I walk under a dimly lit canopy. Trees surround me. The fallen leaves cover the ground on my path. I can't see ahead very well. Oh, I know where I'm going, I think, but the mist blocks my view just a few yards from my face. Again I pull out the letter I received in the last town I visited. It's an encouraging note from a friend. His words stoke my soul, giving me the passion to go on. As I put away the letter I pick up speed, dodging the branches that block my stride ever so often. I begin to run. My heart beats faster and hits against my chest repeatedly with an empowering force. My momentum carries me far. Suddenly I smack into something and my body hits the ground with a hard thud.



My eyes open to a parting in the trees, allowing me to see the cloudy midday sky. Groaning from the fall, I sit up and feel the muscles in my upper right arm. They're sore from the blow. I must have hit the remains of the large dead tree in front of me. Yes, that was it. Nothing else was around to have stopped me. But how odd. This was the third time that day I had accidentally run into something. It was very hard to see, especially when running at full speed without pausing to assess the situation. I tell myself that I'll be more careful next time. I can't be seen bumping into trees so often. How embarrassing. Of course, I never once consider the danger of such a careless mistake.



I get up and start walking again. I ask God to help me in my journey. After checking the time, I calculate that I'll reach the next village in a few days or so. I have a bit of traveling through the forest for now, though. No other souls have been seen for a while. I start to hope once again for a companion sometime in the future. I'm going to need a friend in the next major part of my trek. Right about then I feel a soft, whispering voice behind me, seeming to tell me that God will be enough. But I shrug it off, denying that God would ever refuse to give me the company I so desperately desire in the near future.



Over the next few days, I stumble more than normal. So many obstacles. I start to grow tired of avoiding them. While walking near a stream, I hear what I'm sure are footsteps near me. I stop. Looking around, I make sure to check all the best hiding spots for a follower of evil intent. There is no one. I continue. But I never once see the figure residing just a little ways from me, standing perfectly still out in the open, waiting for the proper time.



By the next day, I am certain that nobody is following me, even if I may have heard a few more noises in the brush. Animals, probably. I must be making up the idea of a follower in my head. That's what happens in movies, not real life. I am ready if anything does happen. I remember my sword, enclosed in its sheath. I reach for it, but stop my hand. The sword is there. I have it. I am ready. No need to be alarmed. I start to pick up my pace again. Walking with a fairly steady stride, I plod on. So many bruises and scratches, though. I've been through lots of difficult terrain recently.



The afternoon closes in. I keep walking, even if I'm going pretty slow at this point. Glancing here and there at the scenery, I see her all at once. I stop dead in my tracks, totally unprepared for what is before me. She looks straight at me with green, shining eyes. What a fascinating creature. Her body, traced by a scarlet cloth, is a perfect feminine form without the slightest blemish. Her curves and contours lure my mind, tangling my thoughts in a web of desire. I dare not move. I dare not look away. Her eyes. They strike me at the core of my soul. They refuse to allow me the privilege of looking elsewhere. I am motionless. Helpless.



After what seems like hours, she takes a step toward me, our eyes still locked in place. Her lashes are unblinking. I must run. I must leave this place. I must try to... I must strive to... I. I must. No. Wait. Yes. It's everything. Now or never! No. It's nothing. I feel, I feel... She takes another step toward me. She is closer than what seemed possible. She comes closer still, walking directly to me, always with her piercing stare. I finally come to a peace. A dead, submitting peace in my soul. I won't run. Why run? Why...? She comes very near to me.



As she approaches, she begins to speak for the first time, her words like gleaming honey that drips off the spoon. "You are a great traveler. What a splendid journey you are on. I am happy for you." Her smile grips me on the inside. "I love you so. You are the greatest one, you know. You are glorious." I stare. I stumble over disjointed words- "What's that?" She asks. I attempt to answer, but I am suddenly interrupted. "For to set the mind on the-" "I will take care of you. I know how you feel. You know you can trust me. So trust me." She says. "For... For to..." I mumble. "Touch me. I will allow you to. You can be so happy if you will only love me. I will love you. Touch me." She says continually. I try again to answer. "For to set th mnd on th flsh is dth, but to set the mind n the sprt is lf an pece" "What?" She says with a wry smile as she laughs. I grow drowsy. She giggles again, her laughter echoing throughout my being. My legs grow cold. My head nods.



She keeps talking, so close now. "Go ahead and touch me wherever you want to. I don't mind. It will delight you. It will give you joy. You will be forever happy. You will be satisfied. You know this to be true. You've been here before, remember? Wasn't it pleasant? Don't you want that again?" I step backwards, shaking, in a trance. All at once my knees give way under me. I collapse onto my back into the cool grass and sand, my head spinning from the impact. She... She didn't push me. Did she? Did..? She speaks again, drawing near to my face. "I love you. You are worthy of love. You deserve this joy." She lets tears roll down her cheeks as she kneels over me. Her face looks so sad, so needy. She really does love me. I flinch as a cold, steaming tear hits my neck. I feel it run down the back of my head, not caring to reach and wipe it away.



Those green eyes... Her eyes have never stopped staring. She still reaches into my soul with them, twisting my mind. Something snaps inside me. I watch out of the corner of my eye as my arm rises from its place to touch her stunning body. No. I can't. I can't! But I do. It happened. It is done. I have done it. Her lips don't miss a beat. "Yes... That's it. You know I can be trusted. I know you. I love you." She says. "Let me love you." Her body presses in on mine.



The pleasure that ensues is overwhelming. I never thought it could happen. But it is. It surges through me. I embrace her and reach around her, bringing her closer. This is what she promised. She came through for me. But... She...



A light stab of pain, a tinge of an uncomfortable sensation grows little by little in my side. Not even noticeable at first, it is now very evident. She suddenly breaks away. "No!!" I scream in a broken, choked voice. "Come back! You must...! Not yet!!" I struggle to force out the words. Her power of pleasure still penetrates my nerves. My body shakes uncontrollably. As soon as I am able, I look for her with clouded eyes, but she is gone. Her spell left with her. The pain is real now. It was once stinging only a little, but I now know that it must be a deep wound. The pleasure starts to wear off. In a few minutes it is completely gone. In its place is the ravaging pain. The terrible, paralyzing pain. I look at my side to see the handle of a large dagger sticking half-way out of my gut. The blade is far inside me. Exhausted, I lay back down in the dirt and let the pain shoot through my system.



After lying there for a few moments, I reach over to the handle of the dagger. I must save myself. This knife will kill me. Where did it come fro-? Oh. The woman, of course. She must have had it the whole time. A fresh, damaged memory comes to the front of my brain, retelling what really took place just a minute before. That dagger. It was stuck in her hand; I remember now. She seemed to loath its presence, yet she must have been the one to have plunged it into my side. I never realized until now. And now this dagger is killing me. I must remove it.



As I grasp the handle of the weapon and wiggle it out a little bit, I scream in pain, almost wishing there was someone to hear me. But no one can see me like this. They mustn't. This isn't me. Is it?



The pain! I can't even breath without concentrating. It is almost too much. I can't remove the dagger. But I must. I pull. I pull harder, and now I see most of the blade outside of my body. The blood flows freely onto the ground. I let the pain come on me like a wave as I try to ignore it. I continue pulling. I finally remove it. It slides out of my flesh, and I close my eyes as new pain glazes over my soul and my mind. I pause as I catch my breath and let the pain subside a little. Then I raise the dagger up to my eyes. It is a beautiful weapon. The handle sparkles gold with patterns of lace all around. The blade is a shining silver under the thin layer of watery blood. It reflects in the moonlight. Moonlight? It is almost night! It has gotten so late since...



I put all my energy into sitting up, but instead I end up more on my side. My body objects against my actions with jolts of pain. But it is enough. I have light to read the inscription on the blade. I wondered at it until now. I see the word, "CONVICTION" in bold, detailed letters. It is undeniably the name of the dagger. I turn it over to reveal on the other side the words, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."



As I stare at the words, my eyes shed tears. This is God's gift. He sent this dagger with the woman. Now I see. He commands the woman, though she must despise even the mention of His name. She has no power over me not allowed by my loving Father. He is sovereign. May I never forget it.



I cry out in terrible pain now. It is pain of a different kind, searing my innermost being rather than my brain. "Please, God!" The tears come fast. I choke on my words, yelling them out in agony. "I'm sorry. I have sinned. I have hated you! Please forgive me! I despise that wretch of a woman, damnable witch that she is! I gave myself to her! Oh, that I had never seen her! Oh, rather that I had run when you gave me the chance!" I moan in misery over my actions. My tears mix with the thick blood covering the ground near my side. My soul and body are in the most pitiable of conditions. Surely there is no earthly hope for me. But He will not forsake me.



So lost. So tired. I have failed. I am a worm and no man. How could I return to my Father? Is it even possible? I thought so at one point. I am reminded of the scroll in my satchel. Of course! Why haven't I read it recently? It's been days! I reach for it, almost reluctant to see it for the guilt that encompasses my heart. But I must feast upon it. I have no choice now. As I take it in my bloodied hands, life springs into my heart. The wound in my side stops bleeding. The words written in the scroll are like forgotten oxygen, healing me in every way. "Praise you, Father!" I thank Him with tears streaming down my face. I read what His Word tells me, even if my flesh repulses at it. It doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that my soul is well and that my heart bleeds for Christ and not for any other.



As I relish in my God's counsel and truth, I hear footsteps approaching me. Not the woman, I know. She has done her work. It must be another. I look up to see a shining figure. It is my Lord! He walks out of the midst of the land, stepping carefully ever closer to the spot where I lie. I hear His words as they drop into the air, perfectly placed in time. "You do well to grieve over what you have done, for the punishment of such things is death. But fear no more, my child. I have defeated death."



"Thank you, Lord," I gasp into the cool air as I attempt to turn my body. "I know what I've done. I'm sorry." I begin to cry again, not able to look at the being so holy that He was able to take the punishment necessary for all Christians of all time. He has done so much for me. How could I ever honor Him? I turn completely on my face and lie before His glory in shame, almost unable to move. "I am with you always. I will make known to you the path of life. I will be your pleasure and your portion forever." He says as He stoops to help me up. I flinch as His hand lifts me near my side. Up on my feet now, I feel my wound again. A sensitive scar is in its place. I turn to see His scars, plain as day, in His own side and in His wrists. He wasn't tricked into receiving those wounds. He took them willingly to pay what I owed and to save the likes of men like me who despise His very name for the gain of this wretched earth.



I can't contain it any longer. I kneel and bow low as I can on the ground again, not caring what grass or dirt clings to my face. My eyes, long tired of performing their functions, produce water anew as I worship my Lord. He touches my back and says, "Peace be with you" as I hear Him start to turn and walk away into the distance. I don't get up. He is always with me, for He told me so. I lie there, worshiping the God who made me, confessing all that I know I have done, thanking Him for all that I know He has done, and asking Him for all the strength and wisdom I need to keep going.



After a while of healing supplication and thanksgiving, I rise to my feet once again. After checking the scroll given me by my Lord at the start of my journey, I walk down the path it leads me. It is now darkest night, and the moon's faint rays reflect off the leaves of the trees above me. I see the silhouette of the forest on the ground ahead of me. I walk slowly, careful this time to watch where I am going. After a few miles, I hear a recurring noise in the distance. As I reach the top of a small hill, I look out to see where the noise is coming from. There it is again. It could only be one thing. A lion's voice. That roar is so terribly familiar. But I tread where the scroll takes me, not cheating to the left or the right. My Lord has made my paths straight. If I do meet with the lion, I know that my God will come through for me. He will strengthen me. He will uphold me with His righteous right hand. I trust in Him. I will not slow my pace for any beast.