It is night and the evening is cool in the open spaces of the valley. There is warmth and safety near the fires and near each other. There are no dangers; peace rules in our midst.
Yet something is off; a sense that there is something amiss. We rise to as to listen and then comes the call. At first it is but a persistent whisper building intensely in our thoughts. It grows louder as it moves towards the depths of our souls.
Some pause as if to listen but soon turn back to the warmth of the fires, to the comfort in the gatherings. Some stop and quiet themselves to focus their hearing. Then a voice comes forth carrying a sense of urgency.
"Go out into the night, there are more to be gathered. There are others yet to come.The night is a growing danger and peril awaits those who are not found soon. There is a time coming and coming soon when no more can be gathered."
Urgency is overtaken by compassion in those who have heard the call. They go out into the dark, leaving the comfort and safety of our camps to find and gather the others.
They seek the strays who wander the through the rocks and hills; wounded and disoriented. They have not gone far and they hear our calls for them. They are gathered, encouraged and strengthened; once disoriented but now partakers in the gathering. They tell of others still out there.
In greater numbers they go out into the night, into the ravines to search the cracks find the others who have fallen through. These others have fallen from sight, some close to our camps. They are stuck; held fast as wedges between the very rocks that would uphold them. They are worn down from struggling to get out and are unable to cry out anymore. Unless we find and lift them, they will perish.
We lift them and carefully bring them towards our camps. They grow stronger in our acceptance and are strengthened as we encourage them. They are becoming strong and soon join the ranks of the gatherers for an urgent and unrelenting mission.
It is late; the night increases in danger; the times grow more chaotic, peace and safety are uncertain in this time. The Lord calls to His gatherers;
"Go out! All hear my voice and take upon my heart, go out! Leave your places safety. There are still yet others to invite, to gather. Go out into the streets, to every street corner, every alley way and country lane. Invite all you can find; the good and the bad. There is no one that I want to be left out."
"A great feast is prepared for all who will receive my invitation. Call out to the poor, the lowly, the un-lovely, those without favour. Call to the lame, the prisoner, widow and orphan. Go and gather to fill my house. I desire all to come."
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