This too shall pass...

    “This too shall pass”, the preacher deftly asserted from on high; a crowd of ravenous eyes feasting on the gifts of his wisdom. The allure of his charisma and the power of his carefully selected words paint an almost irresistible offering for their collective subconscious. An apocalyptic rock star, delivering a masterpiece of performance art, and extracting the requisite catharsis needed to refill the spiritual well anew. “The end is nigh” he bellowed, “and nothing short of complete obedience will be accepted by the Lord our savior.” A simple act of contrition is all that is needed.  Some evidence proving the depth of our commitment, and demonstrating the power of our faith. “Did not God test Job, so that he may know all that was in his heart"…an act of divine intervention to cleanse the impurities of the human spirit. "The end is here, and descending upon us like so many starving jackals. We have no time to waste. The moment to act is upon us, and we must move swiftly to ensure our eternal place at his divine table." Extending out his arms in my direction, his fingers interlaced beneath its jewel encrusted exterior, the divine hand of God offers me the golden chalice. “A drink from the cup of salvation is all that he asks.” A seemingly benign request, which I am all too eager to fulfill. My spiritual elation quickly turns to disbelief and then to agony, as my stomach is transformed into the living embodiment of hell...a burning pit of fire and brimstone. Now, as I lie here amongst the contorted and writhing bodies of my flock, I have to wonder…is this truly God’s will, and if it is, why must we suffer so? The cold, unforgiving hands of death slowly enshroud my body, my vision reduced to nothing more than a patchwork quilt of blurring colors and shapes, as a great voice from beyond the encroaching darkness cries out to me, “This too shall pass”…and so it has.