STORIES

BUCKETS OF GOLD

I watched
as the people came forward to the Temple
They walked into the building
and would huddle around buckets of gold
These buckets were full and overflowing
The people held out their hands
and the gold ran as liquid upon their hands
and seeped through their fingers to the floor
The people would stay for hours
to receive this gold

I approached the steps
and watched this night after night
I looked at the gold,
but had no longing to go in
for the gold didn't seem to last
There was no trace of it on the people
when they left the building
Strange substance, I thought
maybe the work is an inner work

I sat and watched and each night
old people and young people
would come and sit on the steps, too
They looked hungry and thirsty
I wished the gold that was given out in the Temple
could feed their stomachs and cure their thirst
I began to bring with me bread and water
as I came to the steps
of the Temple each night
As the people would leave the building
they would push us aside to walk past
The gold didn't seem to satisfy their hearts
or change them in any way
There became many of us,
but none of us had a desire to go into the Temple
As the evenings grew darker and colder
I brought blankets and I would speak Blessings
over these dear people
as they slept on the steps
They came night after night, but I knew not why

One night a Stranger approached
One, I had never seen before
He was not well dressed or kept
He was joyful though
He invited us inside the Temple
We looked in disbelief
Never
had we been invited into the Temple
Never
had the thought crossed the peoples' minds
as they stood in their tight little circles
that maybe a few more could enter
We refused politely
and said that we were quite content
where we were

The Man entered the Temple ----
As He did ---- the gold stopped instantly
It stopped flowing
It stopped filling the buckets and flowing
on the hands and unto the floor
He called them "Hypocrites"
He called them "Greedy" and "Selfish"
He called them many names and they fled --
many angry - many outraged
but what could they do?
This Young Man spoke with Authority
and the gold dried up
---    ALL OF IT    ---

He once more invited us into the Temple
the Great Hall
We hesitated, but we felt it safe now
We went in one by one
then two by two
then people from all over the city came
and we shared of our bread, and water and warmth
The gold poured once more,
but not from the buckets ---
not the gold that comes and goes
but this gold poured from the hearts
to all
that would come in

Each night
the Young Man would stand at the door
and call for the people to COME
"COME AND EAT
THOSE WITHOUT MONEY - EAT, DRINK
IT'S MY PARTY - IT'S MY TEMPLE
AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!"

~
WHERE
does your gold come from?
Does it seep through your hands?
Have you thought
of sharing it with another?
What will you do
if the Young Man comes to your abode
and stops the gold?
What will you do
with what you have ---
Will you stand and stand and stand
in the Temple
or
will you go out with what you have
and let your heart
contain the True Gold?

Not all
that glitters is gold
Not all
that comes to you is for you, alone
Only
that which is given away
will return to you

Count your gold
look at your wealth
it will not truly satisfy you
until
you can give it away

GIVE IT AWAY, PEOPLE

COME OUT
OF THE TEMPLE
AND
GIVE
AND
GIVE
AND
GIVE
AND
GIVE
OR
THIS SAME YOUNG MAN
WILL COME AND TAKE IT
ALL
FROM YOU
AND
SEND YOU OUT!!!

GIVE!
~ ~ ~
ISAIAH 33



IV