Wrestling the Kraken

1971

Bridgett

Bridgett sat on the bench reflecting and mesmerized by the symbol of goodness that shone before her. Deep in thought, she was startled when someone sat down next to her.

"You know it's the perfect place for those with a heavy heart." The minister said.

Bridgett wondered how he had slipped out without her noticing. She must have been deeper in thought than she realized.

"I wouldn't be wanted there." She said, turning back to look at the church. "I know your job is to say everyone is welcome, but some people are just past saving."

"The only person past saving is the one refusing to be saved." The minister replied.

Bridgett looked at him. In a soft, curious voice, she asked, "Could the devil be saved?"

The minister thought for a moment, then replied. "The devil still thinks there's a war to be won. His sins have clouded him in a veil, an illusion. God calls all to him in order to free us from the illusions that sin casts upon us. Once the veil has been lifted, it is up to us to freely choose him...or not."

She let the words sink in, as they both sat in silence. After a while, Bridgett felt she had enough strength to get back. "I should go." She rose, pausing before leaving. "Thank you."

"Just remember...the more broken, the deeper his healing goes. In a way, it's a blessing." He said, rising to his feet. "The broken receive his power on a deeper level. Getting pieced back together by his grace."

She nodded and gave him a short smile, turning to walk down the street. It sounded nice, what the minister had said, but she wasn't sure that she understood it all- probably just a piece of a sermon he's told a thousand times before. Still...she was tired. If sins were a veil over us, then she could feel hers hanging on by a thread. As horrible as it was, as she now understood, it was the only thing that felt like some semblance of ground she could stand on. Everything else inside her was chaos. Strings and threads, all were unraveling, and she was afraid of what would happen if they all loosened themselves and blew away. She's spent eight years battling the kraken for Dante...maybe it was time to battle it for herself. As she walked, she felt the veil loosen and blow away.