(To be clear, I am actually not religious. This story is from a profound dream I had one night when I was in my early 20's)
It was a sunny and warm summer morning, in the green valley. Two mountain ranges ran parallel to the river that rushed through the middle. There weren’t many of us here, only about 5,000. It was not a completely isolated town, but still small and familiar. I loved this place and the people. But I was different. In fact, I was better than them for two reasons. For one, I could fly. Yes I could fly. I remember the first time I realized it. I was dreaming one night about flying and it felt so real. When I woke up I was floating above my bed. I was completely freaked out and scared to tell anyone, so I kept it a secret. I was afraid that they would think I was possessed by evil or something. They were all into that…their gods and prayers, the dark and light side of things. This was the other thing that made me different. I didn’t believe in any of it. Why should I? I’ve never talked to god or seen any miracles. I felt above all that and all them.
I actually felt bad for them, those stupid people that are ruled all day by their stories and rules. So I usually spent my time in the valley by the river flying around the green fields. I would spread my arms and race up and down the river, taking in the smell of fresh cut hay and sagebrush. I was better than them! I could fly and their god was fake!
One day when I was again flying around the fields I noticed that I had not seen anyone by the river in quite some time. Although my ability to fly was still a secret and I’d usually stay away from people, I’d still see from a distance people fishing or the ranchers working their herds. I decided to fly up the river until I could see someone…anyone. Still I couldn’t see a single person. Then to my left I saw an enormous dust cloud. It was a dust cloud that looked like a stampede of cows or buffalo would make, rising high into the sky and moving in one direction. The cloud was getting bigger and moving faster. I decided I’d better go see what it was. As I neared the cloud, I could see that it was people that were running! My entire town was running in one group screaming and yelling towards the mountain.
My eyes were the size of dinner plates and my heart was beating out of my chest. “What the fuck is going on?” I need to go ask them what they’re doing. I sped up my flight but the closer I got the slower I flew until I could no longer fly forward. There was some sort of force field holding my back. I started screaming “Hey, wait! What’s going on?” No one could hear me and they kept running farther and farther from me. It was at this moment that I realized I was all alone. I flew back to the bank of the river and pulled out my phone. “I know! I’ll call my dad and ask him what’s going on.” I dialed his number and it started to ring. To my surprise I could hear his phone ringing, it sounded close! I looked down the river and flew toward his ringing phone but couldn’t see him. I got closer and closer and found his phone sitting on the bank just ringing. It was like someone had put it there knowing I would be looking for it. “No” I said in a whisper.
Here I was the smart one who could fly, the better one, the knowing one….all alone. I felt like an animal in a cage. I looked around wildly to try to find anybody but I still couldn’t. I needed to get to town ASAP to see if anyone else had stayed behind. With a new goal and some new hope I flew as fast as I could toward town. My hair whipped through my face and my eyes nearly dried out.
I could see town, but I started to slow down. A sinking feeling came through my body as my heart dropped. I realized that this was not some random event. I realized that I had been separated purposely. I looked to the sky all around me, looking for someone, something that was making this all happen. As if my thoughts were being read from a book, a loud and thunderous voice came across the whole valley.
“You have forsaken me and my love. The believers have fled to safety. I will raise the town to the ground, and you with it.” In that moment every cell in my body went ice cold, dread was an understatement. I started to cry. I realized that I was being punished for my arrogance and disbelief in god. “No this can’t be real!”
Why, why? This isn’t fair. My fear turned into anger. This isn’t fair! Fuck this! “I’m going to fly south into the mountains and avoid this explosion or whatever is about to happen. I can do it! I clenched my fists and took flight. My adrenaline was pumping and all I could think about was finding a hiding spot in the mountains. But as I flew I realized there was no escaping it. Who was I kidding? Literally everyone just ran out of town and god had spoken to me. Do I really think I can beat god?
I was once again depressed. My heart sank again and I started to slow down in speed. By this time I was nearing the mountains. I touched ground and began to walk slowly all alone. I found a small collection of rocks that had an opening that I slid into. I guess I’ll just die right here. I was alone, completely saddened and desperate. Who did I think I was? I thought I was better than everyone. I clenched my legs to my chest and rocked back and forth knowing my fate.
I missed my father sister and mother. I was so sad because I knew I would never see them again, I just lost my whole family. But at my lowest low, and the saddest I have ever been I suddenly felt a warm touch. I felt my eyes open and the breathe rush out of me. I grasped for air. The most loving feeling filled my soul and I could see the light shining brighter than ever before. The voice came back to me. “Nick, I will not forsake, for you are my son. Embrace my love and wisdom and you shall to live a long and fulfilling life. Teach your sister the right way. Love your father and mother. Do well unto your community and neighbors. Live in my honor and you will see me again in the afterlife.”
At that moment in my life I knew I had a job. Instead of feeling better than everyone and comparing myself to my family and neighbors, my job was to help people do better. The positivity and hope inside filled me with so much joy that I almost cried. I knew that everything will be fine soon and that life will once again be normal in the green valley.