucky. My lords plans and needs went beyond any such years of life, and my lords vision could not be handed to another.

Also, it is not as if I have enacted a curse upon myself. If I find that life has lost its meaning and that it would be best to embrace eternity that is still quite the open option. But as of now experiencing fifty or so years of life, less than that of which is even remembered well, who would not wish to know more? And be able of body to enjoy it?

Edited 2014-11-16 02:33 (UTC)

Well...

He's clearly hesitating.

It isn't... natural. A human being is made to live and to die, and then to move onto eternity. When what's natural is toyed with, then you're trespassing into God's domain.

If humans were not given such a potential, then humans would be incapable of ever attaining such. Also... one could take such a path into the domain of the gods. Becoming a god even. My lord is nearly at such a state. Also, who is to say that it is unnatural for one who is descended from gods to take the path of one?

You sound like those who say breaking the circle of life and death is unnatural, what is unnatural is being subjugated to such an endless state to be unable to break free of ones own conscious effort.

I understand that different cultures are taught different things, but in the end, there is only one true God. Only one God created this world, and all of the worlds, and all of us. There are plenty who would pretend, and plenty who would take on His facade to fool humanity, but only one true God.

And- here he sounds a little sheepish if there is a natural cycle in place, then why wouldn't it be unnatural to break it? Humanity is not the force that controls this universe. We're subject to its laws.

That is ridiculous, I have never heard of such foolery. If such a thing were true it would be widespread knowledge.

Because it is a miserable cycle that simply causes pain. If there are multiple methods why say one is the only true path when all of them lead potentially lead to the same result? Buddhism says one must be reincarnated and suffer endlessly before they are free, claiming life is suffering. Why is life a punishment and the endless cycle of punishment the only way to be free of it? Following the Way I can be true to myself without causing suffering, I can enjoy the richness of the world and the richness of life without punishing myself for enjoyment. Balance can be had with all things of earth and sky without restricting oneself, they simply must understand what makes everything balanced. The way of the gods is also similar, balance brings peace and happiness.

And it is true we are subject to the laws of the world, but why should we be subject to unfair laws as long as things are within balance? As long as good is being done? I refuse to believe that the entire meaning of all life is simply to suffer endlessly. Life is about growing, learning, and being at peace with what is around you. With making life better for others. If some are more naturally inclined towards it and have the power to be bestowed sainthood, who is to argue? And if my lord seeks eternity in paradise there is no wrong in that. And if I seek to be stronger to be able to protect those I love there is nothing wrong with that. A part of us is already eternal, why not allow the whole mind soul and flesh be allowed to share?

Kevin is clearly overwhelmed.

But it- it is widespread knowledge. I've never in my life met someone who hadn't at least heard of the one true God. And life- life is not a punishment, life is the greatest gift that we are given. The fact that something is God's law means that it is fair, by default- He is the one who created us, created the universe, and so it is His judgement that determines what is natural and fair, not ours.

It's obvious that you have some very strong beliefs, and I can respect that- but when you speak of attaining immortality, gaining power over others... that's not what God has determined for us.

Of course life is a great gift, which is why Buddhist are stupid and horrible people.

And I have never heard of this "one true god" before. I have heard of Buddhism, I have heard of Taoism, I know Shinto intimately, I have heard of the ways of those in the north, which are not so different from what I was raised with. Yet I have never once heard of some single all power entity that has created everything. And if such a thing was true, what created such a being? One such as that does not simply come to be out of nothing.

I said nothing about power over others, simply the ability to be stronger than I was. But any person has the capability of having power over others. I am a noble by birth, that gives me rank and power over those under me. My lord has power over others for they are charismatic and easy to get along with, following them is a natural inclination thus a power over others. An arrow has power over others, government has power over others. I however have no power over others, I am but a weak hermit that trains desperately to improve themselves.

The Lord God wasn't created by anything- He has always been and always will be.

I noticed you say that you were born with rank and power over others, and yet then that you are a hermit with no power. Did you give up that rank to humble yourself?

Yet all things have a beginning and an end, your god sounds as if he is the one that breaks the laws of the universe.

My clan is gone, such ties are meaningless now. I sacrificed my old life to follow my lord into a new one. A transformation. Reborn as a hermit following the Way.

God created the universe, and created those laws. He is the one thing with no end, as He is eternal and all-powerful. Laws that He has created do not apply to Him, just the creation they're meant to apply to.

It seems like you're giving a lot of power in your mind to a human man. This seems to be becoming a pattern.

Then he is a hypocrite and a coward if he isn't well known and inflicting rules he himself will not follow.

If you could witness the sheer glory that is my lord you would understand. But what is wrong with believing in a friend? I do not follow them blindly.

Kevin sounds shocked, and to be honest, a little irritated.

You- you shouldn't say such things! These laws do not apply to the Heavenly Father because He is not human as we are- and honestly, I think you might be a little sheltered for never having heard of Him!

He takes in a deep breath, trying to steady himself. You were trained for this, Kevin! You can't fall apart at the first hard case, Kevin!

...I'm sorry. It's been a rough few days.

And why does that mean he should not follow any sort of rules at all? Birds are not human and follow the natural laws, neither are trees or insects yet they too have rules they abide. Gods also have rules they can not escape, to say there is a god that abides no rules simply for being some god that came from nowhere is ridiculous.

I doubt all of asia hasn't heard of him.

[Of course her perceptions are based on the 7th century....]

I can imagine showing up here being a rough day, but what happened before this?

Oh... I was sent to one of the worst, most war-torn places in the world to spread the word of God, someone I was preaching to got shot in the face, I chickened out and ran away...

His voice lowers, a little lame and weak.

It's really... not been as easy as I thought it would be. I think you can tell.

War is never easy, and getting involved with a conflict unrelated to you seems... well, foolish.

[But he seemed like a rather foolish person.]

But, running away is no doubt why you are still alive.

But I was there to save those people- to show them God's power, not to crumble and flee like a child.

What about you? Would you trust in your... 'immortality'? Or would you flee?

Spoken as one who knows nothing of war.

[She can't help but chuckle a little.]

Why would I trust in my immortality for such a thing? A mortal wound will still strike me. Nay, I will trust in my ability to fight, I have seen war, and I know it well. But a war unrelated to me? Why would I get involved?

I may know nothing of war- I won't argue that- but I know of salvation. And that's what those people needed, more than than anything else. And that's my job.

If you can still be struck down, you're still mortal, aren't you? Just long-lived?

I am sure they need peace before they can spend time on salvation.

It is a bit... complicated.... There are only two individuals I know of that are immortal in a sense that nothing can kill them, and I hear quite pitiable things about them. But, I will not die of the same blows that would kill a mortal human so perhaps along with long life I am also sturdier.

Peace before salvation... if only there was time for that.

Pitiable things? What do you mean?

Perhaps if more effort were put into peace instead of salvation, there would be time for salvation.

They are eternal from what I understand, never aging, never changing. If killed they come back. Such a state is pitiable since there is nothing that is unending and eternal naturally. To watch those you care for live and die and never able to stop your own life. Never able to change the way you are, continuing on in that fashion, it is worse than death I would assume.