Encouragement

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THE BUILDER
by A R Norman

"C’mon slowpoke!" Clarice exclaimed, her steady, confident pace a sharp contrast to her panting and somewhat ungainly boyfriend, who trailed behind her.

Clarice was at home in these woods. She had grown up in Hydesdale, and had wandered them often. She loved nature and all it’s marvelous intricacies, from the bugs on the ground, to the leaves on the trees, to the ever changing hues of the heavenly canopy above. As a child, her mother would often discover her, after a very panicked search, camped beneath a large oak tree in the heart of this forest. Despite being all grown up, her girlish love had not abated. This was her place, it knew her as much as she it, which is why her discovery the day before had been such a surprise.

She’d immediately ran to the house and told Bennie, who had been awaiting her return home from her nine-to-fiver as a Forest Ranger.

Of course he scoffed, blaming the noon day sun for a lapse into what he called "a mild dementia." It was then that she told him she would prove it by dragging him to the very spot where she had seen it.

"Why are we doing this" he muttered, angrily swatting a branch away from his face as he trudged on, "This is ridiculous. A mansion in the woods? Yeah, right! I’m a builder! Nothing gets built in this town that I don’t know about!"
"Oh, yeah?" Clarice replied, beaming through her breathless pants, "then what is that?"

Clarice pointed, but it was unnecessary movement. One couldn’t miss the awe-inspiring marvel that sprawled out before them. Both could only stare at it mutely, in turns fascinated and uncertain.

"What in the—?," Bennie finally breathed, as they continued to take in the glorious handiwork of what had to be the ultimate master craftsman.
There before them stood a home, or rather, it was a palace of an opulence that even the great kings of old could scarcely dream. The veined marble construction stretched as far as the eye could see, both in width and height. In truth, the building seemed to swallow the forest and all encompassing, and yet it was curiously well hidden by the largest of the hardwoods. Clarice suspected that if she could get a birds-eye view, she would see the piers and towers of it piercing through a surrounding sea of emerald green treetops.

Despite its marble facade, the palace radiated warmth and comfort. The opalescent sheen shimmered, shifting color depending on the angle of light catching it.

Large ornate doors and arched stain glass windows declared a meticulous attention to detail that was undeniable. Clarice imagined that it’s Creator smiled as he fashioned each touch and nuance.

They didn’t know how long they had been standing there, but Clarice was the first to move, heading towards the doors with a swift, eagerness that broke Bennie from his stupor. "No, no wait!" He exclaimed, putting a restraining hand on her elbow, "What if the master of this—this…house is in?"


Clarice strode towards the double doors and opened them with surprising ease despite their massive size.

"Well, don’t ask me how I know, but I don’t think anyone lives here."

Clarice swung the doors open wider and the duo found themselves once again staring in stunned silence at the inexplicable splendor they now witnessed.

Marble floors and columns lined a majestic hallway, which faded into infinite perspective. The walls were covered with gorgeous embossed wall paper boasting exquisite, floral patterns. Massive picture windows framed the beauty of the wooded outdoors, spilling light within, and giving the palace a golden glow. They strolled inside, silently appraising the place as they walked.

The scene yawned endlessly before them, and yet again, despite it’s imposing size, it made Clarice feel right at home.

"You have infected me with your madness!" Bennie blurted.

"But it is good madness," Clarice smiled as they continued.

They wandered until they came to a door in the hall. Although Bennie wordlessly gave his disapproval, Clarice felt compelled to enter the room.
She gasped, her eyes filling with tears.
The room appeared as if Clarice herself had decorated every inch of it. The colors were all in her favorite tones, understated and muted, with tasteful splashes of color to catch the eyes. The furniture was colonial in style, with lush comforters and large pillows gracing an impressive bed, which rested beside well-crafted wood accents. There were nature paintings on the walls, actualized by an artist whose multicolored palette had enabled Him to make each line come to breathing, roaring life.

It was as if the room had been wrested from a dream, and she could hardly contain her excitement. On a hunch she went towards the closet and opened it.

Just as she expected! The closet was filled with clothing in a style that she would have chosen for herself. She took a garment out and checked the label. Yep, her size. She bent down to retrieve a pair of shoes, slipped her foot into it and squealed!

"Yep. A perfect fit. Oh, Bennie—who would believe it—but this place is for us! " she cried happily, bouncing around the room and looking at each individual thing with gratitude and reverence.

"Ridiculous!" he scoffed, "wishful thinking at best."

"But the evidence…"

"What evidence? A nice room? A closet full of clothes?"

He harrumphed, crossing his arms, gazing at Clarice as if she were crazy.

Clarice blinked silently at him a moment, his attitude a mystery to her, "Obviously the Builder had to know me…"

"A builder?" Bennie smirked at her obvious naivete’, "Who says there was a builder?"

"You act like I’m crazy, but it's your words which make no sense." Clarice said, trying to stifle a rising annoyance, "Of course there’s a builder. Something like this doesn’t happen by accident."

"Oh, but according to the theories of chaos it well could. Factor in probability and there you have it!” Bennie clasped his hands in front of him and ginned in that way he had when he felt he was educating you on some basic fundamental of life lost to mere mortals, “If the materials existed to create a palace, they could simply migrate together and form, given enough time. I mean honestly, do you think a builder would create something this grand and just abandon it to the likes of you and I?"
Clarice blinked at him again, "Unbelievable."

"I’d say, I mean come on. If this was built for us by some unseen invisible builder guy, then where, praytell, is my tailor-made room?"

Clarice grinned at him. "Good question, and I am certain we will find it. Come on!"

Taking him by the hand, Clarice lead Bennie to the next room. It wasn’t another bedroom as they had hoped, but a large dining hall.

As expected, the room was immense and lavishly decorated, but what caught her attention was the gigantic dining table, which was set as if for a party. Upon the beautiful mahogany top lay white linens, golden candelabra’s and an amazing array of food dishes.

Clarice and Bennie walked the length of the table. The dishes were all favorites of Clarice’s, including a platter of cherry cheese tarts. It was a treat her mother used to make for her, right up until the year she died.

"Whoever set this up obviously loves me a great deal!" she responded merrily, "He went to such great pains to make me feel welcomed and adored. No detail was overlooked! Look at the way the icing on the cherry tarts look like bows. Mom used to do that."

"Sentimental hogwash! That‘s just supposition," Bennie jeered, "It‘s comforting to create fairytales. You find yourself in the realm of the unknown, but reason must prevail. For all you know, a great evil source can be behind this."

"A great evil source would make my favorites dishes with loving flourishes?” Clarice dismissively waves her hand, “I don’t see the logic. I feel nothing but love and protection here. Don’t you feel it?”

"Well, of course not, since I seem to be the only one running on rational thought here. The fantasy you’re creating for yourself won’t allow you to leave your comfort zone. And what’s with this He stuff—it could be a she for all you know—and she could be jealous of you for God knows what reason, and wanting to gain your confidence so as to kill you."

Clarice shrugged, picked up a piece of fruit and assuredly bit it. Wow! Her taste bud’s tingled with tantalizing sweetness! She offered it to Bennie, but he shrank away from it.

She shook her head at him, "Doubting Thomas."

"Hey, if were all going to get all spiritual and stuff, just remember the last time a woman offered a man a fruit and what happened to him."

Shaking her head once more, Clarice took Bennie’s hand and ushered him from the dining room towards the outer corridors.

Time seemed limitless as they roamed, and continued to investigate the palace, seeking Bennie’s "special room".

In each case they were lead not to the room in question, but to numerous other rooms, specially decorated and designed with Clarice in mind. Instead of noting this incredible circumstance, Bennie concentrated on the fact that hey had not found his room, and pontificated endlessly about how this proved he was right.

The corridor finally ended at huge French doors, which opened out into a large garden courtyard.

Like the rest of the place, the garden inspired breath-catching awe. Lush green lawns spread boasted trees, grass and shrubbery dotted with flowers of every color which created a pleasing mixture of scents.

Clarice stepped fearlessly into the courtyard and was greeted by a doe and a lamb who had been frolicking nearby. They nuzzled her hand and she knelt beside them, allowing them to lick her face. She giggled and smiled at the sheer loveliness of it all.

"Isn’t this fabulous!"

Bennie grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her up, "Foolish girl, you have no idea where those creature have been!"

"Oh, Bennie!"

"Unseen builders, now unseen gardeners. This fantasy of yours gets better and better."

At that point, both of them were startled by a loud hammering sound. True to character, Bennie froze in place, but Clarice moved forward, seeking the source of the clamor.

Against his will Bennie accompanied her, not wanting to be left alone in the perculiar, albeit fascinating place.

They entered a maze of large, manicured shrubs and at times seemed to move away from the hammering sounds. Although Bennie refused to lead, he complained the entire way, proclaiming them to be on a wild goose chase. This didn’t phase Clarice at all, in fact she felt inclined to continue if only to prove Bennie wrong.

Finally they came to a clearing and saw a man sitting on a stool, hammer in hand. He appeared oblivious to their presence, but they knew he was aware of them. He was in the process of putting the finishing touches on a bench, when the couple approached.
Setting the bench down, He looked up, and his eyes immediately fell upon Clarice. A deep sense of peace and joy overcame her as she gazed into his face. On it was a love deeper than any she had ever known. On this countenance no evil could dwell, and in his company, she felt that she had stepped into a homecoming.

"Sweet sister, I have awaited your arrival," He gestured towards the bench he had just made, "Come and sit beside me and we will share in the glory of the days."

"So it was you," Clarice whispered, tears spilling from her eyes, "It was you all along."
"From the womb I have cared for you and nurtured you. I watched you grow and was pleased in my heart by you. You have cared for me and the planet that the Father and I crafted with care. You have kept faith and never doubted in anything. So again I entreat you, come and let us glory in the days."
Bennie, was now a little envious. He too wanted to know the peace and the love so evident between the two of them.
"Master," he replied humbly, "what about me?"
The Carpenter turned his sorrowful gaze to Bennie and shook his head, "I am sorry my son, but you cannot join us. You have leaned to an earthly understanding, having little regard for that which is spiritual—and not only that, but you sought to destroy the peace that I had given to those who would place their faith in me, and with some, you managed to succeed. And only now that you see do you believe. Blessed are they who though not seeing, believe."
With that, a tall yet beautiful apparition appeared before Bennie and solemnly declared, "Behold, you must leave this place, and once you do, you shall have no memory of it."
The being then placed his hand over Bennie’s mouth, and he found that he could not speak. Clarice watched with regret as Bennie was being escorted away, her heart full of sorrow for him.
"What will happen to him?" She asked.
"It is written, that only the faithful shall enter in the Lord’s rest. So it is, so shall it be. “ He lifted her chin so He could smile into her eyes, “But daughter come, beyond this place is a land more glorious than even that which you have seen, and there is someone on the other side eagerly awaiting you!"
Knowing of whom He spoke, Clarice smiled and nodded. Taking Her Lord’s hand, she wandered towards a luminous light, a light for the ages, which would embrace her and show her the things that we ourselves will one day witness if we too hold strong.
As for Bennie, the years would pass and find him married with three wonderful children. Like most, he felt his life was comfortable and yet, empty and devoid of meaning. That spiritual void he filled with worldly possessions, but the more he bought, the emptier he felt. He wondered about it, and if he were to admit it, the night answered his questions. It was in the night, as he lay sleeping, most times dreaming, that his mind would recall a hazy distant memory of a glory he could barely grasp and a fleeting glimpse of the promise he would never hold to. It was tenderly elusive and haunting, and he’d awake crying, but he never knew the cause of his tears, and never questioned if he should find out.


THE END

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