Place to Place

      Nathaniel strolled the dirt path until he came to the village. Before he stepped forth into the dwelling, he saw the inhabitants and how they acted among each other.

           “This village will do well,” he muttered.

           He continued forth, checking out the places the people either resided in or they did business from. Places built of mud and brick. Others of wood that were either board or log. And ones made of sticks and straw. None of the places were made the same as he looked to the left and right.

           “They have much character in this village,” he thought.

           The question is which ones will stand, and which ones will fall. The structures can be quite deceiving for Nathaniel has seen places of all types of make that have fallen. If none of them are maintained properly, they will all fall.

           Nathaniel came to the middle of the village and came upon a large stone building with two wooden doors with very intricate designs on them.

           “Someone or ones are very gifted,” he muttered.

           This is the place to meet. Nathaniel was quite pleased, for there were other places where they had nowhere to congregate, so he had to stand on a chair or table. A couple of times, there was a mound of dirt. This meeting hall will suffice for what he needs to do.

           “I just hope they can all fit in the place,” he thought.

           He walked up to the wooden doors and spent a little time admiring the perfection done on the doors. He wondered if they were done here, or did the villagers bring the doors from another place?

           “Whoever did it need to be congratulated,” he said with pride.

           While he adored the doors, the villagers, who ignored him at first for strangers came to their village, started to look upon him. They wondered what he was doing here, while others thought he might be a teacher by his dress. A simple light-colored brown robe and wearing leather thongs, they figured he wasn’t one high in authority. The man had long, gray hair, streaked with white that went to the middle of his back.

           “I hope he is not another mad person,” a couple of people thought.

           There have been men and women of the past that have come into the village to cause havoc. It took some rope and a good knock on the head to take them out of the village. They hoped this man staring at the wooden doors was not one of them.

           What the people did not know is that Nathaniel knew more and more villagers were checking him out. That was his intent, for it was much better than going throughout the village to tell the people to go to the hall.

           Nathaniel pulled on the two doors, and they opened wide.

           “The people did well on the design of the doors,” he thought.

           When it comes to a large building, all doors should be pushed open from the inside. He had come across places where it was not so, and fires had broken out. Loved ones lost. A good number of the villagers were lost. What broke his heart is that he had been to the villages before and warned them. They had to learn the hard way, unfortunately. So many must learn the hard way.

           “So many times, I have to start over,” he thought. “But I shall do so over and over again until my dying day.”

           Nathaniel walked into the hall and was pleased. There was a stage on the opposite end with a great fireplace. Benches lined up to the left and right with an aisle down the middle.

           “If the people are like the build of this hall, there will be little teaching needed.”

           Nathaniel slowly walked toward the stage, thinking of the numerous villages he had gone to. So many he went over and over to teach them once again from the start. They fail over and over, but Nathaniel has been taught patience and love. He will not give up on the people.

           “I can see why I have not been to this village,” he said as he came to the stage. “But all villages need teaching, for everyone tends to backslide. Even this one that looks like they don’t need it.”

           Nathaniel got onto the stage and over to the fireplace.

           “Very nicely done,” he said as he checked it out.

           Then he turned around and looked at all the empty benches.

           “I have to say this is the best place I have been to,” he said.

           He thought of the numerous villages he had gone to, wracking his brain on how each place looked like. Impossible to know all, but he was pretty sure this one was the best.

           “Can I help you?” a voice asked from the other side of the room.

           Nathaniel looked toward the entrance and saw a man and woman standing there. Both were nearing their middle years in life. He also knew they were the leaders of this village. And by looking at them further he knew they were doing well in their leadership.

           “I have come to teach the good news,” he replied to the couple.

           The couple just looked at him for a moment with no expression, but then grins appeared on their faces.

           “Welcome!” they both cried out.

           “We have been waiting for a teacher,” the man said.

           “It has been so long since a teacher has come through,” the woman said. “Always a treat to have a teacher come.”

           “That is good to hear,” Nathaniel said.

           “We can gather them now?” the man asked.

           “No, no,” replied Nathaniel. “Let’s wait until later when everyone is done with their duties.”

           “We will gather this evening,” the woman said.

           “Sounds good. Until then, may I have something to eat and drink?”

           “You can come to our home to rest and eat.”

           “If you don’t mind, I will do so in this hall for it is a grand place.”

           “We will get you food, drink, and start the fire,” the man said, and the two left.

           Hours later, the hall was full of villagers standing.

           Nathaniel stood on the stage and told them the good news. He told them example after example of what needs to happen to keep a healthy village. Unity, love, forgiveness, compassion, and other actions with positive results. People would say they already knew of such, but Nathaniel could tell them of villages he had to start from the beginning over and over due to forgetting or disregarding those principles.

           “This village has done quite well,” Nathaniel thought.

           The meeting ended and a large banquet took place. Nathaniel received many thanks for coming and speaking.

           “We know of much of what you speak, and talk to our younger ones of such, but it helps for one like you to come to re-enforce what we say.”

           Nathaniel was glad to hear of such and went to bed that night, glad to be able to help souls.

           The next day, he moved on. It was difficult to leave a place like this one, but there are villages that need his teaching for all is loved.