Chapter
3 – An Idiot’s Demise
Waking up in a hospital again, I
see the bright and friendly face of John Elio standing by my bedside. He’s
dressed in his usual red deacon shirt, golden cape, blue jeans, and farmer
boots. His smile makes me think everything is okay and that I’m safe.
“John Elio! How are you doing,
deacon?” I ask.
“Joyous to be serving the Lord, as
always. How are you doing, Giovanni?” he asks.
“Fine. Better now that you’re here.
Would you happen to see a young man here? He was interested in me teaching
him.”
“Huh? No one else has visited you
except me, as far as the doctors know.”
“No one else came in with me to the
hospital or asked for me?”
“I’m sorry. No one has.”
“Oh.”
“Did you know the young man?”
“No. I only just met him before I
passed out. I was hoping to pass what I knew onto him. Well, that’s fine if he
didn’t come to visit me or run off. I still have time to find him or someone
else to carry on my legacy.”
John’s expression softens as he
says, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have that much time left. I’ve done my own
spiritual diagnosis of the flame in your heart that’s keeping you alive, and
there’s nothing more in there than a small flame. You don’t have long to live.”
“…ha…haha…hahaha, what? You can’t
be serious. Why would God even give me these great powers only for me to die
days after receiving them?”
“Maybe what you did was all you had
to do. I’ve heard about your cards and what they can do. What do they say now?”
Pulling out the cards, I read them
to John, saying, “Death, renewal, redemption. These are the same things that
they keep telling me.”
“That doesn’t sound bad. Well, the
renewal and redemption part don’t. I’ll keep you company until then if you
want.”
“No. You have a world to watch over
with Timeo. You shouldn’t concern yourself with a dying man with nothing left
to give…”
“That’s not true. I felt God’s
calling to come here, and what could be a better use of time than doing God’s
will and spending time with a friend in his time of need?”
I laugh as John’s words bring up my
spirit.
“It’s no wonder why God gave you
and Timeo control over the world, and not to a man like me.”
“You’re right. I never wanted it,
and still can’t believe I have it. All I’ve ever wanted to do is God’s will,
help people, and spend time with my family and friends.”
“That’s exactly why you deserve it,
and not me. All I ever wanted was power and resources to make the world a
better place, and look where that got me and my corporation.”
“You played an important role in
financing and supporting my Dominion, so don’t sell yourself short. Timeo and I
wouldn’t be where we are without your help.”
“Still, it’s a fact that we have no
real control or ownership over our lives, isn’t it? God created us to be born
under certain circumstances and has been meticulously trying to adjust our
lives since then. Everything that I have is because of Him, and so is
everything I lost. I want to do so much more, to make up for lost time, and for
all the wrong I’ve done, and yet, God isn’t letting me do much more. I don’t
even feel like I have the strength to walk out of this bed.”
John puts his hand on mine and
widens his smile a bit.
“It’s going to be okay, no matter
what happens. God has forgiven you and wants you to be saved. That’s all that
matters.”
“You’re right. That is all that
matters in the end.”
John and I talk about current
events, philosophy, theology, and old times throughout the day. He brings me
food and drinks, and even stays overnight. More people from the Dominion come
to visit, such as John’s family, Timeo and his family, Kane and his family, and
many more people related to and friends with them. No one from my corporation
comes. Not one politician or member from a company or hero association that I have
allied myself with comes. I guess money and favors can buy a partnership, but
not true friendship. I keep drawing new cards, only to find the same three
repeating each time.
Seeing my disappointment, John
tells me to use my power to show people what God’s will has for them, and of
course, all the card readings for them are positive and hopeful. I can’t help
but feel a tinge of jealousy while looking at them, and yet, I can’t help but
feel happy for them at the same time, so I try to keep those feelings of
jealousy underneath. My time with all my friends feels more special than I
admit. The feeling is familiar. I have been feeling this during the times I
spent the holidays and special days with them, but why does it feel better now
than before? Knowing my idiotic self, I didn’t appreciate them as much as I
should’ve.
Not wanting to hold it back, I let
everyone know how thankful I am for them before they leave. After most of the
crowd is gone, Timeo and John remain and choose to stay with me in my final
moments. Now, I can’t even pick myself up from my bed or move in any meaningful
way. My two friends hold my hand as my body goes completely cold, and I feel
the flame within me go out. This is it. The end of the most foolish man alive.
In Heaven, looking down at Earth, I
see the foolishness in everything that was also in me; in believing and living
against the way God wanted me to, in thinking that I owned anything when it was
actually all on loan with a time limit, and in not seeing defeat and challenges
as necessary for my growth and salvation. It was stupid of me not to see God’s
hand in everything in the world, and that Heaven should’ve been my primary goal,
but at least now, I’ll be forever in the presence of God. It’s no wonder why
John loved being in adoration all the time. I finally understand why he did. For
the first time in my life, I am no longer a fool.
The End
