Walk With Me (5 page)

Peter and Celeste walked together through the gathering and stood before Faithfulness. Before the guide wove the cords on their wrists, he gave them some counsel. “Peter and Celeste, each of you has been greatly blessed with gifts. Peter, you are a serious follower of the King. Your faith is so strong that you could move a mountain if you had to. But remember this gift is worthless if you are not loving. Strength used without love is the worst power in the world. You could put every mountain into the ocean, and you would be nothing if you did it without love.

“And Celeste, you have a wonderful gift of words—you speak with such expressiveness, and when you sing the King’s songs, it sounds like an angel. But your songs will sound like rusty hinges if you sing without love.

“Now listen to the description of love that the guidebook gives—and keep it close to your hearts.

“This is the love of the King, which He has given to you—and now you can give this love to each other. Remember, the King’s
love never gives up and never loses faith. His love is always hopeful. His love endures through every circumstance.”

Then Faithfulness took the three strands and began to weave them around Peter’s and Celeste’s wrists as they sang their pledge together:

The cords became strong and bright as they sang on:

Faithfulness had Peter and Celeste join hands and raise them high so all the crowd could see the cords. “Peter and Celeste, husband and wife, partners forever.”

A great cheer went up through the gathering. As Peter and Celeste stood there, glowing with love for each other, some people thought they were seeing a glimpse of what it would be like to stand before the King, fully loved by Him.

Afterward the new partners were greeted by the guests. An unfamiliar couple approached, and Celeste whispered to Peter, “Do you know who they are?”

“I’m not sure. I think it’s the couple who lived next door to us when I was growing up. But they’ve changed so much, I hardly recognize them. The woman was a nasty gossip, and the man was stingy and mean. Look at how joyful they are now.”

Indeed, the couple looked radiant, as if their journey together had transformed them into a source of light.

“Lord Will and Lady Sophia.” The man extended his hand to Peter. “Congratulations. We’re so happy for you.”

“We didn’t bring our gifts today,” Lady Sophia said. “But we hope you can come visit us soon so we can give them to you.”

“We’d love to,” Celeste said, happy at the thought of getting more presents.

“They’re not too heavy, are they?” Peter said, thinking of the extra clothes Celeste wanted to add to their bags.

“Oh no,” Lord Will said. “These special kingly gifts are very light.”

“And they will make your journey together easier—” Lady Sophia said.

“So you’ll be able to reach the Highlands,” Lord Will said.

“The Highlands?” Peter and Celeste asked in unison.

“The King’s Highlands—”

“As close as you can get to His city without crossing over—”

“A wonderful region of blessing and joy—”

“Where the view is so much better,” Lady Sophia said. “You
can see out over the entire land of the King and wander in the high meadows—”

“And the chalice is sweeter and richer and thicker, like milk and honey mixed together.”

“But milk is an ordinary drink,” Celeste said.

“Not this milk,” Lord Will said. “You’ve never tasted such milk. It gives you energy and strength and joy, long after you have finished drinking.”

“If we follow the King’s path, will we be sure to get there?” Peter asked.

“No, not every traveler reaches the Highlands. That’s why we want to give you our gifts. They will help you on the climb.”

Peter and Celeste promised they would come for their gifts soon.

When night came, Peter and Celeste said goodbye to everyone and set off for the moon of honey. They held hands and followed a path lit by a golden moon that brought them to a small, private meadow. The air was warm and scented with roses. In the center of the meadow was a beautiful chalice of gold and silver, ringed with sparkling diamonds. They walked to the chalice. Each taking a handle, they lifted it and drank. It was the sweetest, most refreshing liquid they had ever tasted, revealing their innermost selves and binding them into one. Then they sang a song of the King:

“Oh Peter, I have never been so happy,” Celeste said.

“It’s the same for me,” Peter said. “And it all began with a simple walk.”

But in my dream as I looked ahead, I saw that Peter and Celeste did not walk happily ever after.

A
few days later, Celeste reminded Peter about picking up Lord Will and Lady Sophia’s gifts, but he didn’t want to take a detour. “I’m not sure it’s a good idea to stop just after we’ve started out together.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Celeste said. “As much as I enjoy getting gifts, I think our love for the King will be enough for us.”

“And we have our supplies and the guidebook to the King’s City.”

“And the chalice.” Celeste smiled.

“Exactly,” Peter said.

They decided they would follow the moon of honey for as long as they could. The path was straight and flat, wide enough
to walk side by side. Broad shade trees sheltered them from the noonday sun. They joined often to drink from the chalice. But for all their drinking, they never tired of the sweet liquid of love. They watched sunrises and sunsets and stopped for long picnics whenever they came to a meadow. Their happiness was just as Faithfulness had described, so they were quite sure he had exaggerated the dangers of being partners. They had seen no mountain ranges in the distance, or swamps or plains, only woods and lowlands dotted with lakes.

Then one day they came to a side path that turned sharply off the main road. When they stopped to look where it led, they could see an inviting forest dell in the distance—and beyond that, the tiniest glimpse of the King’s City. As they got closer, they could hear a brook gurgling. Clusters of butterflies flitted through the air. Over the next rise, they came to a large meadow covered with white clover like a carpet, its edge trimmed with rows of lavender. The path led straight through the meadow.

“What a beautiful path. Oh Peter, let’s take it. We must.” One of Celeste’s postcards bore a striking resemblance to the scene. She was so happy, she was ready to push Peter down the path.

But Peter stopped short. “Wait.” He pointed to an ancient sign planted at the entrance. Printed in large letters were the words, “Verboten. Interdit. Forbidden. Prohibido. Terlarang. Haramu. Yasak …” The word was written in 623 other languages, and there was a button to push that played the sign’s message in any language that was spoken but not written. Every traveler who came that way would know what the sign meant.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Celeste said. “This is the nicest
path we’ve come to. I can’t imagine why we wouldn’t be allowed to take it.”

“Well, not everything that looks pleasant is always good for us,” Peter said.

“True, but I don’t see any harm in taking this way. Check the map. I’m sure there’s some mistake.”

Peter found the path on the map. “You’re right. It looks like a very direct way to the King’s City.”

“So there you are.” Celeste felt pleased with herself. “How ridiculous to tell us not to take a path that goes to the King’s City. Besides, if this path really was forbidden, the sign would have explained why.”

“I don’t know.” Peter hesitated. “On the map there’s a hatched line through the path, as if it has been blocked off. Maybe we should turn back.”

“Come on, Peter, you don’t live in Upright Village anymore. We’re free to do whatever we want.” Celeste didn’t realize she was beginning to sound like her relatives back in Slouching City. “And the path is so well-worn—how can it be the wrong way? Besides, it looks like it would be a wonderful place to drink from the chalice.”

Peter gave up trying to persuade Celeste to turn away, and together they went down the path.

“Look,” Celeste said. “I’ve never seen so many tulips in different shades of white and pink and red and orange and yellow. And there’s a flowering orange tree.” She stopped and pulled a branch down so she could inhale the fragrance.

“Come on,” Peter said, wanting to hurry her along.

“But we’ll never come by this way again.”

“I’m sure we’ll see flowers like this from time to time.” He took her hand and gave it a tug.

Celeste held her ground. “Maybe next year there will be a drought and the flowers won’t be so pretty. Please, let’s stop and rest for just a bit. I’m getting a little tired. You’re walking too fast.”