The Asend

 

“I have something important to share with you all,” said Jonathan to his family at the dinner table.

“What is it, dad?” asked his daughter.

“I have had a calling,” he replied.

“Calling?” enquired Mary, his wife.

“Long ago, my parents left the village and went to live on top of Mount Salus. I think it’s time for us to go too,” explained Jonathan.

“You mean leave our home?” asked his son, Peter.

“Yes, that is what I mean,” clarified Jonathan.

There was pin drop silence at the table as they stopped eating. Mary sensed the bewilderment. “We will talk about this after dinner, ok?”

“Sure,” agreed Jonathan. “Let’s eat now.”

The children finished what they had in their plates and went to their room.

 

Later that night, after clearing the table, Mary went to her room. She found Jonathan by the window, staring at the silhouette of Mount Salus in the distance.

“Now, tell what is it?” asked Mary sitting beside him.

“It looks so beautiful, doesn’t it?” said Jonathan looking at the mountain.

“Indeed, magnificent.”

“I have a strong urge, a calling to leave,” he said.

“To leave?”

“Yes, to leave this village, this life behind and ascend to the top of Salus. It is time for me to move on!”

“Ok, I will try and understand,” she said. “But that calling is yours, darling. You can’t expect your children to leave what they have here.”

“I know that is the only way. I must guide them.”

“You can guide them to the right path; you cannot make them walk. They will resist until they get their calling and that’s alright. You will have to let them be. Understand this, they are at a very different stage of life compared to you.”

 

Jonathan quietly looked up at the mountain.

“I’ll sleep now, it’s quite late,” said Mary.

“You sleep, darling. I’ll stay for some time.”

“Sure, good night,” said Mary and went to bed.

 

The next morning, the children joined Mary and Jonathan at the breakfast table.

“Dad,” said Peter. “I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“We won’t be able to accompany you to the top. We just don’t feel like it. The life we have here is precious to us.”

Jonathan sighed. He remained quiet.

“Don’t be upset dad. Our friends, our house, our work, we can’t let go.” His eyes welled up.

Mary walked up to him and put an arm around his shoulder. “It’s ok, Peter. Don’t be upset. We understand, don’t we Jonathan?”

“Yes, we do,” he replied albeit hesitantly.

“At your age all this was precious to your dad as well. The feeling of detachment must arise within, it cannot be forced onto anyone,” explained Mary.

There was complete silence for a few minutes. Then Jonathan said, “She is right. There is no compulsion.”

Relieved upon hearing this, the kids hugged their father.

 

“What about you, mom?” asked Peter after breakfast.

“I don’t want to leave, but I must.”

“Why must you?”

“As a companion, I must accompany Jonathan for as long as I can.”

“But you just said there is no compulsion?”

“It isn’t out of compulsion, but love that I must go,” said Mary with a smile.

“What if you don’t like it there?”

“I guess then out of love Jonathan must let me return!”

Though, at his tender age, Peter did not fully understand, he acknowledged his mother’s wisdom. Mary and Jonathan packed up their stuff including rations for the long journey ahead. They loaded it onto a carriage that was pulled by Daisy, their strong and faithful mare.

 

Early next morning, the kids waved them goodbye. When they exited their premises, Jonathan pulled back on the rein to stop the carriage. He was surprised to see friends and relatives who had come to greet them. Some gave them gifts, some gave flowers, and some on horse backs said they would accompany them. Thus began their long journey to the top of Mount Salus. They moved at a consistent speed and by the end of the day were far from their village. The next day of their journey was to take them through a treacherous forest. Some of their friends decided it was time for them to turn back. They bid farewell to Mary and Jonathan and returned to the village. It took them three days to reach the foot of Mount Salus. All their friends had returned by then.

 

The next morning, as they were preparing to get going again, Jonathan noticed that Mary looked sad. “What is it, Mary?”

“Nothing,” she said, faking a smile.

Jonathan saw right through it. “You can’t lie to me. Tell me, what is it?”

Mary sighed. “I’m tired. I can’t do this, Jonathan.”

“What?”

“I can’t climb up with you. Like our kids I too am not ready. I miss our kids; I miss our home. I wish to go back.” She held her breath waiting for Jonathan’s response.

Jonathan was quiet. He was taken aback by Mary’s words. In a few minutes he composed himself again. “You can take Daisy and return. I will split the ration.”

Mary’s eyes welled up with tears. “I’m sorry.”

“No,” said Jonathan. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have put you in this situation. This journey is mine to undertake. Thank you for being with me till here.”

“You’re welcome,” said Mary and hugged him. “You keep Daisy and the carriage. The road ahead is long and demanding. You will need her. I will manage.”

With that she took her leave and left for home.

 

Jonathan waved at her till when she was in sight. Then he turned to Daisy and patted her on the neck. “Guess it’s just you and me now, big girl!”

She neighed.

So, with a heavy heart but a strong spirit he got onto the carriage. Daisy and Jonathan were on their way once again. They had left the plains behind, the ascend had begun. It was difficult for Daisy to pull the loaded carriage uphill though she was strong. Jonathan was impressed by her grit by the end of the day. They were half way up. Things were about to get challenging, though. The weather changed suddenly, as it so often does in the mountains. They woke up to a gloomy morning. Jonathan looked up to see dark clouds that dampened his spirit even before the rain could come down. They quickly got going again.

 

They hadn’t covered much distance when it started to rain. Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and thunder pounded them. Rain water made the path mucky and Daisy was having a hard time trudging through it with the heavy load. She stopped and neighed. Jonathan tried to urge her to keep moving but in vain. A little ahead Jonathan spotted a cave that was big enough to shelter them from the storm. Inside the cave, they waited for the rain to pass. The rain was relentless, though. Jonathan started to question himself.

‘Why am I doing this?’

‘Will I survive?’

‘Should I turn back?’

‘I’ve come a long way, what do I do?’

The clutter of thoughts blurred his vision. For the first time since he left home, he felt lonely and depressed. He knew what he needed was clarity of thoughts.

 

So, he lit up a small fire. Detached the carriage from Daisy to let her rest. Put some food and water in front of her and sat down by the fire. He closed his eyes and sat quietly. Slowly, the flow of thoughts started to slow down. Peace returned to his heart and he asked God for direction. When he opened his eyes, he laid eyes upon his carriage. Mary’s words echoed in his mind. “I cannot let go”. That was Jonathan’s moment of epiphany.

‘Have I actually left the village?’ he questioned himself. ‘Have I actually let go? Have I actually detached from that life? Look at all the stuff I have with me in the carriage. These things will weigh me down, unless I let go. I cannot carry the baggage of the past into the future and hope for salvation!’

He then looked at Daisy. She looked calm and peaceful. ‘She isn’t bothered about what she has left behind. She is only focussed on the task at hand. Honestly, she has let go of the past!’

A smile appeared on his face. At that moment he knew exactly what he had to do. He packed food and water for the journey. Leaving everything else behind Daisy and Jonathan exited the cave. Without looking back, they started walking uphill.

 

Jonathan held Daisy’s reign and walked beside her. The rain was relentless but having shed all the unnecessary load, made their climb easier. Slowly but steadily and surely, they continued their ascend. As they climbed higher, the weather started to clear up. At one point they seemed to have risen high above the clouds. After two more days of rigorous climbing, they finally made it to the top. The mountain top was serene and peaceful, like an alternate reality. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, calm gurgling streams, lush trees, green lawns, chirping birds, and the two of them.

“We made it, Daisy!” said Jonathan caressing her head.

She neighed in acknowledgment.

“Thank you, my friend. Through the trials of this journey, you stood by me. Without you, I would have never made it.”

He removed Daisy’s leash. “You are free, my friend.”

Daisy bowed, neighed, and trotted away.

‘With that goes the final strand that held me to the past,’ he thought.

He drank water from a clear stream and sat under a giant tree relishing the sweet fruit of his labour. That is when he realised, he wasn’t the same Jonathan that left the village. Now, he was present in the present and truly at peace.