The Girl Who Won the Game

By Joseph C. Collins

She rushes over the hill with the flag in her hand, soon she hears the sound of the enemy coming over the ridge all in front of her. She was breathing heavily with the sweat falling from her face, “There is it no time to lose.” She said to herself.
Gripping the flag in her hand she runs straight at her enemies, ducking and dodging one tag after another.

She felt the wind in her hair and the grass under her fast moving feet.
Even with the sweat still falling from her face she could still see her side of the field where the trees stood tall, “Come on you can make it!” she said over and over again to herself.

But the other team was gaining on her and they almost had her in their grasp when, out of nowhere came her own team running right past her and into the other teams side of the field, causing the enemy to chase after all of her team mates.

“This is it,” She said to herself. So with the enemies’ flag in her hand she leaped through the air and landed on her team’s side, running with all she had until she was out of sight of them completely.

A few minutes went by, with nothing more then the sound of bugs, birds, and the wind blowing across the trees. Then out nowhere that same girl walked up the hill and held up high both of the flags for all to see.

When the enemy looked at her, they saw on her face a look that said, “See I told you a girl could do it.”

Help Me Live For You

By Joseph C. Collins


Keep me near my God keep me near so I do not stray, for your wing is my roof and your arm is my pillow. Keep me near, so I may sleep.

Save me my King for my sins weigh heavy on my soul. for it is you and only you can wash them away, you are the one my King, there is no other.

And please speak to me Holy Spirit. Move me to the place were I need to be.
I know that your way is the best. I have no place here in the world. No, my
place is in The Kingdom of God.

I by myself am dead but with you, Jesus, I live. For life itself is in you. Who
else can say, “I am the God who saved my children from sin. I am the God who
gave them life. And I, and only I, am the God who loves them.”

So help me, My God. Help me live for you.

Amen.

No Better Dream

By Joseph C. Collins


There is no better dream my God than to dream of serving you.

There is no better dream my Lord than to dream of Your praise being sung all over the Earth.

There is no better dream my Father than to dream of seeing Your Son on the throne where he rightfully belongs.

There is no better dream my King than to dream of your Kingdom come and all the rest fade away.

There is no better dream than to dream of the time when I’m in your arms.

My God I wish I could say that all that I dream is of you but I do not
So every time I lay my head on my pillow I lie down with hope.

For there is no better dream than to dream of you my God.

His Mighty Wing

By Joseph C. Collins

The storm has come, my God, and I am here under your wing shivering in fear.

As I shiver in fear, it is You who are being rained upon. As I shiver in fear, it is You who the thunder and lighting clashes around.

As I shiver in fear, it is You who is bruised by the hail that falls from the sky.
But as I shiver in fear it is you who say, “Be still my child, for this will all be over soon.

The rain will cease and the clouds will scatter. The sun will shine, the ground will be dry, and all will be right again.
“Until that day, my child, stay here under my wing and I will keep you safe.”

Seeking His Children

By Joseph C. Collins

Where has my friend gone; the friend whose heart was on fire for his Lord. He flees from our sight.
He flees for he has done wrong.

Does he not know of our love for him. Has he not heard of our mercy?
He runs in the darkness, hiding his face, then he falls to the ground and begins to cry.

He calls out My name, not knowing I am already coming to him.
Hang on, my friend, for I will be there.

I will not stop, I will not linger, nor will I falter until you are by my side again.
I am The Lord your God and I will not forsake you.

The Love of the Lord

By Joseph C. Collins

As I lay in my bed I remembered all the things of my life. I head a sound. I looked at my door and there was my whole family walking into the room. They all gathered around me: my daughter with her husband on one side and my two sons with their wives on the other. All of their children were there. My lovely wife was holding my hand.
They all looked at me with love in their eyes, but at the same time with sorrow.

They all told me how much they loved me and how much I meant to them.
Still they could not hold back their tears.
“It’s okay.” I told them. “My time is shot, yes, but I am not afraid of dying. I know that I will be in the palace of our King and we should all be happy.”

My daughter leaned over, put her hand on my head and kissed me
“I love you daddy.”
“I love you to sweetie.”
Soon they all said their goodbyes, slowly leaving the room.
I looked at my wife, who was still with me. I looked at her the way I always have and she looked back with those eyes. Such lovely eyes they were. I told her how much I loved her and how beautiful she was and had always been. I told her I would be waiting for her,
“I know,” she said. “I love you and I will see you soon.”

With her holding my hand I felt the Lord calling me home. I looked at her one last time and said, “Goodbye my love.” I then closed my eyes. I went on.
As I opened them I found myself standing in front of a great gate. It was tall and made of gold. Behind me was a long and narrow road, but beyond, to both the sides, there was darkness.
When I looked straight, my eyes came upon a man whose face I soon recognized. It was Him: the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. It was my savior. It was Jesus.

I fell to my knees with my face down. Suddenly I heard footsteps coming towards me. He stopped in front of me. I kept my face down. I felt a hand on my chin lifting it and soon I was looking in his eyes
“Why have you come here?” he asked me.
“My Lord,” I answered. “I have no right to be here. I know that you are Lord of all and that you died on the cross for my sins’ am your slave, my Master, your slave.”

With him still looking into my eyes He said, “No my child you are my friend and I know you just as you know me, so fear not. You are now home.”
He reached for my arm and helped me to my feet. We started to walk towards the gate .
“What now Lord?” I asked.
Jesus replied, “Well now that you are here there’s someone who wants to see you.”
“You mean other then you?”
“Yes, other then me.”

We walked up to the gate and Jesus signaled to an angel to move aside. The instant they did, the gate swung open. Soon my eyes come upon the kingdom of God and for the first time I felt real, so real that my life on earth felt like just a dream. I saw mighty mountains in the North. I saw stone streets to the side of them were houses and people were going one way and another. In the center of it all was a magnificent white castle.

Jesus looked at me, “That is where we are going. In the castle is who you well soon see.”
As we started to walk through his kingdom, there was a group of women to my left that were at work. Some that was sewing and some were weaving. Beyond them I saw in the West long soft fields and in the fields men that were working the crops. Looking higher my eyes come to a hill on which there was a man..

I gazed at him. He turned my way and looked at me. I recognized him. It was David tending a flock of sheep. He gave me a smile and looked down and went back to tending his flock.
We soon made our way to a stone wall. I could feel a sweet breeze on my face, so like a child I ran to the wall to look beyond it. My eyes opened wide in awe, for I saw a calm yet mighty ocean in the East. On the beach lay boats, Men were working out on the ocean One of the men I again recognized. It was Peter, who had just cast a net into the water. As he stood back up, he looked to the sky for a minute or two, then he looked at me and gave me a smile and waved and went back to fishing.

Jesus came up to me,” Beautiful isn’t it?” he asked
“I do not have the words to say.” I answer
“Come on we are almost there.”
He put his hand on my shoulder and we continued to walked. As we turned the corner of a building, there in all its magnificence was the castle. In front of it was a court yard, with no wall or fence. This baffled me, for while I was on earth all of the castles had a wall around their courts.
I asked Jesus, “Lord why is there not a wall around the courts?”

“Why should there be? For there is no war here. There is no reason to protect the parapet. Besides, how then would all of my people come to see me. All are welcome to see their Lord.”
We walked through the courtyard and soon came to the stairs. Up the stairs there was a pavilion. In the center was a big arched doorway. Just as we were about to make our way up the stairs, we heard a sound in the bushes. We stopped and suddenly a pack of children jumped out behind the bushes. They were all calling out, “Jesus, Jesus”

Jesus ran to meet them and the children all at once jumped on him. He fell to the ground laughing a joyful laugh.
Then the children stopped and looked at me. One of them asked Jesus, “Is he a child of God?”
Jesus answered “Yes he is.”
The children all gasped as if something great had happened. Then one of the girls reached down to the ground to pick something up. She ran to me and reached out her hand and giving me a flower, she said, “Welcome home.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
They all then said goodbye and ran away.

Jesus got up and looked at me. We soon made our way up the stairs.
When we got to the top we went through the arched doorway that became a hallway. I looked around to see and in the center was another hall crossing through the main hall. At the end of the main hall were angels guarding a big door. While we were walking to the door, a creature with many eyes passed by mumbled the tasks to itself that it had to get done.
When we got to the door, Jesus said,” Are you ready?”
I started to fix my hair and my shirt. Jesus gave a small laugh.
“It’s okay, He well not mind.”'

The angel suddenly snapped to attention and the doors opened. I was now standing in a great throne room that was so big and magnificent that it could hold all of humanity. Looking around I soon saw Him in all his glory. It was God sitting on his throne with an angel showing him something. We walked up to the throne.
Without looking up, God spoke and said, “What can I do for my Son?”
Jesus said,” My father there is some one here for you to see.”

Suddenly the Lord stopped what He was doing and looked up right at me. The next thing that happened at that time I did not believe. God himself came off his throne and began to walk towards me.
I did not fall to my knees for I was in shock. I was in the presence of the Great I AM. He walked up to me, put His hands on my shoulders and looked into my face.
Then He pulled me towards him and began to embrace me. As I stood there in the arms of the Lord all the pain and all of the sorrow and the shame in my life went through my mind.

Suddenly I came out of my shock. Soon tears started to fall from my face. For my sins still weighed heavy on my soul. For the first time in my life I felt truly loved,.
Then God said to me, “It’s okay I am here.”
So I cried and cried what seemed to be an eternity of tears. I now could let them all go.
He stepped back and spoke with a voice that shook the heavens and the earth. And the Lord said, “Let there be music and let there be joy for one of my children has came back to me.”

I could hear a song of praise through His kingdom. From the mighty mountains of the North to the golden fields of the West to the vast ocean of the East and the great gate of the South, they sang “How great is our God, who reigns with wisdom and justice. All praise, for His mercy has set us free.

Let his love and grace pour on us like the rain. How great is our God!”
Even Jesus began to dance. All were praising His might Name.
Then the Lord put his hands on my shoulders and once again looked into my eyes and said, “Well done my child, well done.”

A Groom’s Prayer

By Joseph C. Collins

Oh God, as I look I see all the beauty that you have made, but none has captured my heart more than a presence of a lady. For she walks with grace and with stature; You bless her with love and understanding and with joy like a child’s. Such an honor it is, oh God, to see such beauty.

And so I ask, oh Lord, help me, my God, to be the husband that she deserves. Let my ears be quick to listen and my tongue be quick to silence. Let my arms be her comfort and my words flow with Your peace. I pray that my touch be as gentle as my kiss. Grant me your wisdom so I can honor her.
My God, help me to understand her, for the greatest privilege I will have is to look upon her face as I wake up next to her and throughout the day.

Oh Lord, help me be the husband that you meant for me to be, to become one who loves her as she should be loved. My King, help me to serve her, even after a hard day at work, for my day does not end until my head is on my pillow.

This is my prayer, oh Lord, for out of all that you have made, none has captured my heart more. To me she is the most beautiful of all Your creation.

Tears of God

By Joseph C. Collins

What happens when sorrow and despair enter our lives? Who is there for us, if anyone? This is a story of what happened to a man.

The man walked along the road with pain in his heart. If you were in his shoes you would feel the same for he had been waiting a long time for someone like her, but she did not feel the same. He was a gentleman to her, who listened and was ever so kind.
Unfortunately, it was not enough, for someone else had won her heart.
So he did what a man does when such things happen. He said, “I wish you all the best,” and walked away.
So there he was on the road with an ache in his heart, but it is what happens next that is the reason for this story.
As he walked along the road the pain in his heart grew stronger, so strong that he could no longer stand. So he stopped walking, fell to his knees and grabbed his chest with his hands. As he was rocking back and forth, the pain became too much for him to bear; so much that his heart could no longer take it. His heart shattered into a thousand pieces all falling onto the ground.
But the man was determined not to give in and so he reached down to the ground and began to gather the pieces of his broken heart. However, the thoughts of what happened to him kept going through his mind. Soon he saw no point in fighting anymore. He dropped the pieces back on to the ground with tears filling his eyes.
As the tears ran off his face someone’s hand reached down and began to catch them. When the man looked up he saw the face of the Lord and on His face was a look of love and pity.
So the man cried and cried with he Lord’s hands under his face catching all his tears, and when this was done the Lord reached behind Him. There in His hand was a bottle. He took all of the tears that He caught and put all them into it.
He held the bottle up to the man and said, “When we reach the end of this road you will look back on these tears as nothing more then old tales.”
Then the Lord reached down onto the ground and began to pick up the pieces of the man’s broken heart.
But as he was watching the Lord the man looked into the Lord’s face and from His eyes tears began to fall. Except when the tears fell off of the Lord’s face they continued to fall until they hit the ground, disappearing for ever.
Then He took all of the pieces of the man’s heart and placed His hand on his chest.
The mans chest began to glow, and with every piece that the Lord put back, He put a bit of hope, strength and love in.
Suddenly the man felt new again. The pain that had haunted him for so long was now gone and in its place was peace.
The Lord helped the man to his feet and said, “Come on, let’s go.”

So as you can see, when sorrow and despair come into your life and the tears begin to fall, the Lord will always be there to catch them. But when the tears fall from His face no one well be there to catch His. That is why He is God and I am not.

Cast in to the Sea

By Joseph C. Collins

My God, My God how I see
That I will never be worthy of someone like Thee
Still you come to find me, My God. My God, surely you see
That am so unworthy of someone as Thee.
I hear of that sea: the sea of forgetfulness.
And I know I should be in such a sea.
My God why do you want me?
Why should I have the honor of seeing all that you have made: the stars in the sky, the trees that grow on the mountains, and the waves that make the ocean move?
Why should I have command over the animals, and why should I have such an honor to even carry the name of “child of God”?
I am guilty for I have sinned against you and all you have made.
But still you came to find me.
I am unworthy of Thee, O Lord.
God, let me go for I do not deserve your eyes to be upon me,
And so I say, “ My God, my God, I do not deserve to be with someone as Thee.
So please let me be cast away into the sea.”

My child, my child why can’t you see that you are of me.
Yet I hear you say to let you stay far away from me.
My child, my child, I am the one who has made all that you see and all the you smell and all that you eat and all that you feel.
I have made the stars in the sky.
I have made the mountains and the trees.
Yet I hear you say you want to just walk away.
My child, my child look at thee.
Do not hide your face from me.
I did not work all those days to watch you walk away.
Yes I did make all things, but who will ask me of those things.
Who will come to me and ask about those stars, and who will ask about the sky and the trees and the rocks and the ground that you stand on?
My child, my child, the pain that you feel is not of me.
I will cast it away.
And yet you hide your face from me.
Do I not deserve the right to see the face that I have made?
Is it not mine to see?
Look at me.
Do I look ashamed of thee?
Why should I be?
For who looks down on me?
Who can say, “Look at those you made and how they do not do what you say.”
Who can say such things to me?
And yet you hide your face from me.
My child, my child can you not see?
That you’re of me.
And I will not have you cast away into the sea.

The Master, the Horse, and the Noblemen

By Joseph C. Collins

In a country far away, there lived a man with a horse, and a lovely horse it was. Its hair was a golden brown and its eyes were blue and it had a white stripe on its nose. It was a magnificent creature. Every day the man would brush its hair to make it shine and then he would give it sugar cubes to eat. When the days got cold he would put a blanket over his horse to keep it warm.


The man loved his horse and the horse loved its master. When the master was at work tending his farm, the horse would walk up behind him and rub its nose up against his back.
Then the man would tern around take his hand and rub the horse’s nose and say, “Good boy, good boy.”


But the best part of the day for the horse was when its master took a ride on its back out on their farm. It was a hundred acres of tall grass, the kind of grass that would flow when the wind passed over. All around the farm were tall trees and mountains, with a fresh river rushing under hills as for as one could see.


Except for this one hill witch was the tallest and at the some time the closest. So after every ride the man would take his horse up to the top of this hill, and on the top was their tree that they would sit under and look out-- and what a sight it was.

They could see the mountains in the distance; they saw the woods all around. They could hear the birds singing songs, and they loved the sound of the river streaming down. Even a horse, can appreciate God’s creation.


And so the horse lay under the tree with its master laying his head on its side, reading a book and watching the sun go down behind the mountains.
One day the man decided to go on a trip and take his horse with him. He packed his effects up; it was a trip that would take a week.


He saddled his horse and off they went. Passing woods and pastures, they then passed a field of windmills, and as they went on they came to a stone bridge stretching over a small stream. They had so much fun, often stopping to enjoy the view.
Then one day they came to dirt road. Looking at the road, the man decided to give his horse a break, so he got off his horse and started to walk, leading the way.


As they were walking, a man in a cloak jumped out and gripped the man; the thief stabbed the man with a knife, and the man fell to the ground. Suddenly, the horse got on his hind legs and trampled the cloaked man to death. The horse walked up to its master who was lying on the ground; the horse rubbed its nose up against its master. Still breathing, the man turned over, picked up his hand, and rubbed his horse on its nose.
“Good boy, good boy,” he said. Then the man’s hand slowly dropped to the ground, and he lived no more.


Now the horse, being an animal, at first did not understand death, so it kept rubbing its nose up against the man’s body. Of course, he did not move. Then the horse understood what had happened to his master. The horse was about to run off when it heard a sound of wheels along with the sound of hoofs. He looked in the direction that the sound was coming from and saw a carriage being pulled by two horses, but it was not an average carriage. It had the craftsmanship of a noble owner.


Suddenly, the driver of the carriage called out to the horses and pulled on the reins, drawing the carriage to a stop. The driver jumped down and quickly walked to the man to see if he was all right, but the driver knew after looking at him that the man had passed away.
A voice came from inside the carriage.


“What is the matter?”
“There is a dead man on the side of the road,” replied the driver
After hearing this, the door of the carriage opened and out came a man dressed in a royal suit. He was holding a cane, he had white gloves and clean boots. He was indeed a nobleman.


He walked up to the horse who just stood still not knowing what to do. Then the nobleman looked at the horse’s feet and saw the cloaked man that had been trampled. Then he looked to his right and saw the man lying on the grand who had been stabbed to death. At once he knew what had taken place.


“This poor man, he was just minding his own business when this other man who covered himself with a clock tried to rob him.”


The driver looked at the robber and asked, “How did he die?”
“Can’t you see this horse belongs to the poor man who was marauded? He was its master and the horse defended him.”
The nobleman slowly walked up to the horse. He grabbed its reins, leaned toward its ear and said, “You had a great bond with your master, didn’t you? Yours was such a bond that you would defend him. I am sorry that you couldn’t do it sooner.”


“What do we do now?” ask the driver
“We will take this man into town and give him a proper funeral. We will also take the horse and give it something to eat and a place to stay.”
So the Nobleman and the driver took the horse and the body of the man into town, with the Nobleman sitting up front with the driver.
When they got into town, they fetched the doctor and the police chief and told them what had happened. The following evening, they put the man to rest in the town’s cemetery that was on top of a hill outside of town.


As the Nobleman and the driver were walking back into town, the driver asked,
“What about the horse, sir? What will happen to it?”
“The police chief said that I could keep it if I wanted. I thought that it would be the right thing to do seeing how it was not the man’s fault nor was it his horse’s fault about what happened.”
“Right sir, it is not indeed,” replied the driver.


When they got back into town the Nobleman went up to the horse and said,
“I know that you miss your master. That is why I will now take care of you. I know that your master took great
care better then I but I well try my best.
So the Nobleman and the driver harnessed the carriage and the horse and they continued to their own home.


Passing woods and pastures, they finally got to the Nobleman’s home. The horse could not believe its eyes.
It was the biggest house that he had seen. There was a big front yard with rows of trees, a pathway up and down carved in stone, and bushes shaped all different.
When they got to the front of the house the Nobleman called a stable boy and told him, “This horse is my new friend and it’s been through a lot. Take good care of it.”


The stable boy did what he was told. Days went by and the stable boy went to feed the horse but it would not eat. The stable boy went to the Nobleman and told him. At once he knew why.
He went to the stable and to see the horse. When he found it, he walked up to it and saw the sadness in its face. He opened the door to the stall and let the horse outside.


He gently grabbed it by the head and leaned his head on its and said, “You are a magnificent creature, but I know you do not want to be here. I am sorry for what happened to your master.”
He took off the reins and said, “Now go, my friend and be free.”


The Nobleman slapped the rump of the horse and it started off running past the town and across the dirt road. What happened next no one knows, for as it was running tears began to fill its eyes. Some say it was just the wind, because he was running so fast. But others, like myself, say that it was the fact that it would no longer be with its master.


It ran, not once stopping for food or water, over the stone bridge. It ran past the windmills and the pastures and the woods, back to the place its heart ached most for: home.
When it got there, it ran up the hill that it and its master went up so many times before. When it got to the top, it walked to its beloved tree.

It laid on its side under the tree and looked out and what a sight it was. It could see the sun going down behind the mountains. It could see the woods all around and the birds were still singing their songs. It still heard the stream flowing, for even a horse can appreciate God’s creation.

But it no longer could it's feel its master’s head on it side as he read his book. With all of his strength leaving, it slowly closed its eyes and lived no more.

To Make Things Right

By Joseph C. Collins

It was another wonderful day in the city. The trees were bright with colors and the grass in the park was as green as always and all the clouds in the sky molded themselves into whatever shape people saw.

Sadly though, the day was coming to an end and for all the people in the city it was time to go home from a long day of work.

But for one young man, he couldn't help but smile, for it wouldn't be long until he was home with his wife. As he was making his way on the sidewalk he was suddenly

stopped by an elderly man.

"Can I help you?" the young man asked.

"No, but maybe I can help you. Tell me. Do you want to be happy?" asked the elderly man

"I already am," replied the young man.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

The old man said, "In my hand is a map of an island and on the island is a mountain and on the top is something that will forever make you happy."

"I'm sure there is, but as I said, Sir I already am. But thank you for your offer. Now if you will excuse me."

"As you wish, but if you change your mind, my shop is right round the corner."

As the young man continued walking along, his house soon came into view. As he made his way to the stairs of his house he stopped, and turned his head to the front window to see his was wife looking out from it.

A smile then came to his face as he made his way up the stairs he open the front door.

"I'm home," he shouted has he closed the door behind him, but there was no reply.
"Honey I'm home," he repeated and still there was no answer.

Baffled, he walked to the room where his wife was, just one door from the one he come through.
Knocking gently he opened the door slowly, and made his way in the room. There sitting on the window seat was his wife with her knees tucked up against her chest. As he walked closer he could see a sad look on her face.

"Are you alright?" he asked

"I'll be fine," she replied

"Are you sure?" asked the young man.

"Mm-hmm," She whispered while nodding her head.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No I'll be fine." She replied.

"Okay, I'll be upstairs if you need anything."

As the young man walked away, he looked back at his wife who was staring out the window with that same look of sadness on her face.

The young man made his way out of the room and went upstairs. As he was changing clothes, the joy that he had slowly faded, for he couldn't help but wonder what was
bothering his wife.

He sat on the bed and started to think about the times when she was happy. So much joy she had, and so how much love that she would show to him. He thought about her smile and how it lit up a room.

He thought of all the times that she came to him when he felt sad and how she made him happy.

Now it is her who had that look of sorrow in her face.
"She has done so much for me," he said to himself. "Now it's my turn to make things right."

He sat on the bed thinking about how to make it right. Suddenly he remembered the old man who had stopped him on the way home.
"That's it!"

He jumped to his feet towards the closet and opened the door. Bending down he reached for his pair of walking shoes, He hurried back to the edge of the bed took a seat quickly tied his shoes.

After words he aging jump to his feet and made his way downstairs.
But before he walked out the front door, he peeked into the room where his wife was. There she was looking out the window with her knees up against her chest.

The young man bent his head down and let out a sad sigh.
Then he softly closed the door, he then walked towards a table that was next to the front door.

In the drawer of the table laid a pen and piece of paper. Picking up both of them he wrote a short letter to his wife that he would be back soon.

Grabbing his keys he went out the front door and down the front stairs and made his way across the street.
As he was walking away he glanced back at his wife, determined to make things right.

With a steady pace he made his way to the shop. Standing outside was the elderly man.

"So you came back for my help after all," the elderly man said.

"Well actually I'm here for my wife," the young man replied.

"Oh, is she not happy? Well then you came to the right place. Come in."
The elderly man led the young man through his little shop all the way to the back. There in the back was a small room.

Its walls were covered in old medieval artifacts which consisted of swords, shields, bows, and arrows.

As the young man looked around, he noticed a closet in the corner of the room. He could not see what was in it because it was covered with a curtain.

He walked toward the closet and stopped in front of it.
He looked back at the elderly man and asked, "What is behind the curtain?"

"Why don't you take a look?" The elderly man replied.
The young man reached out his hand and pulled the curtain open to reveal a suit of medieval armor.

"It looks brand new," the young man said.

"I take good care of all my things," said the old man. "Are you ready to put it on?"

"Put it on? Why?" asked the young man.

"Where you're going, you may need it."

"Where am I going?"

"To the island on my map," replied the old man

"And how am I going to get there?"

"Do you want my help or not?" asked the old man.

"Yes," answered the young man.

"Then put on the suit."
One by one the young man put on the pieces of armor until he was covered from head to toe.

"Magnificent," said the old man. "Now for your sword and shield, let see where did
I put them?"

As the old man looked for a shield and sword, the young man grasped his hands in and out to get a feel for the armored gloves.

He looked at himself in the mirror
"I look like a knight," said the young man

"Of course you do," commented the old man, as he handed the young man a shield and sword.

"Are you ready?"

"I am."

The old man reached in his pocket and took out a medallion. Then he opened up the map and laid them both on a table.

"On the island there is a mountain and on the top of the mountain is an indentation. The only way you can get down into the mountain is down a stairway made of stone.

At the bottom of the stairway there are two pillars with statues of beasts on top. The very thing that you seek is in the middle."

The young man listened intently.
"Now this is important," continued the old man.

"Once you pass the statues, you cannot for any reason go back and reenter through the pillars upon which they sit. You must have the item or not have it; there is no going back."

"Sound dangerous," the young man said.

"What? You were expecting it to be easy?"

"It would be nice."

"It would. Now you are perhaps wondering how you are going to get there."

"I am guessing a boat," replied the young man

"Not exactly, do you see that medallion?" the elderly man questioned.

"Yes."

"It is a very special piece of jewelry. You see, it was found in the same box as the map. I don't know who found it or where. All that I know is that it was found."

"How does it work?"

"All you have to do is put it around your neck and you will no longer be in this place or time."

"How do you know all of this?"

"Trust me."

The elderly man handed the young man the medallion, then guided him to the center of the room.

"Are you ready?" asked the elderly man.

"I am.”

Standing in the center of the room, not one thought of fear went through the young man's mind. All he could think about was the look on his wife's face and how he would make
things right.

So, dressed in his new suit of armor and with his new sword and shield, he closed his eyes, then took the medallion and put it around his neck.

Suddenly the young man heard the sound of waves clashing on a shore then he felt a cool breeze moving across his face. Slowly the young man opened his eyes to find himself on the island that the old man told him about.

As he looked around he saw that there was not much there. All of the grass seemed to be the color of ash and all the trees for some reason were all burned to cinders.

As for the sky, it too was as black as ash itself. It was not at all the place he imagined it would be, but then again he did not think that this type of place existed at all.

Walking his way up the shore his eyes soon come to see the mountain that was on the map.

He gazed at it for a minute and said

"You've got to be kidding."

Suddenly out of the distance a sound of thunder echoed across the sky.
"Ah, that can't be good," the young man said for he knew a storm was on the way.
With no time to lose, the young man ran up to the mountain as fast he could and started to climb.

Racing to the top he felt drops of rain falling on his face. Then he felt a strong wind pushing him back and froth. It was as if the wind and the rain themselves were his enemy. Step by step he climbed up the mountain, and step by step the storm challenged him.

As he reached out to grab a piece of the mountain, a small rock came loose. Losing his footing, he quickly struggled to grab whatever nook of the mountain that he could.

Watching closely the storm saw its opportunity. It blow as hard as it could, but despite the storms best effort the young man quickly regained his footing and began to climb, the mountain again.

"Almost there," he said.

Soon the storm began to blow even harder but the young man would not quit, for his goal was greater. Fighting the wind, and rain the man could finally see the top of the mountain.

With one final reach of his hand he grabbed the edge, pulling himself up on top of the mountain. He turned over onto his back and started panting for air.

With the rain falling on his face he turned his head to the left and saw a hill leading to the top of the mountain. Slowly getting up, he made his way through the rain to the top of the hill. He looked out.

To see a deep trench moat and in the center was a man made cylindrical shaped plateau fifty yards across.
He saw the stone stairway.

At the bottom of the stairway stood two statues of fierce looking beasts sitting in place as if they where grading.

As he glance up, he saw in the center was a smaller shaped plateau and on it, in the center, was the very thing that he sought.

With a quick pace he made his way down the stairway. When he got to the bottom he could finally see the statues up close. He walked up to them and as he looked at them a sense of fear went through him.

With no hesitation he put his hand to his side and drew his sword. Then he reached to his back and brought out his shield, and held it in front of him.

With his heart racing he slowly walked toward the item. Suddenly a sound of flapping wings could be heard from the edge of the mountain. He stopped and prepared himself.

Slowly but surely the sound of flapping wings grew louder and louder. With a great roar a mighty dragon flew out from the edge of the mountain. It looked down and saw the young man. Swooping into a descent the dragon flew towards the young man

Quickly thinking, the young man threw his shield in front of him. Just as he did, the dragon opened his mouth and a streak of flame came shooting out.
With his shield in front of him he deflected the flames until the dragon had no

choice but to fly up. Suddenly the young man saw his opportunity and with the item before him, he started to run towards it as fast as his legs could carry him.

The dragon, knowing what the young man was after, turned around and went into another descent, quickly gaining on the man. Still the young man was just as determined.

With the dragon almost on top of him the man reached out his hand to grab the item. But the dragon was just too fast. With another roar the dragon opened its mouth, snatched the young man by his leg, and carried him out to sea.

With the mountain quickly fading from sight, the young man let out a cry of pain. As he hung from the dragon's mouth. Refusing to give up he took his sword in both hands and started hacking at the dragon's mouth.

One slash after another, he hacked until the dragon opened its mouth. With a roar of pain, the dragon released the young man, causing him to plunge into the sea.

Splashing into the water, he frantically waved his hands back and forth, fighting his way back to the surface.

The weight of his armor though was too much for him to handle. With no other choice, he reached for the medallion, closed his eyes and ripped it off.

With his pulse racing, he suddenly realized that the water was no longer around him. Opening his eyes he found himself lying on a floor.
As he looked around he saw that he was again in the back room of the shop. He sat up and noticed that he no longer had the suit of armor on, nor did he have his sword.
Worse, he did not have the item that he sought.
In desperation he called out for the old man, but there was no answer.

"Where is he?" the young man said to himself.
As he stood up, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his leg. Looking down he saw that his leg was bleeding.

As he looked closely he saw the teeth bites of the dragon in his leg. He looked around the shop for a first aid kit but all he could find was a roll of cloth that he grabbed from a table in the room.

He wrapped it around his leg covering the wound that the dragon had made.
The young man let out a muffled cry of pain has he tightened the cloth. He almost fainted, but gathered himself and went to find the old man.

As he made his way through the front of the shop, he could not find any sign of the old man. He limped his way outside and just stood there on the sidewalk. He looked around for the old man but he was nowhere to be found.

Looking up into the sky, he noticed that the sun was in the same place as it was when he walked in the shop.

To him what seemed like hours was just minutes to the rest of the city. So with time left in the day he still was going to find a way to make his wife happy.

He went towards the flower shop, knowing that flowers would not be enough. As he walked up to the door he saw a sign hanging from the door that read “closed”.
In frustration he threw his hands up in the air and brought them back down to his side.

For the first time today he knew that it was time to give up. With his head down, and the day coming to an end, he once again, just like before, made his way home.

Only this time he was not walking with a steady pace but with a limp.
Once again his house came into view.

The sun had gone down, the street lamps were being lit, and a small breeze was blowing through the city right as the young man begin to walk.

As he limped his way to the front stairs of his house, he could still see his wife in the window with that sad look on her face.

With his head down and his pride broken he limped his way up the stairs. Limping into the house, he gently closed the door behind him. At the same time he placed his head up against it letting out a small sigh.

He made his way to the room that his wife was in. When she heard the door open and saw her husband walk through, she saw his leg that was banged up.

She jumped to her feet, hurried to his side and asked, "What happened?"
Her husband looked at his wife and told her all about the old man and the dragon.
When she asked why he would do something like that, he answered

"All the times I was sad you would do everything you could to cheer me up and to make me happy. So when I saw that same sadness in your face, I wanted to do the same, I wanted to make you happy."

With his head bent the man then turned around to a table that was behind him and started to empty his pockets onto it.

As his wife stood there looking at him, she could see that he was bending his head down in shame. Soon tears began to fall from her eyes for she could not believe that her husband would go through so much trouble and so much pain for such a small thing.

So with love filling her heart she walked up to her husband from the back and wrapped her arms around him and held him as tightly as ever, When her husband felt his wife's loving embrace, he then leaned his head back resting it on hers.

As they stood there in silence, she gently whispered to him, "As long as you are here with me, then I am happy."

My Dear Friend

By Joseph C. Collins


My friend, my dear friend. How is it that you are able to have so much joy? It is as pure as a child’s. And how is it that you have a smile as bright as the sun? It seems that you are almost in a world of your own, away from the pains of this life.

Yet when someone comes your way you see a look of sadness in their face and you take pity on them. You put aside your life to comfort them, and then you listen to all of their words and witness all of their tears.

You show love, and with love you bend down to the ground to pick up a flower. You walk up to them and with a gentle “yea” you shower them with petals of that very flower. And soon you are laughing together and all is well.

But when you walk away I can see in your face a look of sorrow of your own. My heart aches for you. But I am not the only one who sees it, for your other friends see it as well. Remembering all the times that you helped them, they take this time to make you smile.
To them it is not right otherwise.
I see them running to you bringing their own flowers. That very joy that I see, they see also, and they do not want it to go away.

It reminds me of the old story of a village long ago. In the center of that village was a gathering place, and in the middle is a bright flame with magnificent colors. All the villagers would come to sit around it.

There they would sing songs and they would eat and even tell stories of their own.
One day the flame began to fade away. One by one the villagers came to keep the precious flame alive, and one by one they could not succeed.
And so with the flame slowly fading, they all gathered around it for one last time. Some were crying and some had their heads down. They gathered to watch as their beloved flame flickered away.

Suddenly they heard a man walking from the shadows. And for some reason they had never noticed him, yet he had always been there.

The man walked up to the dying flame and waved has hand over it. Suddenly with a blaze the flame came back to life. With wonder in their eyes, all of the villagers came up to the man and started to thank him.

But the man looked at them and said, “All of this time when you came here to sing songs and to tell stories, you did not even once notice me. I have been here long before these flames were even a spark.

“As much as I appreciate all that you have done to restore the flame, it does not burn for your joy. It burns for my glory and my joy. I am its keeper and am the only one who has and will always tend this flame.”

And so my friend, my dear friend, this is what I see when I look at your face. Your friends run to your side because they see the same joy as I, and they do not want it to snuff out.
So as you walk toward me you honor me by looking my way. Then you bless me with a smile.
As you walk away, I see that you do not walk alone for there is a man walking with you. It is not your boyfriend nor is it your father.
“Who could it be?” I think to myself.

Just then the man looks back and I see his face. I now know who he is, for the man who walks with you also walks with me.
Finally I understand how you are able to have so much joy and show so much love and have so much strength. You are able to find the strength of men. Yet it is the same men who wish they had such strength.

My friend, my dear friend. How I have longed for the days that it was just us. I can still remember all the times you came up to me just to talk. You have now found others you want to be with. So I will now walk the other way, but I do so staring through tears, for I know that it is over.

I will no longer cry about what was. Instead I will rejoice in what is and what is to come. As I walk away I will always carry with me the scars of that fateful day.
Every morning I wake up and look in the mirror I am reminded of how and why I got the scars. I was ever so kind and tried my best to show love for it was my name that they mucked and my chivalry that was stained.

So now you know the look of sadness you see in my own face. We were such good friends and now it is coming to an end.
But I know deep down inside, that no matter who comes and or who goes that my life is far from over.
And now I say to you “Goodbye my friend, my dear friend, goodbye.”

Secret Place

By Joseph C. Collins

Everybody has a secret place. Some are big and some are small; a lot of the time some are in plain sight. You just have to know where to look, but then it wouldn’t be a secret would it?
This is a story about just such a place. I don’t know if it’s true. It may be, it may not, but all I know is that it is a good tale. It is a tale about friends.

It starts in the very small town of Maxwell. It’s a lovely town of solitude for there are no big city sounds here. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I just like a nice, small, quiet town. They are good for sitting.

But for the girl in this story sitting was one of her least favorite things to do. She wasn’t an out of control girl. She just enjoyed having fun, and that also meant exploring: in the trees, behind the rocks and even under porches. Still none of these places she could quiet call her own.
This made her very sad.

“I know,” she said to herself, and so off she went looking for that place she cloud call her own, her own secret place. She looked at many trees and behind many small hills and at the town’s creek but none of these were secret.

She then came to a big opening in the woods. Standing there, thoughts went through her mind of all the great things she would discover.

While walking through the woods she remembered what her father and mother said about losing oneself and how to make sure to find things to remember so she could find her way home.
“What to look for?” she thought to herself.
She came up to: an old tree, log, and then she past a huge rock and then she jumped over a small creek.

“Over the log,” she sang to herself. “And past the mighty rock, and now through the creek.”
As she sang her new song she came to it at last. There it was: a big opening in the woods, a perfect place to call her own. There was a huge tree with branches hanging down perfect for climbing. There was a soft place to sit on the grass. Here the birds sang a song of their own, and there were plenty of places to hide without getting lost.

As she was standing there, her eyes opened wide in wonder. I know what you are thinking. For you and me it would just be another place, but for a little girl it was perfect.
As she was walking up to the tree, she suddenly heard a sound behind her. She turned around and saw a little boy standing in the opening of the path. For a minute both of them were silent.

“How are you?” asked the girl.
“I’m good,” replied the boy.
“Do you want to be my friend?” asked the girl.
“Yes,” said the boy. “I would like that.”
“So would I,” said the girl.

And so every day at the same time they would meet at their secret place. Some days they would play hide and seek, and other days they would race one anther to the top of the tree.
After they were done playing they would tell one another all that had happened to them outside of their secret place.

For many years they came and played and talked, but one day neither of them came.
“What happened?” you ask.
As I said, many years went by. When that happens little girls and boys simply grow up. That is what happened to all the little boys and girls in Maxwell.

Do not be sad for my story does not end here.
For summer has come to the little town of Maxwell and all of the young men and women have come home from a long stay at college.

What do you know? There is that same little girl, but she is not little anymore, oh, no. For she has become a lovely young lady.
“Welcome home,” her family said. “It as been a long time.”
“Yes it has,” replied the young lady.
“Tell us all about it,” and so she did.

The day was coming to an end and all her family and friends were saying goodnight.
“Such a long day,” said the young lady. “I think I will go and have a seat on the porch.”
As she sat there she could remember all the great times she had as a little girl, and then it came to her.

“I wonder if it is still there?” she thought to herself.

She hopped up from her chair just like the little girl she used to be. To the opening of the woods she ran, over the log, past the rock, and through the creek. Once again like so many times before she was standing in her secret place.

“Just as I remembered it: the tree, the birds, everything. But something is missing. What could it be?” she said to herself.
Suddenly she heard a sound behind her. She turned around. There standing in the opening of the path was a young man.

“How have you been,” asked the young lady.
“Well,” replied the young man, "And you?" asked the young man "I been good." the young lady replied. So there in that wonderful place they begin to talked just like when they were little all those years ago.


And so my story comes to its end. Like I said, everyone has their secret place. But for them, theirs was a place that was untouched by time.
And in that place they were, and always will be, friends.