"Suddenly all goes dark."
A short story by Al Debaran.
Intro
Khe-deng-a-deng … Khe-deng-a-deng … Khe-deng-a-deng …
The train is rhythmically moving forwards …
Everything is as it has to be, and as it usually is, as I am told. This is the first time I am travelling by train, and I am not used to the sounds, movements and so on.
There's a soothing murmuring going on, and the atmosphere is nice and feels pretty good.
Chapter 1
I remember the moment, that I was waiting for the train, on the platform at the station. The excitement and anxiety because of the first time taking the train. I think of seeing other trains moving along and through the station, and seeing the particulars and details, spoken of by other travellers,
when I unintentionally overheard their conversations. There was someone, who seemed to be working with the railroad company, because he seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the ins and outs of it all.
He explained to his companion, that the train driver isn't able to steer the train. All he does is controlling the speed of it. The ‘steering’ is done by someone else, up in
the traffic control room, often up in a tower near a station and a shunting yard.
Chapter 2
The traffic controller decides which train goes where and when, using track switches and signalling lights.
The track switches are used to lead the train onto the right track,
and the signalling lights are being used to communicate with the train driver.
Chapter 3
The lights mostly have three lamps together; green, amber and red.
Green means the train can leave, or continue going.
Amber means that the driver of the train has to be alert, because a sign to stop might follow.
Red means the train must directly stop, or stay where it is, because leaving its position would mean bringing the train directly into dangers path.
Chapter 4
This means, I thought, that the train driver has to trust someone he can't see, and he has to believe that that someone is actually there, controlling all train traffic, and taking care of his train's safety via the signalling lights.
Suddenly there is a whispering coming nearer to me, and when I am able to make out a bit of what the other travellers are saying, all I can make of it is “He's coming!”
“Who's coming?” I think.
And then I notice some travellers searching for something in their belongings.
What could they be searching for, and who's coming?
Chapter 5
Then I understand, when I see some other travellers triumphantly showing the tickets they had been searching for; the conductor is approaching!
That's when I start searching for my ticket too. I wouldn't like the embarrassment of having to search for it, with the conductor waiting for me to find it.
Chapter 6
I find it in my coat's pocket, and hold tight on to it.
Then I hear the screaming noise of the horn of the train, and a moment later it goes suddenly completely dark. What is happening? An accident? But nobody is panicking! What than?
Suddenly I know! A tunnel! We are in a tunnel! Of course! That's what it must be!
Now I have to hold my ticket really tight. With the conductor near, and all being dark, I feel awkward. This is for sure not the moment to loose it, although I have a indescribable urge to throw it away. Weird, but true. But I understand that I shouldn't do that.
I have to trust the invisible man driving the train, who is trusting the invisible man in the traffic control room. Yes, I will sit still and trust them!
Chapter 7
And as suddenly as it went all dark, the light returns, and the train is out of the tunnel again. Everybody is where they were before, the other passengers, the conductor, even the dog accompanying the blind lady a few steps away from me.
Yes, or no? … Has something changed? I think so, but can't put my finger on what! Something has changed, but what? An anxious feeling is crawling up onto me.
Is it important? I don't know, yet. I have to focus! Keep my mind together, and focus on the question “What has changed in that moment of darkness?”.
Chapter 8
But the conductor has reached me, to check my ticket, and holds out his hand. I give the ticket to him, and he looks at it, cuts it, and gives it back to me. He looks at me, and asks “Are you alright? You look a bit pale and disturbed.”
I tell him about my experience going through the tunnel, and the lesson it taught me. About the fact, that I have to trust two, to me invisible, persons, for bringing me to my destination, and keeping me safe underway.
He looks me straight in my eyes, when he says: “Don't forget the third person; the one who is visible to you!” I stare at him, and ask “Who?” “Me!” he says. “I am responsible for your safety and wellbeing during the trip, within this train. And I always do my utmost to ensure it!”
“And I am grateful for that, and the thank you for it!” I say, and I mean it.
Chapter 9
He continues his work, and I look at my ticket, and then through the window to the passing landscape. I cross vision with a fellow traveller, who starts a conversation with me by saying “That's a an interesting experience you've had a moment ago. It reminds me of the fact, that it applies to our spiritual journey.” I look at him, not understanding.
“We, all members of mankind, are spiritual beings, going through a human experience. Our lives are a journey from ‘A' to ‘B', so to say. We set off on it, when we are born,
and arrive when we die. It matters hugely, what choices we make, or are made for us, when we are too young to make them ourselves. These choices determine our direction, although not yet our destination. In this journey we have to learn to trust invisible persons to lead and guide us, even to protect and comfort us.” “ What do you mean?” I ask.
Chapter 10
“In our lives journey, we can choose to be subject to a higher being. To let Him steer our life's ‘train’ on the right tracks towards our destination. This higher being is by many called God. God is Spirit, and because of that, invisible. But He's there anyway, if you believe it or not. He can be compared to the Traffic Controller of the railroads. Invisible, but there anyway.
Then there’s the train driver, the one who decides on the speed and keeps alert to the possible dangers, many of which are signalled via the lights. Although we ourselves ‘play' our part in this - being and staying alert, and aware of the signs - it's also God's Spirit, called the Holy Spirit, Who passes signals to us, letting us know if we may travel on, or have to slow down and proceed with care, or even stop altogether to prevent getting into dangerous situations.
The 3rd person, the conductor, is the one we really meet during the journey. And in our analogy, it is the Son of God, Who was in the midst of mankind, as the ultimate expression of Who God is. He takes care of us in many ways, and at the top of the list would be, saving us from the ultimate danger staring us in the face: the imminent end of our journey in death, in being cut off from God the Father and His Holy Spirit completely and for eternity. He did that by giving His life! In the analogy; as a conductor stepping in a bullet’s path, where it was meant to kill you. He takes care of your safety, and that's a comforting knowledge.
What’s your view on this matter?”
Chapter 11
I am dumbstruck! Speechless!
These words make me realise, that the change I had been aware of, and which I couldn't find around me, was actually inside me! I had decided to ‘Trust’ the invisible men, and hold on to my ticket for the journey. This way I was able to hand it over to the conductor, who saw my being disturbed, and had pointed at his role. That was overheard by a fellow traveller, who had explained about the analogy, concerning our spiritual journey; My spiritual journey!
Yes, the change was IN me! And the question now was: “What will I do with this information?”
Will I accept it, and use it during my journey? Or will I let it go, forget about it, and continue, as if I wasn't made aware of it?
“What can I do with this information?!” I blurt out.
“Are you serious? Do you really want to know what you can do, and how?” is the answer.
“Yes, I seriously want to know!”
Chapter 12
At that moment there is an announcement via the intercom: “In a minute we will arrive at Basingstoke station.”
My companion traveller says “I will walk with you at the station, to explain it, if you wish.” “Oh, please, if you don't mind!” I answer.
So we leave the train together, and walk a bit along the platform of the station.
It's such a different station, than the one from which we departed. With other types of trains, and a very different look and atmosphere.
Chapter 13
“Now, about what you can do with the information you gained from your experience and the analogy I described; in the end it boils down to making a choice. A choice to submit your self, and your life's journey, to God the Father and His Divine Son. And to let their Holy Spirit guide that journey from now on.”
“But, how do I do that?” I ask.
“By speaking to God, as you speak to me at this moment, and telling Him about your desire to submit to Him, to repent from the way you lived your life up to now, and to turn one hundred and eighty degrees, so that you're on a new track of journeying. We call that ‘Being born again’, which means to be spiritually born.”
“Yes, that's what I would like to do, what I Will do!”
Chapter 14
So, we sit down on one of the benches, and I talk for the first time to God, to the invisible Person, and give my life into His hands. From now I am not alone anymore, even when I feel lonely, because He is always and everywhere at my side.
My travel companion ‘prays' also, thanking God for what has happened to me. We talk a little more, but then we take our leaves to go our own different paths.
Chapter 15
I walk out of the station, and look back. I think “Amazing, how our life's journeys went in the same direction for a brief moment, and ‘the invisible traffic controller’ decided to let our life's trains travel on in different directions from here.”
I am happy and joyful. And I feel as if a new world has opened up to me! So, I start whistling a tune, when I turn to go to my bus, that will bring me to my destination.
THE END.