A Hero's Heart. Joseph David Hightower

above each ear, a full beard that at one time probably had been as white as the tuffs on his head, but now was a disgusting gray color, that reached his chest, small wire rimmed glasses, and to top everything off he was wearing a rust colored tunic cinched in the middle with a piece of hemp rope.

      “Thank you for your help young man, but I’m not sure of the statement that you spoke of right before you cut me down. You said that Yeshua sent you? If this is true, tell me than, how does one to come to the Holy Father?” the old man asked.

      Heru thought for a moment before replying, “I was told that one could reach the Father only through the Son.”

      The old man sized up Heru for a few more minutes, “Well, I guess you are the one that He told me was coming.” He extended his hand out to Heru, “You can call me Ojiisan. I am from the coastal villages.”

      Heru reached out and shook his hand, “You are a long way from home Ojiisan. Why were you tangled up in those vines?”

      “I must confess young master, that I threw myself up into those vines.” He said. “I awoke one morning to the voice of the Father telling me to start walking, after I took that first step, I became unaware of my surroundings. That is until I reached these vines. I jumped into them because I was told to wait here for a hero to come and release me from the vines.” Ojiisan finished.

      “Did you say Hero?” asked Heru. “My name is Heru!”

      “Well, Heru it looks as if our separate paths are now one!” chuckled Ojiisan.

      “I still do not know where it is that I am going, but I would love to have some company, so let’s get moving old man.” Heru said as he reached down for his pack.

      “Just one moment, young man.” “One should always pray before starting out on a new path!” exclaimed Ojiisan.

      The old man reached out and grabbed Heru by the hand and bowed his head and began to pray. After a few moments, he lifted his head and said, “Alright now we can go.” “We are to head towards those mountains there in the distance.” Ojiisan said as he lifted his hand and pointed to the west.

      Heru looked out at the direction that Ojiisan had pointed, it looked to be a very long, hard, cold, and dangerous journey. Putting it simply he did not want to go in that direction, but he had been taught his entire life that you must respect your elders and that you never refused and elder’s request. He looked again out at the distant mountains and with a helpless shrug urged Ojiisan to climb onto his shoulders for faster travel.

      “So, Ojiisan, tell me of your way, your life.” Said Heru. “Where is your family and what kind of work did you do before you were called to start this journey?”

      Ojiisan thought for a moment gathering his thoughts together before beginning. A slight feeling of embarrassment of his past mistakes tried to overtake him, but he prayed and as he prayed he could feel the comforter surrounding him and giving him the strength to tell his tale. With a deep cleansing breath, he began his story, traveling, it seemed, to another time, another place.

      Chapter 14

      “I was a great fisherman many years ago, the fish, they seemed to speak to me, telling their hiding spots. I could take anyone out at any time, to any spot and they would be able to fill their nets with a bountiful harvest from the sea. All of that ended after one tragic accident. You see it was early in the morning and the sky was a bright red color, I should have sensed the danger, but these young fishermen were so eager to prove themselves that I gave little thought to the warning blaring loudly across the sky. I took those two young men out to a distant spot in the sea where they would be able to catch a great many fish. Than out of nowhere a mighty storm blew in. The waves were higher than my boat and the current caused us to drift dangerously close to the rocky outcroppings that border the smaller islands along the coast. A rouge wave swept those two young men over the edge and I could not rescue them. Because of my carelessness two very bright, energetic boys lost their lives that day.

      I could not forgive myself and it seemed that the fish could not forgive me either. They became silent and I became a useless old man. My only friend was the bottles of sake that I kept close at hand. If I was awake, I was drunk, otherwise I was passed out drunk. One morning, after sleeping off yet another night of heavy drinking, the boys’ brothers showed up and beat me almost to death. I thought for a time that I was dead, but later came to realize that if God intends a purpose for you, then it does not matter the choices that others make, God will do with you what He wants to and it is only up to you to obey Him.

      After that beating I lay for several days going in and out of consciousness. When suddenly a bright light seemed to completely consume me. A peace that passed all comprehension invaded my spirit and I was left standing in awe of the splendor that was in front of me. I felt no fear, no dread, no pain, and most of all, no condemnation! The only thing that I could describe the feeling of was an unending all-consuming love. I was then handed a large book that I could not understand the words in and a pair of pants that I was told to put on. I put the pants on and stared at the book, unsure what to do with it.

      This happened about seven years ago, and it has just been me, my pants, and this book ever since. That is until you showed up. In my dreams, my master, the Father, teaches me what the writing in my book means. I than try and share it with anyone that is willing to listen. Sometimes they listen, but most of the time I end of getting thrown out of places because people would rather continue with their own way of living instead of taking a moment and allowing the Father to change them from the inside out like He did for me. That my young friend, is my way.” Ojiisan finished.

      “Boy, you sure can talk!” exclaimed Heru. Heru pointed to the book that Ojiisan was holding, “Is that the book you were speaking of? What is it called?”

      “My Father called it His Word”, Ojiisan replied, “The only problem that I have, is that the only time I seem to be able to talk with Him, is when I am dreaming.”

      Upon hearing this Heru came to a sudden stop causing Ojiisan to flip over his head and to once again face plant into the ground. “Sorry about that old man” Heru said as he reached down and helped Ojiisan to his feet and to wipe the dust from his face and tunic, “Please, can you tell can you me the name of the Father that you keep speaking of?” “Has He ever given you a name by which to call Him?” Heru asked in a desperate voice.

      Ojiisan bowed his head and wiped a tear from his face, the last time he had spoken his Father’s name had been about two months ago, when he had tried to share the news with some people and had been beaten for it. “Yes, His name is Yeshua” he whispered barely loud enough for Heru to hear him.

      Heru moved so fast that Ojiisan had no time to react before he was being lifted off the ground and was being swung around in the air like a rag doll in a child’s hand. Ojiisan, not seeing the smile that lit Heru’s face cried out in both fear and in pain. Heru quickly put him down and grabbed his hands, “Thank you, Ojiisan! Thank you so much!” “You see this means that I am not losing my mind! I too speak with Yeshua in my dreams, it is next to this beautiful waterfall and cabin.” “That means that your Father is also my Father, we are brothers!” Heru smiled down at Ojiisan and then quickly embraced him as was custom of family members to embrace. “The only thing that I do not understand, is the many different forms that Yeshua visits me in. Does He always appear the same to you, or does He change for you as well?” Heru asked.

      “Yes, He has many appearances, but in all of them, I can tell that it is He that I am speaking with just by the look in His eyes. That never changes!” replied Ojiisan. “Please, Heru, promise me one thing. If I share something with you and even if you don’t like it or agree with, promise that you will not hurt me.” Ojiisan said in a quiet tone with his head bowed like a hurt animal.

      “Ojiisan, I am not sure why anyone would want to hurt you, but I give you my word, I will never purposefully cause you any harm.” Heru said in an earnest and sincere voice, making Ojiisan look him in the eye.

      After their long talk, they continued the path for a little while longer, until it was almost night. Heru found a clearing