TIME FOLLOWS ME

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE MARYBETH AND THE MESSIAH

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

MARYBETH AND THE MESSIAH

"What may be the hardest thing is the thought of giving up."

"Give it a chance to see if this is the place you need to be, right here, right now," said Mary Beth holding my hand sitting next to me.

"I love you and so do all the others here. This is your chance to find out and accept the Truth that the second coming could possibly be right now."

"Would you risk it all by not accepting the Messiah just as the prophets in the bible prophesized?"

Mary Beth walked and talked with me. I was a searcher who was looking for answers to too many questions. Mary Beth had told me she had given up her previous religion being Jewish, and the opportunity to go to University paid for by here parents. She said that they had given her riding lessons and a horse but that had not filled the emptiness in her heart. Her parents said they would send her around the world if she completed University.

"I want to believe you but I just don't know.

I need to understand this and I want other people to know if it is true. I feel totally loved by you. I would have no hesitation in joining my life with your yours."

Mary Beth is the most beautiful complex and compelling woman I had ever met up to this point in my young life. I felt like I could lay down my life for her and I loved her deeply. When I looked at her and she at me, it was as if I was seeing myself reflected back in a mirror. She was seeing me like no one else had seen me before. I felt achingly vulnerable, as I had never let anyone see the emotional side of me before. Somehow, I was able to show her. She was also one of the top three leaders in Booneville. People showed great respect to her and her gentle way. Mary Beth convinced me to stay for another week and to find out more about Reverend Moon and his mission. I knew this was coming. So, it wasn't a shock that this was disclosed to a select few of us who had stayed past the weekend, the week or two weeks. When the lecturer stated that the Messiah was here in San Francisco and that Booneville was his commune, I nodded along with all the others.

"How do you feel," the leader asked us?

Someone in the gathering said, "Well, I feel so happy and this is the place that I thought it was."

Mary Beth was beside me sitting cross-legged on the floor holding my hand lightly. She would look into my eyes to see if I understood what was being said, and offering little encouraging pulsing squeezes through her delicate fingers. I was just happy to be near Mary Beth who seemed to treat me as if I was her equal. I was careful looking around to see if she treated other people this way. I could see she cared for everyone, but for me, she was open to and showed her bond with me. She was a teacher and a guide to me. I was in need of teaching, in need of a guide and in great need of the love of this beautiful dark eyed good woman.

I didn't believe that Reverend Moon was the Messiah. Don't ask me how I knew, I just knew. I wasn't arrogant about it. I believed that God would offer me a sign. I was willing to stay in this place was my bargain with him/her if a sign was given to me.

The next day walking barefoot in cut off shorts and T-shirt, I found a way to separate myself from the group and get off by myself. Without a clear plan I decided to run as fast as I could. I circled around some low hills. Then, decided to run directly up the highest elevation of land. I think I was mumbling to myself as I kept running, "Keep going, keep going, run as far away as possible and be alone. Get to the top of the hill and then stop."

At the top of this hill overlooking Northern California valleys to the south, a bare tree stood, a few brittle yellow dried leaves still clinging to it. At it's foot were some large stones. Under the tree that cast no shade from the penetrating afternoon sun, I got down on my knees exhausted, and prayed to God for a sign.