Beyond The Pasture

Jonah Pasture was a beloved sheep among the flock. His friends and loving family can still hear his contagious laugh. He had a beautiful life on the rolling hills of his pasture. That was until a dangerous creature came in the night. Some say a dangerous creature in disguise hurt him; others say he was lured away. Whatever the reason, JP ran from the flock.

He spent his days chasing promises of peace and happiness in the distance, only to find a screen set up by the dangerous creatures. Each screen after another shut off upon his arrival, leaving him more lost than before. JP was deep in the forest now, without his shepherd to guide him. He stumbled over roots and jagged rocks. He’d never known this level of fear and pain back in his pasture. The little sheep began desperately looking for the peace he once knew. His heart longed for the love and comfort his shepherd offered. What JP did not know was that his shepherd longed for him, too.

Occasionally, JP thought he heard his shepherd's voice in the wind echoing from over the hills. The dangerous creatures lurking in the shadows knew this, but they wanted the sheep for themselves. JP could hear their noises all around him, growling and gnashing their teeth, but they never revealed themselves. Instead, they kept him off course with their promises of peace and enjoyed the agony it caused to see the screen go dark. Years of this torment taught JP that pain was all he would ever find in this world. One day, he chased his last promise of happiness. The projection disappeared, leaving him in the dark once again. To his right, he saw the distant hills of his old pasture. For a moment, the wind blew in a faint, familiar voice from that direction. He thought of what happened there, and he could not- would not- go back. To his left, he saw another projection of peace. He was wise enough now to recognize it as a fake. Suddenly, a door appeared to have been placed between two trees in front of him. It seemed to hum with muffled growls and gnashing teeth. He'd seen this door before. It was an exit, a way to leave the world without a promise of what was on the other side. JP once knew if he left this world with his shepherd by his side, he was promised peace and happiness, but he didn't trust promises anymore. He looked left and right one last time. He was trapped, and they were coming.

Tears burned his eyes as he neared the door. The echoing noises grew louder. To his right, so did the voice. Suddenly, a growl came from behind him as the door swung open. He closed his eyes and remembered all of the broken promises. Determined not to let this world hurt him anymore, he leaped through the doorway. A terrible sinking feeling grabbed his heart. He peeked open his eyes as he tumbled through the air. He was plummeting over a cliff with a sea of dangerous creatures at the bottom. JP glanced behind him to see the door beginning to close and realized he had once again been fooled by their tricks. Filled with desperation, he cried out for his shepherd.

A blinding light overpowered him, thawing the darkness that once consumed him. Suspended in illuminating light, JP squinted to see a figure appearing. He could hear his shepherd's voice again. Only this time, it wasn't in the distance; it was all around him. The figure grew closer and began to take shape. JP's breath caught in his lungs. Through squinted eyes, he saw his shepherd looking more glorious than ever. JP bowed his head to the light that radiated off the man standing before him.

"You've been in the darkness a long time, little one." The shepherd's voice swept over him like the wind from the hills.

JP nodded, tears forcing through squeezed eyelids. "I'm sorry." He choked.

"You will once again adjust to my light."

"But I left you," JP sobbed, "I left the world without you."

His shepherd put his arm around him tightly, "I am so sorry you lived such a dark and painful life. That was not my will for you, but you called on me before death could consume you. You are still mine."

JP slowly raised his head, squinting up at his shepherd. He followed his shepherd's gaze forward, where more was taking shape in the blinding light. He could see a long path ahead of him, rocky at first and growing smooth. Far down the path, JP saw rolling hills like those of his old pasture, only they were radiating in glorious light. His shepherd continued, “You might have left that world, but there is a new world waiting for you. In this world, you will find only peace, and it is for eternity.” He paused and looked down at the sheep tucked under his arm. Gesturing to the path before him, he added, “This path will prepare you for that world. You just have to take the steps to get there.”

"You mean," JP sniffed, "I still have your promise?"

His shepherd smiled a warm, familiar smile and said, "Follow me."

In loving memory of

John Paul Geso III