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Part 72: Where All Journeys Grow

Chapter 3: Direction

V2.0 – 10/02/2025

I walked along the two-lane road that led away from my house, away from my car, and away from my property. The sun was sinking below the horizon. The sky was awash in bright orange and pink hues. The only sounds I could hear were the sounds of my shoes on the gravel beside the road and the distant birds saying goodnight to the fading daylight.

“Where am I going?” I asked aloud.

I listened.

Silence.

I kept walking.

After I had walked past two stop signs and found myself walking over a bridge I heard the sound of a car in the distance. I stopped walking and moved further off the road. I looked back to see a white sedan rushing toward me. I watched it come. As it reached me it slowed down and stopped. The window rolled down and the man motioned for me to get in. The sign in his window said “Uber” on it. I hadn’t ordered an Uber.

I shook my head at him. I looked around but saw no one else nearby.

“Andrew?” He asked tilting his head to the side, “I’m the Uber you ordered.”

“I didn’t order an Uber.” I told him.

I took my phone from my pocket and opened the Uber app. It was’t active.

I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit and His gentle whisper, “Get in. Go to where he takes you.”

I put my phone away and rounded the car. I opened the rear door and got in.

“I’m Kevin,” The driver introduced himself, “You’re going to…” He paused as he checked the app on his phone that sat in its holder on the dashboard facing him. “You’re going to what looks like a place in the middle of nowhere?”

“Sounds about right.” I replied with a smile.

“Alright then.” He said and I felt the car speed up.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked the Holy Spirit in my spirit.

No reply.

I watched the scenery pass by as we sped along. I felt tired. I felt old. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I searched for my faith. It was weak but it was there still. God knew what He was doing. He knew where He was taking me. If I had lived any other life I would have found all this strange, but these adventures had strangely become my normal. When had that happened?

I looked up at the rearview mirror and saw Kevin considering me. He smiled and said, “This is going to sound strange, but I had a dream last night. If its ok with you I’d like to tell it to you. I think it’s about you.”

I smiled back to him and replied, “Go ahead. I’d love to hear it.”

He took a breath and began, “I fell asleep pretty quickly last night and as I slept I dreamt. I was looking at a globe, you know the Earth from space, and I saw these ripples going out from here and there. It was crazy. Like something from a sci-fi movie or something. The ripples seemed to be coming from a person as that person moved around the Earth. Then I woke up.”

Kevin scratched his head and added, “I’m not really sure what it means but when I got your ride and accepted it I felt like I was supposed to tell you the dream.”

“Thank you.” I said, turning to look back out the window.

We rode in silence for a while. I glanced at the Uber app on his phone. It said that we had twenty minutes to get to the destination. I tried to relax and shifted my backpack to a more comfortable position between my legs.

“Where are you going?” Kevin asked after a few more minutes.

I let out a laugh and replied, “A mountain.”

“There aren’t any mountains around here.” He said incredulously.

I looked out the window and replied, “I know.”

Time passed.

The sun had dropped below the horizon now. I couldn’t see much outside. No moonlight tonight, just darkness. What was God up to? Where was He taking me? I felt the car slow and then stop. I couldn’t see anything outside.

“Are you sure this is where you’re going?” Kevin asked turning to look at me.

“Yes, this is the place.” I said looking back at him, “Thank you for the ride.”

“No, thank you.” He said smiling. He looked as confused as I felt.

I opened the door and picked up my backpack. I got out into the cold night air, slung my backpack over my shoulder, and shut the car’s door. Kevin hesitated for a moment and then he began to drive away. I watched the lights from his car fade into the distance and vanish around a curve in the road leaving me standing in the dark. I waited for a moment to allow my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

I stood on the side of the road. To each side of the road was a wall of trees with scattered underbrush. I was grateful that I had such good night vision. I could make out the dark outlines of my surroundings.

I saw no lights.

I had no flashlight.

“What now?” I asked aloud.

I hugged myself against the chill night air and wished I had thought to bring a jacket with me. I stood and waited. A shiver ran down my spine. I turned my head and looked all around me.

I wasn’t alone.

I saw a faint glow through the trees nearest to me. I walked toward it and into the forest. I pushed past the underbrush and entered a clearing. The glow was ahead of me. I kept walking across the clearing but when I got to the center of it the glow vanished.

I stood on the grass in the center of the clearing. Circling around me I could see the tall, dark outlines of the trees and the underbrush beneath them. I tried not to let my imagination run wild thinking about all the creatures that could be hiding in the darkness.

“What are you doing here?” I heard a soft voice sing to me.

I whirled around but saw no one.

“Who’s there?” I asked aloud.

“What are you doing here?” The soft voice asked again from behind me.

I turned around again searching the dark tree line. I saw nothing and no one.

“Where are you? Who are you?” I asked.

I knew this voice and the moment I recalled who it was I saw him with my spiritual eyes. The Dark One stood across the clearing near two large trees. He was as tall as I remembered him. He wore a long white robe that glowed dimly in the darkness of the night. His face was twisted in a mocking smile as He looked at me with his dark eyes.

“Why are you here?” He sang again lifting his hand and gesturing to the clearing. He took a step towards me.

“You have no right to be here,” I said defiantly and added, “You’re power over me is gone.”

“True.” He said matter-of-factly, then said, “But this is still my world.”

“Why are you here?” I heard another voice shriek from behind me.

I turned to see one of the Dark One’s minions slinking across the clearing behind me. Then I saw another and another appear. I was surrounded by them now. They were all asking me, “Why are you here?” The question mocked me. Challenged me. It seemed to demand an answer, but I didn’t understand the question.

I turned back to the Dark One and asked, “What do you want?”

He considered me for a moment, then sang out, “Oh, I just want to talk. To ask you some questions.” His voice was sickening but smooth against my being.

I closed my eyes and prayed, “God, please help me.”

The Holy Spirit whispered to my spirit softly, “I’m here.” I felt an infusion of power that washed away the fear that was trying to take hold of me. I opened my eyes and returned the Dark One’s stare.

I said nothing and waited.

He walked over to me and circled me. All the while his minions mocked me and whispered, “Why are you here? Why are you here?”

“So, you sold everything.” The Dark One observed.

“I did.” I answered.

“And you sold it because?” He asked, still circling me. He was like a shark circling its prey.

“I obeyed.” I answered simply.

“Ah,” He said laughing, then said, “You obeyed and sold everything you own. So, why are you here then? If you don’t own anything then why are you still here?”

“I don’t understand what you’re asking me.” I replied.

I turned and tried to leave the clearing, but the minions of the Dark One moved to block my path.

“Stay a while and chat with me.” The Dark One sang seductively.

I turned and faced him.

“Answer my question. Why are you still in my world? If you’ve sold everything, then why do you remain here?” The Dark One sang his question and it made me sick to my stomach.

“I obeyed what God asked me to do. God has something for me to do that doesn’t require things.” I answered him.

“Oh, He does?” He laughed aloud at my answer. “So, let me get this straight… God,” He said the name with disdain and then continued, “told you to sell everything you own in this world to go where He sends you in this world with nothing but what you have with you now?”

“I have all I need.” I said simply.

“I plan to oppose you.” The Dark One said softly walking toward me. I stood my ground. He came close and leaned his head near my ear. “I plan to kill you if you walk this path.” He whispered and I felt a rush of terror slam against my spirit.

He pressed a curved talon against my chest and pushed himself back away from me. His eyes were pure black darkness against the dim glow of his white robe.

His minions chuckled around me in the darkness saying, “You’ll die.” And “You’re going to meet your end.” And “Don’t walk the path or he’s going to kill you.” It was like hearing a million spikes thrust at you. They danced and laughed mockingly as they each in turn vanished from sight.

The Dark One backed away from me toward the tree line shaking his finger at me smiling. Then he was gone, and I was left in the dark clearing alone.

I sank to the ground and closed my eyes. I took my backpack off and laid it down in front of me. I curled up and put my head on it. The stars above my head shone brightly and I stared up at them.

I felt so alone.

I knew God was with me, but I still felt alone. I thought of all the stories in the Bible and those that I’d heard in my life of the great men and women of faith that had someone with them in their ministries.

Why was I alone?

“Not alone.” Jesus said to my spirit. I sensed Him standing over me looking down on me with love.

I looked up at Him with my spiritual eyes. He shone brightly.

I wasn’t alone.

Then Jesus asked me, “Are you willing to become unknown so that I can be known?”

His question hit me like a wave of cold water. His question seared into my heart. That’s the only way I can describe what happened as I lay there in the dark and considered it.

Was I willing to become unknown so that He could be known?

What does that even mean?

Did it matter if I even understood His question?

I was tired. Tears stung my eyes. The journey had been so long, and I was so tired. I felt so unworthy of all this. Waves of despair seemed to wash over me. I stared up into the night sky. I was marked for death.

“What do you want from me?” I asked aloud.

I felt a gentle breeze blow across the clearing and the Holy Spirit whispered, “You’re going to go to Meribah.”

“Meribah?” I asked, “Where is that? What is that?”

“Meribah is at the top of the mountain. Don’t worry about how you will get there.” The Holy Spirit answered and then asked, “Remember the Uber?”

“I do.” I replied.

“I will lead you to where you need to be. Now sleep and rest.” The Holy Spirit whispered, and I felt His arms surround me. Warmth filled me and I closed my eyes.

I lay with my head on my backpack that contained all I owned in the middle of a grassy clearing surrounded by trees in the middle of nowhere in the dead of night. I sank into sleep, and the night swallowed me whole.

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