His army time my dad served in the air force and was an excellent pilot. Once his best friend told me that my dad was flying in his little plane like a bird of prey, without any fear or restraint. Now they both were in the reserve for some very special tasks.
In spite of life’s challenges, my dad was always cheerful and encouraged; to be around him was a true delight… but now he looked distressed. We both sat down near my mom’s hospital bed and waited for the doctor to come in. “Is mom gonna be well again, like she was in the past?” – I asked him, but he didn’t’t respond. I felt nervous and confused. Time seemed to stop… A strange mist filled all the space around me like a thick cloud. I stepped into the middle of it… Suddenly doctor’s loud voice brought me back to the hospital room: “She deserves a gold medal, - said he, - pointing at mom, - she survived a serious stroke.” All three of us looked at her: she was laying there unconscious. My father didn’t’t answer a word, but waited for the doctor to continue. “She will recover, - he answered our silent question and added – it would be a matter of time. And we need to give her all the time she would need”
My dad’s phone broke the silence. “I have to answer, it’s an emergency, - said he and stepped out of the room. The doctor tapped me on the shoulder and affirmed:” The most dangerous is already in the past. Her full recovery is waiting for us in the future… we will get there! Be courageous!”
My dad came back and we left hospital right away. Without mom our home seemed empty and abandoned. I looked at my dad in hope to come out from that confusing present fog, but he said: “My best friend… he is missing…he disappeared during an operation. I am the one who knows that area best. I should fly there and find him. I know in my heart that he is alive.” He was arranging matters in his head, jumping from one to the other with the speed of light. “You shouldn’t’t stay here alone, - he said, you should… remember that housekeeping lady that used to come here few years ago? She was also your nanny when you were a little boy… She always invited you to come visit her. She lives… I must have an envelopesomewhere with her address… He disappeared behind the door of his office and in a twinkling of an eye was already back with the envelope. She lives in “the city of the past”. You will go there for a vacation.” I was so tired, but tried very hard to keep my eyes open, not to miss anything.
My dad hugged me and said: “Here is what I’ve learned: Flying through a turbulent cloud is always scary: hard to see, shaky, confusing. But if you hold on to the right direction and keep going, you will surely come out onto the other side into the clear delight! I will find my friend and mom will be ok again. Believe me, in the soon future we will make this transition onto the other side.”
Upon those words, I fell asleep with the envelopein my hand…
and woke up, laying in a hammock, wrapped in a very large cloth. As I started to open up the cloth, figuring out where I was, a big woman approached me and tried to practically lift me up from the hammock as a mother would pick up her baby from a crib. I felt embarrassed and jumped on my feet. But before I could rebuke her for such familiarity, she wrapped her arms around me and exclaimed: “My boy, my boy! What a delight is to see you again!” I felt immediate transition into the past, pleasant memories filled my entire being and I whispered: “Nanny!” She kept talking: “You became much heavier… but it doesn’t’t matter. I always dreamed about your visit! I have to leave now, but please feel home. You are a big boy; you can figure it out.” – and she disappeared.
On my first day in the city of the past I went to explore the area. But what I found was indeed not a joyful picture: Narrow dusty roads, each of those led to the field with a very high grass, a thicket, which was impossible to pass. Houses looked dull and moldy and every face I saw reflected fatigueand hardship.
“Something is wrong with this picture of the world, it’s distorted, - I thought, - It looked rather like a black and white photograph of something in the past…”
Suddenly I saw my nanny right in the photograph. She asked:
“What’s the matter my boy? You don’t look very happy… you didn’t have a good day?”
I tried to explain myself: “I’m having a vacation, you see… Is there anything pleasant to do here?”
“Oh, sure! Life would be unbearable without pleasure! – She replied, -when you were a little boy, you used to lunch your kite and dream about the future. That will make a good vacation, wanna do that? When you grew up and moved on with your life, you left it behind… but I kept it till now. Here it is.”
“Ok, - I agreed, and looking at my old kite, wondered – Is there a space for it to fly?”
She had a ready answer: “Of cause, behind our house there is a little passagethrough the field. It leads to an old harbor. There would a good spot for you to lunch your dreams.”
“But nanny, that grass is so tall! - I still doubted her idea.
She looked at me from head to toe and concluded: “You’ve grown taller than the grass, you should make it.”
I finally made it to that place… The water was moving and fresh, it presented a world of its own, it didn’t’t belong to the city of the past. I went straight ahead…
“Watch your step! – came nanny’s voice behind me, - I’m used to watch over you all the time, - she explained, coming closer to me, - so I followed you… just in case.”
“Sure, I understand, - I answered and assuming a role of a little boy, asked her - Tell me nanny, if there is a harbor, then there should be boats… Where are they?”
She sat down on a large stone next to me and said:
” A great mighty river starts here; it’s very large and covered with a thick cloud of mist, like a substance of a smog, no one could ever perceive clearly the other shore… Long time ago there was a ferry boat coming to this harbor, but not anymore. In my lifetime, I never saw a boat here. The legend says that on the other side there is a city of the future; that life in that city is very bright and luxurious. There is no povertàor oppression. It’s a supreme world, a true paradise, a pure delight!”
“Why wouldn’t’t people travel there, if it’s only a river away?” - I asked in amazement.
“The current in the middle of the river is so intenseand dangerous that no one who ever dared to travel to the other side came back alive. - Nanny took a deep breath and added - I think you are big enough to understand that… But now it’s your bed time.”
“Why would people want to come back into the past?” Those thoughts were such a heavy load for my brain, that I quickly fell sound asleep.
I opened my eyes in the same hammock with the kite in my hand and this time without thinking too long went straight to the harbor.
“I know you’re old and probably were folded for too long, - I said to my kite, - but you are made to fly.” I opened it with caution and lunched it in the air. I looked up and was amazed at what I saw: picked up by the wind, my kite was dancing so exuberant, enjoying freedom to be what it was made to be, its existence became meaningful in a twinkling of an eye!
I closed my eyes and remembered my father’s words: “in the soon future… we will come out onto the other side, into a clear delight”.
“I must venture into the city of the future, even if it’s uncertain and scary, I don’t have another option!” - I told myself and looked up again to find my kite in the sky… Where was it? … Ah, here it is. It landed on the ground, right next to me. I picked it up and saw a message written on it: “At midnight a ferry boat will depart from the harbor onto the other side, into the city of the future.”
I looked around… Who could play a game like that with me? Who wrote those words on my kite, while it was flying up there? Can it possibly be true? What if it is true… even if I can’t see the one who promised? Maybe he is unseen? I held my kite close to my chest and said:
“I choose to believe this promise”.
Then I remembered nanny and rushed back and tell her the news, but could not find her. Invigorated, I felt an urge to go and share that valuable information with all the others.
“It’s going to be a busy day, - I thought and went out to share the good news.
The first person I met was an old gentleman wearing his sunglasses and pushing a carriage of stuff towards me.
“I have good news for you sir: this night a ferry boat will take us into the city of the future!” – I started without an introduction.
He answered slowly, making sure I understand every word he said:
“These words surely sound like good news to someone who can see. I have heard that future is a beautiful colorful place… but I am blind; suffering and hard labor mudded my vision and I stopped seeing the future. I don’t even look anymore in that direction. To arrive to the future and not being able to see is a real torment. My choice is made. I prefer to stay.”
Two other men, passing near us, became interested in our conversation and stopped to comment on the subject:
“Oh, the city of the future is a conspiracy theory, it doesn’t’t exist! I’m telling you this is one of the games of the rich people. They have a hidden agenda ‘to put us on that ferry boat and hold us all hostages, stuck between the past and the future’. It’s a sure way to die. They want to confiscate the only treasure we have left – our past!”
“Poorpeople, poorlogic, - responded the blind man and turned to me, - young man, if you have eyes, you should go and see for yourself!” He sneezed and suddenly his whole face twisted. He said:
“I better get going, Mr. Chimney is around and I am extremely sensitive to smoke.” – and he left immediately.
I noticed a fellow coming in my direction, with a big briefcase under his arm; that load seemed to be pretty heavy for him. I didn’t’t like the smell either, but remembered my mission and started a conversation with him. When he came close to me, I started:
“Excuse me sir…”
But he nervously replied before I could finish my sentence:
“I’m not a cigarette industry! Especially for strangers! If you want one, go buy for yourself!”
“I wanted to offer you some good news, Mr. Chimney”، – I answered as he was walking away from me.
He came back, looking offended and inquired:
“We never met before, why would you choose to insult me by calling me “Mr. Chimney”? Or maybe you have this prickly approach to strangers?”
“Excuse me, I thought it was your name… I didn’t’t know” – I tried my best to repair the situation.
“Never mind, - he said and sadly looked away, -what have you got for good news?”
“Tonight, a ferry will depart from the old harbor into the city of the future! -I said, - and you can leave all the load of your past behind you!”
He paused, looking within himself, then replied:
“You, a total stranger to me, making declarations like that? You don’t even know my life – how many times I was abused, abandoned and humiliated! – He opened his briefcase and looked through his papers, - Each of those maltreatments are documented right here. This is my life! You attempt to distort my past history! How dareyou?”
“No, not to distort, but maybe to update…” – I suggested.
“Sure, - he sarcastically nodded his head, - by extracting important details out of it.”
“But the future is so much better than the past!” - I kept trying.
“Future is an illusion for those who are running away from their past! - He concluded, irritated. - And listen, your strange ideas are not relevantto my life!” Tired from that conversation, I sat down on the wooden bench, thinking: “Why would someone choose to make a loop around his own neck?”
The sky over my head started to dim and I said to myself:
“One more person and I will have to go to the harbor… I’d better wait there. I cannot afford to miss the ferry!”
At this moment I saw a rich looking man, getting out of his old but luxury car. I run towards him, shouting:
“Sir, did you hear the good news?”
He looked down at me and smiled:
“I own the media industry in this city and we are broadcasting the most up to date information. Which news you wanted to surprise me with?”
“About the ferry boat… tonight it will depart from the old harbor to the city of the future!”
“Interesting… - He replied with no emotion, - So what’s the deal here? What do you offer me?”
“I’m telling you about this incredible opportunity to make a transit into the city of the future, which is far superb from the city of the past! New technologies, brighter colors…” – I exclaimed with enthusiasm, improvising on the spot.
“Where did you hear this point of view? It is foreign to all of us. I have an excellent position in the society; the business is on the rise. Your idea sounds to me like a crafty deal… - he almost left, but turned around right away, - Let’s get to the point, since I don’t know for sure that it will work, I need a deposit. How much you’re willing to give?”
I was shocked by his answer, but held myself together: “You cannot afford it I guess; the price is to believe!” and I went away from him.
“Hey! Where are you headed? Is there something interesting?” - I heard a voice behind me.
“If someone wants to know, I shouldn’t’t ignore him”، - I thought and turned around. I saw a fellow, lying under a tree. I went to sit next to him and asked:
“Do you really want to know?”
“Sure, why not? I’ve got all the time to listen… I don’t work anyway, I’m unemployed.”
“Here it is: at midnight… actually in couple of hours, a ferry boat will depart from the old harbor into the city of the future. And there will be everything you need, including employment. – I declared boldly and added – we need to rush not to miss it!”
“Wait a minute! Why are you so sure I want to go?
I understand it’s important to lust after something, but I’m not a fan of this kind of action. I prefer to enjoy my life here, lying under a tree, doing nothing.” – He responded to me and looked in a different direction. A young woman in a short dress and on high heelswas passing by. Pointing out to her, he added: “here comes my action.”
He got awake at once and called out: “Come over baby! Look, the grass here under this tree is better than a bed in a rich hotel. Let’s enjoy some delicacy together!”, but she passed by without even looking.
He turned back to me in anger:
“Stop annoying me with your stupid offers! I’m not going under any pretext!”
On my way to the harbor, I joyfully opened the door of nanny’s house… She was sitting at the table, next to a man, looking very sad and weary.
“What’s the matter? – I asked her, but instead the men opened his mouth: “Here you are. I never thought to meet you under these circumstances… I’m a lawyer in this city and a public worker also… And here is a petition from the residents, demanding your immediate arrest. I helped them to edit it, - he picked up a document from the table and showed me, - and they all signed it: lazy, rich, offended, fearful, and stubborn. The blind refused to sign; I wonder why… If you want to know the charges against you, read it for yourself,” – He handed to me the document and went outside to smoke a sigarette.
“To the highest court of the city of the Past:
Recently a foreign propagandawas spread in our city – a mystical story about a ferry boat that is supposed to arrive to an old harbor to transport the residents of the city of the past into the city of the future. This activity should be immediately stopped for the following reasons:
1.The one and only witness of this information is a young fellow who states that the statement was written on his kite. He is unable to provide any certification or even identify clearly the source of it. He is persuaded that has received this information from “somewhere above”, which clearly indicates that his head is in the clouds.
2. His testimony is utopic (no one ever saw a ferry boat, arriving to the old harbor – we all are willing to testify of that).
3. His testimony stirs up the confusion in our peaceful environment and questions the values of our society.
In the light of all of the above we ask for the immediate arrest of the law-breaker and his consequent punishment.
People of the city of the past! Let us stand up for ourselves! We need to stop that foreign propagandafrom afflicting our souls!”
I finished reading and looked at nanny: “What should I do?”
She nodded her head: “It’s a serious offense… The only option for you would be to face the present. By doing this you will step out from the past into a different world with different laws… “– and she pointed in the direction of the river.
I wrapped my arms around her: “Thanks nanny, I always knew that you are a genius! Let’s go!”
But she didn’t’t move from the chair.
“I cannot go, - she said, - I made my choice years ago, when I married that man… The lawyer you just met is my husband. I always wanted to move forward, but he was so stubborn in his position, saying that I, as a woman should simply submit… so this is what I decided to do. But you… you shouldn’t’t tarry a minute longer!”
I run through the high grass to the harbor…
“Come on quickly, it’s midnight, we’re ready to depart!” – urged me a voice ahead. I wish I could see something, but it was too dark… Here was my moment for a daring feat. I closed my eyes and jumped onto the ferry.
“Welcome on board, - said the man next to me and introduced himself – I’m a ferry worker, I make sure people get to the city of the future. We should get there before dawn.”
Those words alone filled my entire being with pleasure. I sat back and asked him:
“I am your only passenger - How come?”
“You know the answer better than I, – he replied. - You went to talk to the people… Remember their responses? Everyone had his reasons to stay in the past. By the way, you are my only passenger, I’m all yours. While we traveling through the present, you can ask me any question you want."
“I closed my eyes to think and a question flew into my mind:
“…I had my eyes closed to jump onto the ferry… I had my eyes closed right before I found the kite with a promise written upon it… Was it a coincidence? With my eyes open I cannot see the whole picture… Like pieces that are missing in a puzzle… to open or close my eyes: what is better?”
“Great question! – said the ferry worker with enthusiasm and sat on the deck next to me. – This story will help you understand:
Very far in the past lived two first human beings: Adam and Eve. God who created them, placed them in “the Garden of Eden”, life was indeed full of pleasure for them. They didn’t’t have to work hard and enjoyed an unbroken communion with their Creator, who delighted in them; they were the crown of all His creation. God’s plan was for them to partake from the tree of life, which He planted in the middle of the garden, and live forever. There was also another tree there: a tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God forbade them to eat from… It wasn’t difficult to keep those instructions; all they had to do was to trust God as their resource of life, knowing that He wants their very best.
But one day the enemy entered that harmonious perfect world. He confronted the very essence of their lives – a communion with their Creator. With cunning words, he spoke with Eve and invited her to open her eyes on his twisted picture of the world. He perverted the truth by mixing it with his crooked schemes and in his so-called “updated” version of the world, God was no longer the source of their existence, but rather a hindranceto desired knowledge, freedom and fulfillment. This twistingof the reality became so destructive for both of them: instead of worshipping God they had to work the earth, which was cursed for the sake of their disobedience; their lives turned into a slavery to sin. They ‘ve lost the promise of the eternal life forever… If only Eve would choose to close her eyes on all those lies, she would have kept the truth in her heart and the outcome would be so different!”
“I understand, I had exact same struggles, - I replied, reflecting on my conversations in the city of the past, - but tell me, is there anything in the past, which is not that bad? Do you have another story?”
“Of cause, - he said, - if you’re not tried to listen, why not? Without good in our past, how would we have arrived into the present?
Once upon a time there lived a man by the name Abraham. He walked with God and served Him wholeheartedly, but one day he had to passa very difficult testing… I would need to go a bit deeper into the past for you to understand. God choose to make Abraham a father of many nations, but his wife Sarah was barren and both of them were already quite old. In spite of all that, God was faithful to His promise and brought forth a child: their son Isaak was a miracle! And the day came when God wanted to test Abraham and told Him to go to mount Moriah to sacrifice that miracle child, his only treasure…
Centuries passed and we still talking about Abraham’s daring feat. He bound his son Isaak and went to the mountain. No, he wasn’t blind, but he stood the testing without restraint and didn’t’t fainting the process…as if he was voluntarily “blind” to the present reality for the sake of the future. And he received his son back as if God would grant him a gold medafor his faith.
Deep in his heart he always knew that God is his only source of life. He fixed his eyes on that truth and inherited his future promise.
The future belongs to God and He reveals it to us step by step through His testimony. But our job is to guard our eyes, for whatever you’re looking at, will fashion your life and guide you. To fix your eyes on the unseen and to hold on to the testimony in your heart is a serious challenge, but only that has a power to bring you into your promised future.
I can only travel with you till here… Now go ahead and have a courageous journey!”