I wasn’t sure why I was standing here, in the middle of a busy city sidewalk. Cars zoomed by on the road and people walked by me, some intent on getting somewhere, other leisurely strolling along.
It was bright, and the whole scene seemed to be metal…the buildings, the sidewalk, even the street, though it might have been a trick of the sunlight. But it was a warm, inviting tone, not the cold stainless steel look.
“Excuse me, but where am I?” I asked, stopping a man holding a newspaper.

I wasn’t sure why I was standing here, in the middle of a busy city sidewalk. Cars zoomed by on the road and people walked by me, some intent on getting somewhere, other leisurely strolling along. It was bright, and the whole scene seemed to be metal…the buildings, the sidewalk, even the street, though it might have been a trick of the sunlight. But it was a warm, inviting tone, not the cold stainless steel look. “Excuse me, but where am I?” I asked, stopping a man holding a newspaper. He rattled off some strange name, started to walk on, and noticed my confusion. “Are you all right?” he queried. “Yeah, sure…but I don’t really understand…” “Are you from the country?” he interrupted. “Yes.” He chuckled. “Country folk. They’re always dazzled by the city at first. I know it’s a little overwhelming at first. Sometimes it seems a big mess even to me, when everyone is bustling here and there for work, except for Them. They never seem to work, though I’m sure They do.” “ ‘They’?” His eyebrows shot up. “You don’t know who I’m talking about?” I shook my head. “You must be joking.” I shook my head again. “Where exactly are you from?” “I live on a farm a few miles outside of Fairgrove,” I answered. Then, seeing his bewildered look, I added helpfully, “It’s in Missouri, not too far from Springfield.” “Missouri?” He repeated dazedly. “Yeah, one of the fifty states in the U.S.A. Everybody knows that.” “The United States of America? But that country is desolate now, a huge wasteland. No ones lives there now, much less farms there!” “I rubbed my hand across my suddenly sweaty forehead. Where am I, the local nut farm? “So how was it laid waste?” “Don’t schools teach these things anymore?” The man seemed irritated. “During the Tribulation. Famine and war and plague.” “The Tribulation? But that hasn’t…” “I think you’d better come see Justin,” he said, beckoning for me to follow him. “Who?” “Justin, our city ruler.” He sighed a little impatiently. “A mayor?” “Something like that. He’s one of Them.” There was that word again. I could almost see the capital ‘T’ he used. A prickly feeling crept up my arms and neck. “Who are ‘Them’?” I inquired as I followed my guide into a metal skyscraper. He paused before an elevator door and pressed a button as he answered. “I think I’ll let Justin explain that to you.” The door dinged open and he motioned for me to step inside. “Aren’t you coming?” He stepped back and shook his head. “No. We don’t…” he seemed to be searching for the right word. “We don’t interact with Them very much. Only a few of us have ever really talked to Them.” What’s the man’s attitude toward Them? I wondered. It’s not fear, but he doesn’t speak of Them lightly or flippantly, either. He pressed the button, the doors closed, and it began to ascend gently. I was too absorbed in my thoughts to notice much of the ride, though it seemed much smoother than any other elevator I’d ridden in before. Awe! I decided, everything clicking into place in my brain. The man spoke of Them with awe! The elevator stopped and the doors opened, silently this time. I gasped. This part of the building seemed to be made of all glass, except for the floor, which was the same familiar metal. There were people, walking around or standing in knots, talking. No one paid any attention to me at first and I took my time to study the people. The woman wore long dresses of light colors. The men wore darker colored shirts and dark blue, loose trousers. Both men and women wore a long white robe as their outermost garment. As I studied them more, I began to hesitate to even call them people. Their faces seemed more content, more wise, more peaceful than the others I’d seen. Then too, they moved with light graceful movements that were almost unnerving, and their bodies seemed to emit light. “Excuse me, but where can I find Justin?” I asked of a passing woman. She smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up with joy. “Come with me.” She led me from the glass room, down a hallway, and knocked at an opaque glass door. “Justin!” A tall man with a salt-and-pepper beard opened the door almost immediately. “Hello, Maria. Who do we have here, another Seeker?” Maria nodded and walked away, leaving us alone. “Come in,” Justin invited, holding the door wide. “Would you like any refreshments?” he asked as he pulled out a chair for me. I shook my head and sat down, still trying to sort out everything I had seen. Justin took his seat behind a desk and leaned forward eagerly. “Now, what did you want to ask me about?” “I met a man on the street who said the United States was destroyed in the Tribulation.” “It was, yes.” The news didn’t make as much of an impact on me as I thought it would. Already my home outside of Fairgrove, Missouri, U.S.A., seemed a faraway world. “Why do all the people refer to you as Them? They speak of you in awe, like you’re some kind of gods or something.” “No.” Justin smiled and the skin around his eyes crinkled. He tapped the tips of his fingers together. “No, we’re not gods. After the Tribulation, the God, the only God, set up a kingdom with a thousand years of peace here on earth. We are the Immortals, the people who believe in God and that His Son died for us. We live forever. There is no birth, no death, no marriage among us. The others, the Mortals, are the ones who don’t accept our teachings. They cannot understand us because their eyes are blinded to the truth, so they are somewhat hesitant to speak with us. Every now and then, however, one will come seeking the truth, and we will explain it. Sometimes they go away with no more knowledge than they came with. Most of the time they believe and another Immortal is born.” I was beginning to understand. “So you’re the rulers?” Justin smiled again. “In a way. We are Stewards who watch over cities and countries, and who receive their orders from God.” I nodded slowly, curious and longing to know more. Justin’s words had awoken a hunger in me that I had not known was there. “So, how do you become an Immortal?” “By being Reborn into a New Life by the blood of God’s Son, Jesus.” We talked for a few minutes longer, then Justin led me from his office. I knew my face was glowing, and I could almost hear the angels in heaven singing for me as I joined my Immortal brothers and sisters.

copyright 2007 by Magical Ink (magical-ink.blogspot.com)