“It’ll be a day like this one when the sky falls down / and the hungry and poor and deserted are found…” -Switchfoot
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The sky rolled up like a scroll as the rainbow fell to the earth with a great, thunderous blast. The ground beneath the children’s feet trembled. Fear, uprooted, became terror. They hesitated to lift their eyes for fear of what they might witness. The sun was gone, the moon had fallen from the night sky. The mountains slid into the sea; the land, overtaken by the ocean. Regret. Grief. Jealousy. Desperation. The world was caving in, and not one soul was at peace. Suddenly, silence. The time had come; the end had finally come.
Yet, amongst the upheaval, a chorus began to sound. It was a song of praise; a song of humble hallelujahs. I turned my head to see children, kneeling. There were millions of faces, millions of smiles. There was such a great number of children, they could have formed an army. Little ones, half naked, with rags for clothing; cracked, calloused clubs for feet; tousled straw for hair. Children with a light, a joy in their eyes that could only come from heaven. They had nothing to live for, and yet they had everything to live for.
I kneeled with them. They knew a secret; a something I had not been told. Yet, now, with the clouds rolled back, it was no longer a secret: I no longer felt blind to the truth. I no longer felt lost; no longer was I disoriented. I knelt, and I sang, because I knew the truth.
After the storm had subsided, the children discovered an immaculate vessel, filled with gold. Brimming, overflowing, abundant treasure. It was kept hidden until this day, given only to those who had finished the race, fought the good fight. Those who had given the heavens more than simply a passing glance. Those who lived their lives knowing that there was something bigger; something more beautiful than this world could ever offer. Those who were deserted, naked, hungry, despised, without hope. To them was given this treasure.
On that day, the ones whom the world tried to discard will no longer be lost; no longer forgotten… indeed, they will be found.
The end had finally come.
-ec
**This piece is the first in a series of writings inspired by my own photographs. Follow the link 'My Flickr Photos' on the sidebar to see more. Stay tuned!**
