Fervently Burning

The day was still very young and the sun had not even begun setting. It would be foolish of me if I were to lay around as a corpse for the whole day, I thought to myself, perhaps I should go outside and explore more of this world for the sake of stimulus.

I gathered the proper articles of clothing that would be needed for an outdoor walk, thinking that I would be able to spend the rest of the day in "exercise". However, intrusive thoughts had influenced me that it would not be profitable for me to waste my energy on outdoor walking. The clothes I had gathered remained on my bed and I, myself, decided to lay down and think of what I may do next. Richard, who sat down in the lounge area, looked at me with a somewhat sad face and spoke to me.

"Idleness seems to have taken you captive, Alastair, how about you sit up and talk to me for once?" For once, his voice felt like that of a friend's warm words.

"Though it may be unexpected for you to be in a worrying mood, I will do as you ask." I sat up as I spoke and returned eye contact to Richard for a more proper conversation.

In the stillness of the air and the golden sun rays of the afternoon, I put back my outdoor attire and made my way to the lounge to sit closer to Richard.

"What is it that you might want to talk to me about right now?" I asked to start the conversation.

"I want to know more of the story you told to Elizabeth earlier, the one with the three children and the town known as Mightily Stand. What possessed you to write such a gruesome tale?" He asked with a serious expression across his face.

"I thought that you would have been able to infer your answer just by my expressions but I will explain." I cleared my throat and let my memories recollect as I spoke, "As for all adventures, there will always be hindrances that affect protagonists from reaching their goals. For the children, their goal was to follow their hearts while Mightily Stand was the hindrance that proves how horrible things may come to be if one were to follow only their heart." I explained.

"Sounds simple enough, however, would that not make the story quite dull? What else is there to see if the exact opposite of the protagonist's goal is already presented and conquered?" Richard asked for the most likely reason thinking that the story might have been concluded there.

"If a parent disciplines the child by striking once, does the child learn the lesson immediately?" I replied with a question, "Of course, they do not learn instantly but rather, they will make the same mistake but in a further time in the future. For it is only when the cruelties of life dash against the child that the said child will learn more and perhaps even prevent the occurrence of the same mistake from its guilt." Once I had stated my question, I immediately answered it myself.

"How cruel, but would that not exhaust the excitement if the same themes and lessons were presented continuously?" He asked again.

"Obviously, that would not be the case considering there is so much to explore from these strong-headed children and their unwavering hearts." I assured him.

"Right, now, what of Mightily Stand's significance? At first, it was presented as such a lovely place to live in, yet, it appeared to be a more twisted dwelling just by learning of the people's nature." The subject had been changed and as the setting sun shined its ray accurately upon my eye, I thought of what I would say next whilst the light blinded my left eye.

"I think that question may require a lengthy explanation. May I proceed?" I asked Richard if he truly wanted to know, and he nodded in confirmation.

The town, Mightily Stand, was formed from what I would predict in a lawless world. To expand further, if the concept of morality or the standards of good and evil ceased to exist someday, what would happen? Most, if not all, would say that the world will be reduced into a wasteland of war, disease, and other such terrible things. However, as we are aware that morality was intended for the guidance of humanity, it was also created by other humans as well. Of course, if all humans were created equal, then it would not be correct if a human were to judge others and dictate their ways of livelihood. Therefore, deities were created to educate what humanity must do to live. That way, humans could believe and trust in a higher power that will surely know the concepts of good and evil.

Be it from the Word of God or the devil's deals, such spiritual things were translated to manmade words and were most likely tampered with throughout history. That being, the text given from those of the spiritual realm were rewritten to fit the standards of human thinking; and since that same humane way of thinking tampers the words of the spiritual, eventually, those words given from the unseen will turn into words that cater to desires rather than rebuking them.

Once all words had been twisted and modified into a song that comforts evil, it will be in that moment that morality will die. Then again, if God and the devil were ideas created by man in the first place, then who is to say if morality was but humanity conforming to the desires of one singular human. Better yet, would it not beg a certain question if we are to find the true origins of morality, goodness, and evil?

Which of the two came first, God or man?

If it were God that existed before us, then why must there be those who abuse their freedom and rebel against him? Why must he eventually forgive them? And for how long will his patience endure? If it were man to exist before God, then it would be sufficient to say that the creation of morality had deterred humanity's progress all along.

For if the true law of life was to conform to our innate natures, then why must the constraints of morality hinder us from realizing our potential? If a man or woman were to become a hindrance to civilization, let them die swiftly rather than bickering how long they must stay in a confined room and how often they must be fed even though they bring nothing to humanity. By letting our desires guide our actions, happiness can be easily achieved without even pondering the value of actions and other lives. For if our existence is the only form of intelligent life in this world, why must we concern ourselves with others if we are not fit and capable to discern what is good and evil for ourselves?

There can be an exception, however, if a perfect human were to be born in this world, then there is hope for a moral foundation. Yet, there is no such thing as a perfect human who could hold the world's knowledge easily at birth and since there are no perfect beings, the citizens I created in Mightily Stand followed their own desires without the concern of what was moral.

"How excruciatingly long." Richard interjected and stretched his limbs as if he had awakened from a long slumber.

"My apologies, but I do hope you may grasp the reasoning behind it." Said I, who felt relieved to be set free from a lengthy explanation.

"I do indeed, but though you may seem skeptical about the existence of God, an angel was written into the story. Would you care to explain that as well? In a more concise version, of course." Richard requested.

"Ah, yes, I do not know what had come over me at that moment but I do know that the idea of Heaven and God existing inspires a small sense of fervent belief within me." I replied.

"Inspire? Yet you represent these things as creatures against humanity."

"If it is true that we were created in God's image, then it must also be true that God possesses the same emotions as us." Though I promised myself not to break into another hefty explanation, it seems that my tongue had other plans.

As we expect fortune to come into our lives from God, it may also be true that God would also expect his children to offer something towards him as well. If a father continuously offers toys to his child whilst the child rejects everything presented unto them, it would not be considered as familial love, would it? Rather, it would merely be the child rejecting their father's love. There will be times when both parent and child experience interactions of anger, bitterness, sadness, happiness, kindness, and happiness for that is what must be expected from human interactions.

Would it not also be considered perfectly normal if God were to be angry at his own children? For the anger expressed by Him must surely be out of His love and sadness, as He chastises and rebukes His children. Surely, as a child refuses to heed their parents' teachings when they are older, they will be taken out of the family home. Just as the land of Mightily Stand was given unto the animals, the rebellion of citizens had become the cause for the loss of their home.

The fault of this situation, however, ultimately rests upon the shoulders of the people, would it not? If a child voluntarily chooses to oppose the teachings of a parent, then that would mean that the child believes they are superior to the parent to some degree. The child, in this situation, would possess an idea or belief that they would believe should be a form of instruction in their life despite it contradicting the teachings of the parent. Once that belief becomes known, the parent rebukes the child for the sake of correction and guidance, but the child feels as if a wall had been constructed between the parent and child.

This barrier that prevents understanding from both sides brings loneliness to the child's mind and thought. As crushing and cruel as this loneliness can be, bitterness and anger accompany the child's mind and convince the child that they should not seek understanding from the parent anymore. Ultimately, the child willingly cuts themselves off from their family once their ideals come into conflict with the parent's teachings.

"Meaning that being removed from the family is but an inevitable outcome for the child, correct?" Richard interjected suddenly to finish my thought.

"Indeed, since the child may believe they are superior to the parent in a certain way, then it would be most probable for the child to depart soon. The point that I wish to arrive upon is that when the child leaves and faces the horrors of this world, they cannot blame the parent for not protecting them." I spoke.

"Truly they cannot" Richard agreed, "Since they no longer wish to associate with their family, they cannot hold their family accountable for their mistakes or for any afflictions that come upon them."

"Precisely." I confirmed.

Our conversation right then and there shifted to different subjects and lasted the entire afternoon. It did feel quite shameful that nothing productive was brought forth today but as long as tomorrow awaits me, passion can always be rekindled into a fervently burning fire.