It is said that the hills are alive with the sound of music, according to the song. If you listen, there is a knowing in the air. Something is afoot.

‘It was a regular day with dad working hard at bricklaying and me in school,’ Chet said. ‘Before we went to bed, Dad told me to always care for Mom,’ Chet recounted. ‘Dad answered that he had just received a good medical report from his doctor and expected to be around for years to come,’ Chet mentioned. ‘That night I dreamt that Dad died and in the morning he was dead in his bed,’ Chet said softly.

‘Our church was preparing to accept one of our congregation as our next pastor when there was another person better qualified,’ Billy B said. ‘I knew the man prepared to become the pastor was a fraud and had ulterior motives for wanting the job,’ Billy B went on speaking. ‘Later, he was fired for theft in his role as pastor,’ Billy B noted.

‘It is both a burden and a blessing,’ Edgar said. ‘Seeing the future is a herculean responsibility…the accolades and ridicule are exhausting,’ Edgar continued. ‘Is it a gift of God or the Devil?’ Edgar mused.

‘I have all of the answers, place your trust only in me,’ the Leader proclaimed. ‘Speak the words we tell you to speak and give of your finances until it hurts,’ the Leader said. ‘Those unlike us must be purged,’ the Leader said. ‘My policies, doctrines, ideas come from the many voices in my head,’ the Leader said with a wide smile. I have been spared for these last days of mankind,’ the Leader promised.

‘The land is so different now,’ Jane said. ‘Not many people,’ Jane added. ‘Libraries are empty and universities are closed,’ Jane noted. ‘Many are not welcome in the Government Church,’ Jane whispered. ‘Leaders’ vision destroyed so many good people while others became rich and think he is sent from God,’ Jane cried.

I was struck by the brilliance of the colors of the woods this morning. The same woods that I go to most days. Often it looks new. Is it new, or am I seeing it with new eyes? The changing of permanent things is mystifying. Ask two people what they witnessed at an accident, and they will have two accounts of what transpired. Physics believes that we assign meaning to what we see. The atomic and molecular structure of all things is constantly moving. Are our surroundings stable in our mind due to our brain’s clever trick?

The Pope passed away. He was a wonderful example of servant leadership and was inspirational to over one billion Catholics and all who watched or knew him. He saw humanity through love, not power. The Pope refused the Papal apartments with their luxury for a boarding house where he lived his Papacy. He wore the shoes of the common man and not the red slippers of the elite. He washed the feet of prisoners and embraced those who had been forgotten. A man called by faith for a big job.

The sunset on the April day. The people came on the day in their regular manner. As Jim Croce sang, there were planes to catch and bills to pay. Yet the day was different. Today was the first day of many lives. Today was the last day of many lives. The day was marked by long-anticipated retirements and weddings. It was special for its uniqueness of purpose. A day when the addict said Help is what I need. A day that dawned with possibilities. A day of opportunity. A day of hope.

‘Today I will begin losing weight,’ Chet said with determination. ‘There is something about April that gets my juices flowing,’ Chet laughed. ‘Somehow I suddenly realize I can do it,’ Chet noted. ‘No one can stop me as this April day is mine,’ Chet danced on one foot and then the other.

‘Today I will write and continue daily,’ Billy B proclaimed. ‘I have wanted to do it for many years now is the first day of the Writing Project,’ Billy B announced. ‘I will write from my sense of place, speaking of what the world looks like to me,’ Billy B said.

‘Preacher told us to carry his words to all the world, I will carry them to the poorest among us who have no voice, hope, and love,’ Jane said. ‘I will tell of the brilliance of color and rainbow of possibilities that I see in our kaleidoscope earth,’ Jane smiled with tears in her eyes.

‘Then I saw a ‘new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…’

‘It has been an extraordinary weekend,’ Jane said. ‘We were in despair and now we have hope,’ Jane continued. ‘It is good to see each of you and feel your hearts united to continue Preacher’s work in the woods,’ Jane assured. ‘We must remember what he taught us to love each other and feed the hungry and bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted,’ Jane smiled through tears. ‘Time slips away so suddenly, but love endures,’ Jane whispered.

‘I am going to write his words so that others may read,’ Chet said. ‘I can see his kind eyes,’ Chet reminisced. ‘His voice was like rushing waters and birds singing,’ Chet laughed. ‘Preacher told me that I could write, and now I write daily,’ Chet smiled. ‘My mom was sick and he visited her, now she is well,’ Chet reflected. ‘Preacher spoke against the hate the leader foments, and when the leader heard Preacher’s words, he became silent and walked away from the political stage,’ Chet exulted. ‘Preacher told me to help the stranger in our land and to always have an extra plate set at the table,’ Chet said.

‘Preacher asked me to speak of what I had witnessed in the woods,’ Billy B said. ‘Preacher told me not to be afraid but to speak out boldly against prejudice and hate and to be a voice for the voiceless,’ Billy B continued. ‘I told him that I did not like to speak publicly and was an introvert. He said that God would give me the words,’ Billy B said quietly. ‘Preacher said that wherever people were gathered, he would be there also,’ Billy B remembered.

‘Let us begin our fellowship this evening,’ Mary said. ‘I have seen Preacher, he is not dead but risen from the tomb,’ Mary proclaimed. ‘Preacher is going to Washington to speak truth to power and hope for the persecuted,’ Mary promised. ‘Preacher told me to tell you that if you just look around, you will find him with you,’ Mary mentioned.

‘How are my friends? I have missed you,’ Preacher said from the back of the group. ‘Greetings and joy to you all,’ the Preacher said as he slowly walked to the front of the gathering. Walking to the front were a blind woman, a beggar, a man with sores all over his body, and a prostitute. Then came diverse people from all nations, and those who had been forgotten and maligned. Gay people walked forward with tears in their eyes and hope in their hearts. Prisoners…lepers, those with disabilities, and many shunned by society also came.

The group surrounding Preacher all had one thing in common…they had his kind eyes…

God is mysterious, and this mystery extends to how he speaks to us humans. The mystery provides confusion. Many proclaim a direct line to God, but have ulterior motives. Others speak truth in obscurity. We seek answers to life’s persistent questions. Hope for our hopelessness. We are like the Blues Brothers; we want to be on a mission for God.

The recent season of the television program White Lotus explored the characters’ search for God. How arrogant we are if we think we have all of the answers. I had a minister in my youth who attested to the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson praying for him at her Los Angeles Four Square Gospel Temple when he was a returning marine. He swore that her prayer changed his life. Change is a good thing.

My current Pastor tells the story of being with the family of a terminal member of their family and their unshakable belief that God was going to heal the person. The Bible speaks of unshakable faith. How will we get through the trial of life without it?

I have heard ministers expound on their words being the words of God and that they must be obeyed, or destruction will follow. Not a great way to begin a faith journey. Ministers who want a direct line to your pocketbook and wallet. Churches that teach that the more you give, the richer you will become in money. I find no where Christ was motivated by riches. He spoke for those who had no voice, the forgotten of the land. The people that Jesus ministered to had no money, and when the widow gave a mite in the collection plate, he took note that she had given all that she had.

We are borrowing all of our earthly possessions. As the saying goes, you can not take it with you. It is possible to be owned by our earthly possessions.

Today, we see evil leaders taking advantage of poor people. Many pretend to be Christian, but it is a new creation of their own narcissistic ambitions. We seek the Bible to tell us what we want to hear. Thus, we bend political/religious leaders to fit a scriptural hero who has no relationship to the slayer of Goliath in any way.

We are waiting for Godot. As we wait, our brains do what they do best…find connections. God is found in the still, small voice of our hearts. He is found in the beauty of nature and the silence of a Wake. He is found doing something good for a person who could not do it for themselves. God is found in the welcoming of a stranger. He is in the eyes of a homeless child…

‘The stone has been rolled away and Preacher is gone,’ Jane said. ‘We heard he had died and was entombed by our politicians who were giddy with their triumph over his truth with their lies,’ Jane continued. ‘They accuse him of all manner of evil lies, validating their killing of him,’ Jane noted. ‘Preacher turned the other cheek and let them beat him, crown him with thorns and crucify him, asking God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing,’ Jane cried. ‘Now he is not where they expect him and they are at odds to explain what happened,’ Jane exulted.

‘Preacher has been seen and heard in the woods,’ Chet said with a wide smile. ‘He met with many of our diverse group while the power players of our government were toasting their victory and planning their next evil endeavor,’ Chet said. ‘They say there is no telling where he will turn up but suddenly appears among believers without warning,’ Chet laughed. ‘Preacher was seen in the halls of Congress talking with Senators, Congressmen, and Congresswomen,’ Chet winked. ‘Many politicans are influenced by Preacher’s Story and his triumph over the Leader and over death,’ Chet noted.

‘Your young men shall dream and your old men shall see visions,’ the Preacher said. ‘Place your hand in my riven side and your fingers in the holes in my hands and see that I am the Preacher hidden from the powerful and religious and revealed unto babes,’ the Preacher said. ‘I can not be driven out by hatred…hatred is afraid of love,’ the Preacher promised. ‘Welcome the stranger and she who has no home into your land, remember that all of us were strangers once,’ the Preacher said. ‘Beware wolves in sheep’s clothing who appear to love you and then turn and rend you limb from limb,’ the Preacher said. Fear those who say that they are me, their motives are not pure,’ the Preacher admonished. ‘Look for me in the woods and the quiet places, not the spotlights and tinsel and sound of brass and tinkling cymbal,’ the Preacher asked.

‘Preacher met with some of us in the woods and told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and to give a drink of water in his name,’ Billy B said. ‘Preacher said for us to speak for those who have no voice and to lift up the sorrowful and oppressed,’ Billy B said. ‘Preacher told us to beware of false prophets to avoid the love for money, ‘Billy B said. ‘Preacher said that all humans are God’s children and that he loves all humanity,’ Billy B proclaimed. ‘Preacher said beware of those who say their message is his message when it is completely different than what he preached in the woods to us,’ Billy B whispered. ‘Preacher said that the servant shall lead us not the narcissist,’ Billy B smiled. ‘Preacher said that money is but a tool for this life and will not be remembered in the next world…in the next world kindness shall be the coin of the realm,’ Billy B exulted…

‘The stone has been rolled away and Preacher is gone,’ Jane said. ‘We heard he had died and was entombed by our politicians who were giddy with their triumph over his truth with their lies,’ Jane continued. ‘They accuse him of all manner of evil lies, validating their killing of him,’ Jane noted. ‘Preacher turned the other cheek and let them beat him, crown him with thorns and crucify him, asking God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing,’ Jane cried. ‘Now he is not where they expect him and they are at odds to explain what happened,’ Jane exulted.

‘Preacher has been seen and heard in the woods,’ Chet said with a wide smile. ‘He met with many of our diverse group while the power players of our government were toasting their victory and planning their next evil endeavor,’ Chet said. ‘They say there is no telling where he will turn up but suddenly appears among believers without warning,’ Chet laughed. ‘Preacher was seen in the halls of Congress talking with Senators, Congressmen, and Congresswomen,’ Chet winked. ‘Many politicans are influenced by Preacher’s Story and his triumph over the Leader and over death,’ Chet noted.

‘Your young men shall dream and your old men shall see visions,’ the Preacher said. ‘Place your hand in my riven side and your fingers in the holes in my hands and see that I am the Preacher hidden from the powerful and religious and revealed unto babes,’ the Preacher said. ‘I can not be driven out by hatred…hatred is afraid of love,’ the Preacher promised. ‘Welcome the stranger and she who has no home into your land, remember that all of us were strangers once,’ the Preacher said. ‘Beware wolves in sheep’s clothing who appear to love you and then turn and rend you limb from limb,’ the Preacher said. Fear those who say that they are me, their motives are not pure,’ the Preacher admonished. ‘Look for me in the woods and the quiet places, not the spotlights and tinsel and sound of brass and tinkling cymbal,’ the Preacher asked.

‘Preacher met with some of us in the woods and told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and to give a drink of water in his name,’ Billy B said. ‘Preacher said for us to speak for those who have no voice and to lift up the sorrowful and oppressed,’ Billy B said. ‘Preacher told us to beware of false prophets to avoid the love for money, ‘Billy B said. ‘Preacher said that all humans are God’s children and that he loves all humanity,’ Billy B proclaimed. ‘Preacher said beware of those who say their message is his message when it is completely different than what he preached in the woods to us,’ Billy B whispered. ‘Preacher said that the servant shall lead us not the narcissist,’ Billy B smiled. ‘Preacher said that money is but a tool for this life and will not be remembered in the next world…in the next world kindness shall be the coin of the realm,’ Billy B exulted…

Morning is special. All things are new. The doubt of the night evaporates in the Sunshine of a new day. As I sat in the shelter of the woods, Jennifer and Lee James were like morning to me.

‘It is deathly quiet with no birds singing,’ Billy B said. ‘The air is still like a heavy garment,’ Billy B continued. ‘Hope has left our lungs, our hearts do not want to beat…our eyes are filled with tears,’ Billy B mused. ‘Preacher is gone,’ Billy B whispered.

‘Mary told me to not despair,’ Chet commented. ‘She is calm and at peace, going to the tomb early in the morning,’ Chet said. ‘Mary says Preacher will not break his promise to us,’ Chet mentioned. ‘Preacher knows what he is doing, and something great is about to happen,’ Chet smiled. ‘Be ready for a tremendous surprise,’ Chet proclaimed.

‘The guard stationed at the foot of the cross said that Preacher truly was the Son of God,’ Jane said through tears. ‘Politicans and religious leaders watched unflinchingly without emotion as he died,’ Jane said. ‘When the earthquake happened, they became frightened and fled,’ Jane commented.

‘It is a dark day,’ Chet said. ‘I just came from our gathering place in the woods, and Preacher has not returned,’ Chet said. ‘Several of our group have been rounded up by the government and sent to prison in El Salvador, being accused of being criminals and gang members,’ Chet recounted. ‘Preacher has been apprehended by the politicans, Senators, and House Members,’ Chet informed. ‘Fear dominates the Senate…fear of reprisal by the leader,’ Chet noted.

‘What fault do you find in this man?’ P asked the crowd. ‘He is but a Preacher with a small following and no threat to you,’ P continued. ‘Preacher preaches in the woods and what of it…many like the woods, including myself,’ P proclaimed with a smile. ‘Is not there a need for someone to be a voice outside the political/religious power to speak to the unseen and forgotten,’ P asked with interest.

‘Give us the criminal convicted of crime and nail this Preacher to the cross,’ Throng said. ‘His words about love and inclusion offend and embarrass us…he speaks not the approved words of the leader,’ Throng cried out. ‘His thoughts are not the leader’s thoughts and his ways are not the leader’s ways…his speech is unacceptable,’ Throng hollered.

‘Look, it is Preacher carrying a big wooden cross…he is bent over with the weight and is bleeding from his head into his eyes,’ Jane said. ‘He has been beaten and whipped, it is difficult to understand who he is,’ Jane cried.

‘Let me help you, Rabbi,’ the Ethiopian said. ‘Put your weight on me and we will walk together to the Hill,’ the Ethiopian promised. ‘You welcomed and accepted me when the powerful rejected me,’ the Ethiopian said…

Let’s see if we can find Preacher,’ Jane said. ‘Someone told me he had gone to the desert,’ Jane continued. ‘I am worried about his health and if those who wish him ill are seeking him for punishment,’ Jane expressed passionately. ‘He was with us in the woods and happy when suddenly he became quiet and withdrawn as if he had the world’s weight on his shoulders,’ Jane noted.

‘Life is good,’ the Leader said. ‘We have entered the Golden Age of Enlightenment,’ the Leader continued. ‘All will be transformed when our work is done, those who deserve our country’s blessing will receive them abundantly while those who are not of our tribe will be cast out,’ The Leader smiled and danced on one foot and swayed to the music. ‘We only want the true faith and not that of Preachers hidden in the woods,’ the Leader proclaimed.

‘Free thought and speech for the accepted, not for the voiceless and marginalized,’ Chet said. ‘The political/religious powerful will lock you up and throw away the key,’ Chet observed. ‘When words of acceptance and inclusion are heard, the thought police come quickly to smash the people guilty of thinking for themselves,’ Chet whispered. ‘The Truth Squad came to the Woods this morning and demanded to know if we knew where Preacher was,’ Chet said. ‘Diversity is damned and universities are persecuted for promoting it,’ Chet informed. ‘Up is down, and wrong is right while all must bring tribute to the Leader,’ Chet said with a tear.

‘I am so pleased to have supper with my friends this evening,’ the Preacher said. ‘These times are precious and we take them lightly,’ the Preacher continued. ‘Eat and drink because our faith will be tried in the furnace,’ the Preacher commented. ‘There is a deceiver in our midst and sitting with us at this table,’ the Preacher said as he looked each of the supper guests in their eyes. ‘Money and power are strong incentives for our bodies made of dirt and water,’ Preacher noted. ‘I will be going away for a while, but I will be back,’ Preacher promised…

‘I had a dream that I was in a beautiful garden,’ Chet said. ‘There was all manner of plants and flowers with a blue-green sky overhead,’ Chet continued. ‘A stranger accompanied me with a three-piece suit and wicked eyes,’ Chet explained. ‘He told me that I could have whatever I wanted if I would only do as he asked me,’ Chet explained. ‘The silver-tongued man spoke convincingly, and I considered his proposition,’ Chet said. ‘He reminded me that many of my friends were his colleagues and they had prospered under his mentorship,’ Chet sadly said.

‘I saw the mysterious man in the three-piece suit going into the garden with Preacher,’ Billy B said. ‘Preacher looks wan and sleep deprived,’ Billy B went on. ‘He told us that our faith would be tried and P told him that he would never deny him,’ Billy B said. ‘People like Preacher and our little group are hunted by the political/religious powerful, ‘ Billy B whispered. ‘Perhaps we have spoken out too quickly, what if Preacher leaves us…who will be our advocate?’ Billy B mused.

‘All these kingdoms are mine and will be yours if you will pledge allegiance to me,’ said S. ‘I am a good guy, a family man, and I have a large family and many mouths to feed,’ laughed S! ‘You will be King and I will be your consigliere,’ smiled S. ‘Those who disobey we will give a new home,’ S twinkled. ‘We are the in-crowd, the popular kids,’ said S.

‘The one I kiss on the cheek is who you are looking for,’ J said bitterly.