Jesus

...his voice was like the roar of many waters.

Revelation 1:15

Redemption

The lines of the scroll read destruction, but she heard redemption. Not in the way that the story was told or the phrases that were used, but as an interruption. The thin paper was unfurled and a man with an aged, white beard read it in two languages, one she knew and one she did not recognize. It was a tale of woe. The words were precise and easily understood. The meaning was clear. It was a proclamation of despair. If you heard only the words of the story, all was hopeless. But as it was told, she heard a whisper, a quiet shout, a still, small voice, repeating over and over: redemption. Your destruction has come, you deserve it, you've earned it, but before it reaches you, a rescuer intervenes and carries you to safety. All of your wise men, prior experience, and hidden knowledge have not predicted this salvation. You will see it with your own eyes.

Purity

sight

vision

I can see the riverbed 

clear like glass

cold

stones washed 

overflowing

rushing

unobstructed

unshackled

freedom from sorrow

innocence 

restored

life

breath hope

Now

She was born under the shadow. At least, that's what the shadow told her. Lie after lie, always looking one way or another, just not straight ahead. The shadow lead her; the lie lead them both. 

She was hopeful, a sign that another was interfering in her path. Sometimes she would hear "no" and she would stop, turn a little, pause and wait. She began to hear that no often and the shadow winced every time.

She was glamourous. A girl made of glitter. Glitter made of diamonds and all of the other deceptive stones that are sparkly but useless. All eyes were on her. So what.

She swept them away and there was nothing left. No accolades to feed on. Nothing but nothing. Open air. Empty wide skies. And she loved it.

"Here," said the voice. "Now." 

And she was different. The shadow crumbled, as if pulled away by a string, and the lie stumbled over its own words, unable to stand. 

She was free, though she didn't know what that meant yet. She only knew she was different, separated from the lies that had led her and listening intently for that still small voice to say no or now.

Deuteronomy 6:4

Hear, O Israel

The Lord our God

The Lord is One