A Horse of a Different Color

Once, as the ending day painted the horizon with a masterpiece of twilight blue, orange and pastel purple, a new thing appeared on earth. A one of a kind. This new thing possessed hidden beauty, yet was rather strange, even a bit bizarre in its uniqueness and left people wishing it wasn't there. Oh how it hurt the brain to look upon it, but they could not help but gaze. Curiosity is a strange thing. It can turn people into cats, creatures so curious they cannot help themselves.

It was in their face, not to be ignored. They had not the courage to speak about it to anyone else. "What IS this?" each wondered silently. "Is it just me, or do others see it too? Is it really there or am I crazy? Why do I look? What is there about it that makes me act this way? Is something wrong with me?"

Not only was the sight of it strange and repelling, but it made sounds they'd never heard before. Appealing sounds. That was the attraction. Those addicting sounds that gave something new to their ears they had never heard before. The first time it was as if never-ending itching ears and searching hearts were given beautiful relief. To describe it, well...how could it be done? If you were to ask anyone to do that, there would have been an embarrassment to even admit they saw it. They would no more admit they'd seen it or heard it than they would admit the world was going to end tomorrow, even if that were true. Each was dumbfounded and speechless. But to ignore it, well...it just couldn't be done.

Day in and day out, this strange phenomenon haunted while at the same time delighted. Torcque. And over time Torcque began to grow and his sounds became more convincing - he was real. But gradually, week after strange week, the sounds started taking on meaning that caused them to question their very existence. They couldn't deny it. As if they were receiving inside information from these mystifying sounds. It was unlike anything they'd ever experienced before. They were mesmerized.

...And beside themselves. This phenomenon wasn't going away, it was growing bigger. The people noticed uneasiness among themselves every week that went by as they were torn between trying to deny it, yet at the same time secretly delighting in it. Quite obvious now was the fact that others were experiencing it too. But still no one could bring himself to talk about it out loud. So they carried on in their daily routine quite to themselves, but with a slight twist - delighting in Torcque's sounds while closing their eyes to his existence and growth. They were addicted. There was a gradual positivity which each secretly carried inside like a crown jewel thinking they were the only ones, the special ones that knew. They were poor starving children craving brain food. Could it be Torcque carried the secret to their existence and was manipulating their minds to crave the meaning of life?

You are to them as a lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument: for they hear, but they do nothing.

Then one day a stranger walked into town and although ragged and hungry, he was kind - love lodged in his heart and wisdom dwelt in his soul. Each person had thoughts to get him aside and unload on him the mystery of Torcque, secretly hoping to get some kind of reassurance that they weren't crazy. Surely an outsider would be able to see things in a different light and offer some help.

But the stranger who called himself Zeran already knew their situation. How he knew I cannot say...except that maybe he was an angel in disguise. Who knows?

Every morning the town folk would see him sitting on the same bench on their way to work. The early risers would see him, but not this way. At 4 or 5 a.m. he lie there sleeping looking like a big bundle of trash someone haphazardly threw out. After all, he had no money so he had no place to lodge. And so far, not one had taken him in or offered any help.

That doesn't mean they didn't chat with him. They wanted his help, but they didn't see the need to help him. That is a quirk of human nature. It was all about their situation...not his.

Thankfully for them, he was willing and concerned for them and they had so much to learn.

Torcque, the towns folk...and the stranger.

The issue. And what to do. So uncomfortable. So bitter and yet sweet. And still...so there!

At the monthly town hall meeting, everyone noticed the presence of the stranger. He stood looking around the room at everyone with a knowing look in his eyes. Right in the middle of a calm in the room, the stranger walked up to the front, turned to face the crowd, and spoke up for the first time, loud and clear:

"DEAR FRIENDS OF THIS STRANGE LITTLE TOWN, PLEASE LET ME TO SPEAK HERE THIS EVENING IF I MAY. I HAPPENED UPON YOUR TOWN THREE MONTHS AGO TODAY, AFTER MY DEARLY BELOVED WIFE DIED AND LEFT ME SAD AND LONELY, I HAD TO GET AWAY. SO I MADE UP MY MIND I WOULD TRAVEL UNTIL I RAN OUT OF PROVISIONS FOR MYSELF AND PRAYED NECESSITY AND DIVINE PROVIDENCE WOULD STOP AND DROP ME SOMEWHERE SAFE AND SOUND WHERE I COULD LAY DOWN MY HEAD IN PEACE. I HAVE NOTHING ANYONE COULD STEAL FROM ME, ONLY MY LIFE COULD THEY TAKE.

"I HAVE OBSERVED AND NOTICED YA'LL ARE ONE BUNCH OF EDGY, HEDGY FOLK NOT KEEN TO SHARE THOUGHTS OR FOOD, WORDS OR SMILES. JUST HEDGED IN BY YOURSELVES AND YOUR SMALL LIVES. YOU'RE ACTIN' LIKE SOMETHIN'S ABOUT TO GET'CHA. AND MAYBE IT IS. THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM. BUT I BELIEVE SOMETHIN'S EATIN' AT EVERY LAST ONE OF YA.

"YOU'VE ALL BEEN WONDERING IF IT'S REALLY THERE OR NOT. IF EVERYONE ELSE IS AWARE OF IT OR NOT. YES, IT REALLY IS THERE. I SEE IT TOO.

NOW THAT'S OUT IN THE OPEN. REST ASSURED - THAT'S ONE BIG ISSUE TACKLED JUST LIKE THAT.

NOW IT MUST BE FACED INSTEAD OF CARRYING ON LIKE IT WASN'T THERE. HAVE YOU NOTICED SINCE YOU CHOSE TO IGNORE IT, YOUR PROBLEM HAS ONLY GROWN?

THERE ARE THE STRANGE YET APPEALING SOUNDS. TRUTH IS, THE MONSTER YOU'VE BEEN IGNORING IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT'S YOU. EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU. THE TORCQUE'S SOUNDS ARE SOUNDS OF TRUTH. HE IS TRYING TO WARN OF THINGS TO COME. IF A THIEF WAS GOING TO COME AND BREAK INTO YOUR HOUSE TONIGHT, WOULDN'T YOU APPRECIATE BEING WARNED? OF COURSE YOU WOULD!

AM I BEING PUSHY? WELL...DO YOU THINK NOAH WAS BEING PUSHY BY TRYING TO SAVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE FROM THE FLOOD?

THE TORCQUE IS HARD TO FACE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN IN DARKNESS FOR SO LONG. THE TRUTH IS BLINDING. THE REAL ENEMY IS OF A SPIRITUAL NATURE WHO HATES TRUTH AND DISTORTS IT. WHITE IS MADE TO LOOK BLACK, GOOD IS MADE TO LOOK EVIL, THE STRONG LOOK WEAK AND THE WEAK LOOK STRONG, THE DUMB LOOK SMART AND THE SMART LOOK DUMB.

The stranger stopped. The people were quiet. No one could speak, they were all ears.

Zeran cleared his throat and continued, " Fact is, there is an old book, you all know which book I'm talking about. I like to call it the book of truth or consequences. Ever thought of it like that before? the good book?

"Well, I stand here tonight and tell you from the depths of my soul that all people on earth, not just you in this here town, must face truth head-on...or pay the consequences later. That's just the way it is. Follow the spirit of truth and not the spirit of error. Don't just follow it, FIGHT FOR TRUTH and resist the spirit of error, for it is the ever-pervasive evil spirit in the world. Come out of it and draw near to each other and your roots which are founded in the spiritual truth."

People were moved to stand up and clap. Others hugged their neighbor for the first time. They looked as if a ton of bricks had been lifted from their shoulders and were thankful for the words of Zeran. At the same time they were ashamed of themselves and how little they had done for him and his homeless plight. But the veil had been lifted and the dark cloud evaporated from the sky. Their world was lightened again. They could see and it felt good.

Each knew Zeran was right and what they had to do. Now they were inspired...and united. They were reminded of days gone by, of what was important and what needed trashed. And most of all, that they were the very ones living in the generation spoken of in many places in the Bible that would see the end of one world and the beginning of another! And they needed to get ready for the return of their Savior!

TRUTH STANDS ALONE, STRONG AND BECKONING - A LIGHT ON THE HILL

Nothing is as it seems...

THE HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR HAS NOW BECOME THEIR FRIEND. He is seen in a totally different light!

And they call him...Truth or Consequences