Truly there are various paths on the journey of life. In earthly journeys, there are lonely roads a man must tread inwardly without another. Some inner earthly experiences, I label as “lonely roads”. Each individual human spirit must tread several lonely roads in an earth life without anyone truly experiencing it with the one concerned.
My story of today is based upon a storyteller in a township who lived not to far away from the outskirts of a town. In the community where he lived, he gradually became so popular. A very old man, whose children noticed after his retirement that he was always by himself, bored of life. One day, his elderly son, Peter moved closer to him to find out why he would not interact with anyone any longer. The old man replied, “I see the world has changed tremendously, far worse than in my time. I am sad at heart for that. I have a lot to say to the youths of this generation. They are the future of tomorrow.” He shook his head. Peter also shook his head staring at the old man. He said, “Papa, you are quite right. Everything seems not to be right anymore. What do you intend to do about it. “The father looked on. Peter continued, “so Papa will you like to make an impact with your wisdom to the youths of this generation? “The old man answered, “Yes. I will like to do that, I will try my best.” “ah…ah,” Peter exclamated. “This should do the trick! Papa, I am so happy for you, at least you will be occupied! “Peter went further, “will you like to start by telling the youths stories about life in general?” The old man said “Yes.” Peter followed with, “My Papa, the great storyteller. I will organize and renovate for you a place in front of the house. Place a seat for you and numerous other seats around your seats. I will engage four people to go around the community to herald this lofty task of yours to them. How lucky this community is to have a storyteller like you in their mist. An elderly one with wisdom who will make an impact on the youths. Any interested person should assemble here at the particular time you choose Papa.” Immediately after these words, Peter noticed the face of his father transformed with happiness and sumptuous joy. Before leaving the father, Peter said, “Papa, I hope you will not get discouraged because it might start little but I’m sure later it will definitely grow. Everything big starts little. You will become so popular too. I hope then Papa you will not be tired of it when the task becomes enormous.” The old man got up for the first time and laughed. “Peter my son, I can never be tired of it. I am glad I will be useful to my community and to my God. Peter do you know I will be turned to an instrument of the Lord that furthers Creation. All the people that come to listen to my stories will also tell other people which will change their lives. It will give them better understanding of Life. In the process, furthering commences.” After this, Peter felt fulfilled. He then left the old man, his father. The old man could not describe the joy that kept emanating from his heart. He sat back in his armchair reflecting on the future in anticipation of his new task ahead of him. His spiritual task. If he was given millions of the country’s money, it will not suffice. Nothing in comparison to this. When retired from the gross material activities, you must not stand still. Doing nothing can be deadly, observe the law of motion. If not, it might hinder and hamper the physical body. After retirement there must still be continuous activity. Engage yourself in a task that furthers Creation. Peter did not delay. He got to work immediately. After two weeks all was set for the old man. Though looking a bit frail, strength was given to him to commence his spiritual task. The joy kept him on and refreshed his body.
The story just began. The old man’s name was Pa-Phillips. He used to be a very joyful gayly man until a terrible life experience and later, the lack of activity after his retirement brought about boredom but lucky was he to have a vigilant son like Peter who got aware on time of his father’s state and turned things around for him.
Also came into the township, an elderly lady not as old as Pa-Phillips. Her name was Illumina. She had lost connection with her family. She was kidnapped but through the Grace of the Lord, she was released and told by the kidnappers to run for her dear life. That the person who sent them wanted her killed but they just felt, after few days of studying her, noticed how good natured she was and decided to free her. After her release, she could no longer return home out of fear that the person who sent the kidnappers might still be after her to harm her again. She had no money with her. She had to beg for money to be able to reach a distant country far away from her home. People out of pity gave her money as she requested. She gathered it all together to travel far. On entering a distant country, help also came to her. She met a good Samaritan, a woman who housed her. On reaching her home, she turned her to a house maid. She accepted because she had no choice. She lived with this woman for almost all her life. She took care of all her children from infancy. Now when old age set in, she decided to return back to her country. She had waited for the woman’s children to grow into adolescence. She knew by the time she leaves, there could be no more harm awaiting her anymore, in her country. When she got to her country, she went in search of her former home. On getting there, her family had relocated. She thought, “I am sure my husband would have remarried. Maybe by now, who knows, he might have even died because the age difference between us was an alarming one.” She thought also of her children. They all would have grown too. She bore four children, all boys. Sadness ensured from her heart remembering them all. “O…um...my children, where will they be now. Probably when I got missing, they thought I was dead.” She then went further. “even if I see them, they will not believe I’m their mother. I cannot recognize them anymore. And they too will not recognize me either. I had to run for dear life then. To make matters worse, my phone was taken from me by the kidnappers and was not returned.” She did not even remember to ask for it out of fear anyway. She then remembered the question she had been unable to answer all this while, that kept bothering her. “Who must have sent the kidnappers? Who can it be?” This thought weighed on her but when she found no headway, she dismissed the thought immediately. This gladdened her heart and fortified her to forget the past and face the future instead. She should be happy that she had now settled back into her country. Her township. Her community.
As for Pa-Phillips, it had now been months since he had started the story telling in the community. The number of participants was little for a while but gradually the number grew to a large one. The youths ran towards a direction at particular days of the week. They went in the direction of a lemon building. There, in front of the house, was erected a massive white canopy. Always there, in front of this house, at particular times with an elderly man seated amidst several purple chairs assembled together in large numbers and numerous youths seated on them. Pa-Phillips had become a popular figure suddenly in the community, well respected by all a sundry. Youths liked to gather by him in the evenings of alternative days to listen to words of advice and wisdom about life from him. One of these faithful evenings as usual, the youths gathered around Pa-Phillips. Nothing gives Pa-Phillips joy as this. He felt overjoyed seeing the new generation before him. He was always glad to share life experiences with them. At the end of each gathering, Pa-Phillips showered, ate and retired to bed glad that the day had been a fulfilled one in honor of God, in joyful activity in the furthering of Creation, thereby serving God.
A day it was, Illumina followed out of curiosity, after several groups of youths rushing towards a particular direction on certain days of the week. She also decided to follow them this time to find out what it was all about. She thought, “I must see for myself, why these youths rush towards that direction at particular times. What is really happening? Why and for what?” She did not realize that it was a right pull from her intuition that gave her the impetus to move in that direction. On getting there, she saw a large number of youths seated. She then gazed ahead and saw an elderly man in front of them seated. In her heart, she felt she recognized the old man. She had seen him before but was not sure where, she thought. Illumina decided to let the matter rest and concentrated mainly on what had brought her there. She sat on an empty seat in the middle by the side. Not long, the old man began to speak. He told the youths the topic of the day. He said he will not be telling them a story on that particular day but spiritual enlightenment which is "The Lonely Roads of Life”. There was excitement all over the youths faces for they knew they would gain a lot from the unique topic of the day. Illumina in her corner baffled. If faces are deceptive, voices can never be, she thought. Immediately, she recognized the old man. “That is my husband. Wow, so he is not dead after all. How wonderful the Lord is. What will be will be. So, we will still see each other, but will he recognize me? If so, what use will our meeting be? What use will I be to him again at this age and he to me? Will he still want me around him? Will he still love me? Or he might be married to another?” Various questions kept hoovering and tormenting Illumina, but she kept her calm. She will not want to disturb the gathering. The story of this old man must be so dear to the youths. At the end of the gathering, I will go to the old man and introduce myself to him.
Pa-Phillips began thus: some paths of each individual human being are lonely ones – lonely roads at some point in time, which each must experience life in different ways and alone, whether people are with the one concerned or not, the experience itself is felt within alone. A lonely one. Only experienced solely by the individual alone. There are varieties in this. Take for instance, first and foremost, your journey to this earth, coming down, through the female being that carried you through the passage to this earth. You alone in that young body called, “baby,” actually experienced that alone regardless of the mother’s own experience. That is a taste of a lonely road. The introduction to a human being to get familiar to lonely roads of life that lies ahead of him. Pa-Phillips continued, now to the earth. The baby is born. Growing up sometimes in sickness. Who experiences sickness with him or her? None, definitely no one. The pains and the discomfort apart from the cares and worries, the sickness itself is only experienced by the sick one. People will only greet as often as they could to encourage the sick one, but no one truly experiences the pain caused by the sickness to the one concerned. That is a lonely road. Another example – on getting prepared for an operation, only he who stands in the experiencing truly feels what it is like. Everyone will wish the one concerned well with good and loving thoughts. Sometimes even prayers for a successful operation. That is a lonely road that must be tread alone. Lonely roads of life that must be taken and experienced without anyone. Now also take for instance other experiences like being in a form of trouble. Who experience the panic and fear as much as the one concerned? The youths shouted, “wisdom, wisdom Pa-Phillips.” They also replied to his question, “No one.” He then said, “good you got me right.” Illumina at her corner said to herself, “is it my husband called Pa-Phillips? Pa-Phillips now full of wisdom. How time flies. Mr. Phillips now Pa-Phillips. Old age is not a disease but a crown.”
Pa-Phillips continued, “even in marriage so it is. Look well my children before you leap. So that when you do, you do not have cause to regret. If you marry a bad partner, who experiences the unpleasantness, agony, sorry and anguish with the one concerned?” The youths answer was no one. Continued Pa- Phillips, “most especially if the bad partner is good at hiding these attributes away from people outside the home. That even makes matters worse.” Pa-Phillips said to the youths. Your answer is correct. That is a lonely road too. Whether the good partner, for instance if it is a lady that married a bad man. She will not be able to say to anyone what she is passing through. No one will believe or experience what she’s going through. She will surely pass through the experience inwardly alone. All else will see the evil perpetrator as an innocent good one. Whereas he was not. How can the other prove herself than to continue to live with it, if she could bear to tolerate further the experience, she will only gaze up to the Lord who knows the truth and sees it all. Not like mankind. She will be in anticipation for the time the Lord will liberate her from such experience. That is a lonely road she had to pass through. All experiences felt only within. Which no one truly shares with one, that is solely experienced by the one concerned are all lonely roads of life. There are so many lonely roads human beings must pass through in this earth life, but most importantly is to gain from the experience and advanced spiritually. Then move on awaiting the next and the next until the last one that approaches man which leads him out of this world. “Some of the youths might bear the knowledge of which Pa-Phillips teaches but he only needs to awaken it in them” he thought. Pa-Phillips asked the youths, “do you know what I am referring to here?” The youth’s answer was no. Pa-Phillips then asked further, “do you know what I am referring to here, about the last lonely road out of this world? A vital one at that.” They all answered “no” once more. He then said to the youths, “it is death. The departure from this earth plane. He then continued, “all along since you entered the Gross Matter, which is this earth, you have treaded several lonely roads which had become familiar to you and are meant to prepare you for the main and last one. By this time, by the last call from the Lord, you must now know you are all alone by yourself. The lonely roads are to make you aware that you are not linked to anyone except to the Lord alone. You should by then be fearless when the call of death approaches. On the last day, when you are finally to leave this world. You might not be permitted even to say goodbye to a dear and closest one. Death might come when one least expects. Now you have to pass this lonely road all by yourself – the main and last one out of this world like when you came. Just like the struggle of birth that was experienced solely by the one concerned as I said earlier, so also is the exit from the passage of death experienced all alone by each individual. All lonely roads. Why then can’t we human beings see the reality of life and do it right. Also note that it is only the Lord that is important above all to us. No one else. Whether we like it or not we stand in His Laws and we will be judged by Them. We will have to account for all our thoughts, words and deeds. Why not live aright now while on earth, by doing His Will in observing His laws. That is the only thing that will swing us back home to Paradise so that we do not have to waste time by several incarnations which could make us not to rise above the realm of Gross Matter and face the too late which would result to spiritual death, the losing of one’s personality by the withdrawal of ones ego. If this ever occur, the light will reckon with the one concerned as a rejected one on able to become useful in Creation. So strive now, not to be counted amongst the useless.” Immediately, after these words, celestial radiance fell over him as though transfigured. Pa-Phillips continued, “my children” calling the youths thus, “now that you are still young, this is the best time for you to make an adjustment. Do not complicate your path any further. Do it right from henceforth. Do not trample on your neighbor in the pursuit of your daily needs. All your thoughts words and deeds are actually being woven for you, which you will account for except you atone for it. That is the only way you can be free of it. So no longer add new karmic threads to the old ones but from now on sow good seeds only and no longer bad ones. Pa-Phillips continued, “as I mentioned earlier my dear youths, no one is more important than the Lord. Love Him above all. If you truly love Him, then you will obey His commandments. Do His Will by observing His Laws. Also read the Holy Word, which is available to mankind at the present time. That alone can guide you aright. Not only read it, but act upon it as well and let it become an integral part of your being. This also makes you a free spirit to get you connected to the light always, where your protection lies against all darkness. Pa-Phillips continued, “anyone you come across, be good to them and things will turn around for good for you. There is actually no link with you and anyone if you do not tie yourself spiritually through unforgiveness, grudges and the rest of evil vices such as hatred, jealousy and envy. You came alone and you shall go alone. Let this sink in very well. Today I share with you, the lonely roads of life. I hope you have enjoyed it and have learnt a great deal from all I have said today?” The youths shouted, “Yes!” Then he said further to the youths, “that is all I have to tell you about the lonely roads of life on this earth.” One of the youths shouted, “Pa-Phillips! Pa-Phillips! I crave your wisdom sir.”
Then followed by the youths, all clapping with loud murmurings and shouting Pa-Phillips’s name three times before departing, all so happy and grateful for the great knowledge. Pa-Phillip sent a word across to the youths while departing, “go well my dear youths until another day by the Grace of the Lord when I will open for you another page of life.” Pa-Phillips felt fulfilled. He was very happy. He did not know that a bigger bundle of indescribable joy still awaits him amongst the crowd. After all had left, Pa-Phillips noticed an elderly woman seated alone in one of the side chairs. Amazed he thought, “this gathering is only meant for youths. What is an elderly woman doing here?” Not long he noticed the woman moving towards him. He thought, “she must have been a fair lady but due to old age, she looks a bit tan.” After this thought of Pa-Phillips, Illumina reached him. On reaching, she greeted him and commended his wisdom. That she herself had learned a thing or two from what he had said to the youths. She asked Pa-Phillips, “I know you sir, do you know me?” Pa-Phillips could never forget that voice. Even in sleep, he would recognize it anywhere. “Ah…who am I seeing? Am I dreaming? Please somebody wake me up” said Pa-Phillips placing his hand over his face shakingly. “Illumina…Illumina, my wife. Though you have changed a great deal in outlook, I still recognize that sweet voice of yours anywhere, even in sleep.” Pa-Phillips eyes widened and he gazed up with the words, “Lord thou hast blessed me when all hope was lost.” Illumina now so happy. She had found her husband back at last. Peace welled up in her heart which had been denied of her for a very long time. Pa-Phillips overjoyed at the reunion. “ My long lost wife back to me again. My woman, my joy welcome back home.” He got up, held Illumina’s hand and danced with her, singing their favorite song regardless of being outside. Illumina was shocked that he had not forgotten. Pa-Phillips said, “ I thought you were dead. That I will also have to die before I will see you again.” At this point, the conversation ended for a moment. Then it went further. “I never knew I will still find you in this world.” Pa-Phillips broke down in tears. What wasted years that was deprived us. All those years that I will have been taking care of you and showering you with love. I did not know what you ate or neither could attend to your needs. I looked everywhere for you but after many years, I gave up. Though I never married another woman because I could never find another you.” All these words gladdened Illumina’s heart. She praised the Lord in jubilant thanks for permitting them this Grace. Illumina asked about the health of Pa-Phillips and instantly, he also asked about hers in return. They were both fine. She also went further to ask about her four boys. She said, “definitely, they must be men by now.” Illumina’s eyes filled with tears as she said these words. “Yes, they are all men now and they are all fine,” said Pa-Phillips. Then he further asked Illumina, “how did it all happen?” Where were you all these years? You suddenly disappeared” Illumina narrated all to him briefly. Then he went further to ask her, “were you ever able to find out who kidnapped you?” Her answer was no. Pa-Phillips then said, “it was our former landlord who came to confess after he was struck with a terminal disease. He confessed that he made passes to you, but you refused and that if he could not have you, no one else will, and he also wanted you dead. He came to ask for forgiveness. I guess he was advised to do so before his passing". Illumina nodded and said, “that is the end of a wicked one after being married to his wife. He still lacked contentment and with so much desperation. He could lust over another man’s wife. He deprived us of all those years. May the Lord forgive his wrong doing " concluded Pa-Phillips. Illumina said to her husband, "you told me something of value to me which keep my heart at peace at last. Letting me know who arranged for me to be kidnapped. I never knew it was him." Lost in thought for a while, Pa-Phillips then said in a warm and loving voice to Illumina, “why did you not tell me of the passes he made towards you?” Illumina replied, “I was afraid to say it. I was not sure how well you could’ve handled such matters.”
Pa-Phillips then said to her, “never be afraid to say things to me no matter how bad. See what fright had caused us both. A costly one at that. We would have tackled it together with wisdom. We probably would have left his house and moved to a more conducive place devoid of any disturbance. Anyway, that is in the past now. My dear Illumina, the most important is that you made it. You came out of all your experiences smelling roses. We have a lot of catching up to do. Please my darling wife, I welcome you back to your home after all these long years. Illumina, I hope you’ll never go away again. Or would you?”
Her answer was negative. As soon as we enter the house, I will send for all your children. They all live not too far away from me in order to check on me from time to time. Pa-Phillips continued, “as big as this house is. I have only the driver and a maid living with me. This reunion is worth celebrating my dear Ilumina.” After this statement, they both entered into the beautiful lemon building. Illumina glad she will see her children again after so many years. As for Pa-Phillips and Illumina, joy had filled their hearts which outweighed their sorrow. Illumina had also gone through her lonely roads of life. Though a very tough one with a compulsive severance from her family, but luckily help was available for her on time which constituted to the victory of her lonely road. On entering the house, Illumina was moved by the cleanliness and comfort of the living room. After a while they had been seated, Pa-Phillips said to Ilumina, “my dear wife, you will no longer leave my sight for a second until death do us part, which I pray would not be soon but a very long time for us both. “May the Lord add more years to our ages,” Pa-Phillips concluded. He then said afterwards to Ilumina, “you will sleep here tonight?” Illumina was about to decline but Pa-Phillips sensed it and silenced her politely. “No, don’t say a word please my Illumina. You will sleep here tonight, or have you not missed me enough all these years?” Illumina blushed from such words which she hadn’t heard in years and could not resist further. She then answered, “of course I will sleep here tonight.” Immediately Pa-Phillips said, “I would send the maid to quickly purchase for me all you will be needing until tomorrow. Tomorrow, also, your children will all be here, and we will go and take all your belongings wherever you put up, that is if you don’t mind.” Pa-Phillips continued, “I am not imposing my will on you, Illumina?” Please get me right. Illumina then answered, “I don’t mind at all. Where else do I belong. I belong only here with you my dear friend of the soul.” So, Illumina stayed the night with her husband. In the morning, beauty and love greeted Pa-Phillips. A lady whose purity of heart matches her outward beauty. On this day at noon, the children all arrived at Pa-Phillips’ house all excited to meet their mother who they never knew and had missed for years. Peter the eldest son arrived first. He was the replica of the mother. On seeing his mother, it was as though he was looking at himself in the mirror. He hugged the mom for a long time before releasing her. After a while, he asked the mother a striking question. “Are you obliged, mom, to tell me what had caused your disappearance.” Illumina answered her son, “later dear son I will, when the time is right. When we have enough time for ourselves without disturbance of any kind.” Even Peter's voice resembled the mother’s but for just a little difference. Peter's voice differs because his is a little coarser than the mother's - masculine. Illumina knew she would love this particular son very much amongst all her children, but she did not voice it out. Peter was so excited, that now finally he could relax. He will no longer have to worry much about his father again because he now has a companion he loved so dearly. Judging from all Pa-Phillips had told Peter about their mother. He knew his father loved their mom so much. He also loved his father very much too. So, the return of their mom made him overjoyed at the lasting peace his father would finally have much more than he can ever give to him. Soon the rest of the children arrived. Illumina, now seeing all her children together - the four complete, a shout of joy came from her lips and then she broke down in tears, at the same time thanked her husband for taking good care of them all this while until adolescence. Every thought of the past suddenly it effaced from her mind. In Pa-Phillips house there are many rooms. One of which was now for his darling wife, Illumina. After some hours the children had arrived, they all went to work with their mother to pack and bring her belongings from her house while Pa-Phillips waited in the house for them. When they finally arrived with Illumina’s belongings, Pa-Phillips was so happy. He said, “finally, my wife is back home to me, I will live longer now.” All the children did not return back to their home that day but decided to spend the night with their parents. The following day in the morning, all the children left and later returned the same day with their wives and children. The whole house was fully filled up. It was a grandeur celebration, that shocked the whole community with also a priest in attendance to pray for the whole family. Pa-Phillips and his wife was blessed with additional years to their ages, and they lived for a long time together in joy and peace of heart. Seek first the Kingdom of the Lord and all else shall then be added unto you. Put a quick end to wrong ways than to continue sinning. Do not mention the Holy Word except it is the content of your life. Pa-Phillips sought first the Kingdom of the Lord and all else was added unto him. With spiritual activities in devotion to the service of God afforded him peace, joy and happiness. The reuniting of his long lost darling wife was also brought about. May I quote from the book of the knowledge of Creation which is available to us all at this present time through the Mercy and Grace of God to mankind. “If a man sets his course in an upward direction with the insight and a firm will, evil reactions will hit him less and less, and will finally only have a symbolical effect because through his ascent he has already been removed from the nether regions of evil reactions, even though he may still be on this earth. It is not all necessary that a man must suffer if he strives towards the light. The Lord does not will suffering or sorrow for His creatures but supreme joy. Any obstacle that befalls man has been placed there by him personally through his sowing in thoughts, words and deeds.”
For whatever a man sows that must he reap multiple folds. For it would have through the Law of Homogeneity gained more strength through similar thought seeds sown by other human beings. The Laws of God are no respecter of anyone. They are incorruptible. It had been woven into Creation for all times. The mills of the Lord grind slowly but exceedingly fine. Every human being must reap in all certainty whatever he has sown for himself. So beware, tread your path with caution in obedience only to the Laws of God.
Experience well your lonely roads man. Gain from the experience and move on. For whatever a man experiences, true and true within, does he take with him to the beyond after shedding of the physical body. Pa-Phillips amidst the happiness of the reunion with his wife, knew definitely a time will come when he too will have to leave this world. He learnt also from his narration about life to the youths which reminded him the more to be constantly conscious of his steps in life. Pa-Phillips also knew that when the time comes for him to pass on, he will have to experience the last lonely roads of life. The terminal one out of this world alone. Must you not now be aware and be conscious to realize that such a day will also come for you, when you must tread this last lonely road of life into the beyond after the several ones you have taken before then. My advice to everyone who come across this write-up is to stand tera firmer in the Will of God - In the Light. For only in Him lies the help and protection you need, none other.
I leave you with this prayer until I come your way again:
“In treading my lonely roads of life, may the Mercy and Grace of the Lord accompany me always. May I learn from all and become strengthen through all the experiences that might assail me and never remain standstill at any point but continually move onward in obedience to the Law of motion until I return back home to my origin – Paradise, to strive on in joyful activities. Amen”