The Wind Blows West!

I was about to reach the creek that flowed through the western region of the county. Being in the area for the first time, I was excited to visit a Church, as the blessings of Jesus are something that a faith keeper requires the most, especially when the vibe about everything is uncertain.

I, for once, was in the county for some deal that would ensure me good business ahead. Owning a small trading company that managed investment for many people all over the state, I was looking ahead to expanding my client base. At the crossroads, just beside the creek, I saw a board barely managed on a rather shaky wooden cabinet that read, ‘Bless us, Lord! We are your creations too.’ A bit curious as to what it could have meant, I entered in.

“Mr. Passer-by! What brings you to Jesus?” A man enquired straight away. “I was, I was just looking for a few minutes in Lord’s presence!” I looked around, and to my surprise, with what looked beaten up and crooked on the outside, the inside of the Church was rather well maintained with all the essentials in place! Not only that, three people welcomed me with a smile, and strikingly all of them were crippled. One was missing a hand, the other one his ears, and the one who sat on a podium facing the front door, possibly the preacher, was blind!

One of them noticed me looking at them constantly without saying a word, and to end my confusion he added, “Are you thinking why all the three of us are disabled? Didn’t you read the board outside?”, and it made sense now! “This facility, this small facility, is managed by disabled only. But is open for anyone to visit. You can stay here and pray or confess, whatever the Lord feels is required of you!”

I felt that the men were doing a noble job, and representing the disabled in religion. As I went further to pray, I was stopped by the blind preacher who started speaking, “If it is not someone who has sinned, I would have heard the footsteps differently. Who are you and what do you seek here?”,

“I am sorry, preacher, but I have meant no harm to the society and am no sinner. I seek only solace in Lord’s arms for a brief period, so that I can continue with my work.”, “But my knowledge and Lord’s signs tell me something else! You’ve used that filthy tongue of yours, to have all the wealth of people around you, all to yourself, you are nothing but an example of banditry in this modern world and yet you come here saying you are not guilty?”

In a sort of shock, I took a step backward, but the rest of them had gathered behind me, and suddenly I felt someone holding my shoulder tightly! “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I am a legit citizen and trader of."

“He has fainted preacher, what should we do with him?”

“Make him feel the presence of Lord in his unworthy life! He should not be able to repeat his sins further, rather he’ll repent them and surrender to the Lord once and for all.”

“Lord! I want strength and courage from you to do what is right!”

I felt my eyes burning as I woke up from what had happened. The last thing I remembered, was that someone struck me with a solid piece of steel before everything blacked out. It was not the same though now, and I didn’t have any track of time whatsoever after that. What I noticed, muted me mentally and literally. They had cut my tongue! Damn! As I moved my hands down my crotch to the knees, well, I never reached them! I could feel everything stitched up and my thighs were the only part of my human body present beneath the crotch. To my relief, I could cry, and I did, for hours. Feeling the sweat and tears all over my face was the only expression for a guy who was now mute and apparently couldn’t walk an inch with ease, ever!

I heard footsteps approaching, and immediately had a rod in my hand, one I had found lying close by! “Hey man, you could use a wheelchair. I brought you one.”, the deaf laughed. I started hitting that rod by my side to make sure he stayed away from me. Soon, he left.

Almost a day had passed, as I got to know with light rays shining through the window again for some time after it had been dark when I got to know about my horrendous development. I was hungry and still recovering from shock! I beat the rod several times on the floor until the deaf arrived again, probably the other men told him to. He helped me get on the wheelchair and I had something to eat.

Then, I was explained by the blind, what was it he had been thinking all the while. Indicating with taps on my hand, I told him through the other ones, that I needed time to process it. It was sick, to say the least, these were mentally sick people, rather than physically challenged.

It was a warm day, as the wind direction was pointing Westward on the weathervane installed just across the street. I was looking around and having biscuits to myself, with nothing but the wind blowing, the rustling of leaves, and the rush of water flowing in the creek nearby.

I decided to take a stroll to the next crossroad, and I came across a fuel station. All of a sudden, there was a strong urge penetrating my head, and I took a few liters of fuel in a gallon. Thankfully, my wallet had been left untouched! It was time to give those men a dose of their own medicine. I locked the only gate in and out of that ‘torturous chamber’. Roaming around the periphery of the wooden cabinet, I slowly sprinkled all the fuel, laughing all to myself, no one could have heard me anyway, no matter how hard I tried! Careful enough that no drop of the fuel was on me, I managed to get back a bit, and threw a few burning matchsticks there!

I could have lost my life if this would have failed, but, anyway, living like this was a mockery for sure. They say that ‘revenge is sweet’, well, in my case it was fiery! As the fire lit up and the wood began to make a crackling sound while burning, I was suddenly alarmed, hearing the voices inside, as the so-called preacher and his associates started screaming. Tears, there were tears for sure, and I wanted all of them to experience the presence of the Lord like they made me feel it. Sometime later, the voices stopped, and the fumes along with a bit of fire still surrounded the wood. I lit a cigarette, and was pleased with myself, despite having lost my power of speech and both my legs just over a day ago!

I felt a tap on my back and it was an old man with a long beard, “Son, the wind is blowing West today, the opposite to what it had been for the most part of the past six months. Coincidentally, this cabinet had been occupied for that whole time as well!” he smiled at me, slowly pulling his trousers up to reveal his prosthetic leg. I smiled back at him.