The Narrow Path

PART I OF V

2009-04-25T23:00:00.009-04:00

Once upon a time, there were two best friends walking down a bumpy dirt road when suddenly the road forked. The path to the left was wide and welcoming. There were tall trees and colorful flowers along either side. The sun radiated a magnificent orange glow, lighting the way for the two friends. Birds soared through the air, and dozens of animals frolicked in the green grass. There were rabbits hopping through patches of high grass, a family of deer lapping cold water from a peaceful stream, and squirrels chasing their bushy tails while a raccoon slept beneath a shade tree. It looked wonderful.

The path to the right was narrow and frightening. There were hundreds of dead tree stumps lining the road, and not a single splash of color was anywhere in sight. No blue jays whistling a happy tune, no beavers nibbling on broken tree branches, and no bumblebees buzzing around a garden of red roses, white lilies, and yellow daffodils. Instead, creepy spiders and slimy worms crawled over brown grass and wilted flowers. The path seemed to be enveloped in total darkness, and neither friend could see what they would encounter ten steps into their journey. It looked awful.

The first friend, named Courage, was drawn to the path on the right, with all its darkness and mystery, so he began walking toward its entrance. The second friend, named Fear, quickly ran to his side and said, “No! We mustn't take this path. It is dark and dangerous. Look at it—we can’t even tell where the path leads or how long we would have to travel its narrow opening. I can’t let you do it.”

Courage replied, “But I am drawn to it. I can’t explain why, but I feel like we are supposed to travel this path.”

“No!” shouted Fear. “Look at the other path. Its opening is wide, and its scenery is beautiful. There we will be safe.”

“But we don’t know where that path leads either,” said Courage. “Shouldn’t we choose a path based on where it is going instead of where it begins?”

“We are,” answered Fear. “Clearly a path with a narrow opening like this one will have a narrow end. And a path with a wide opening like that one will have a wide end.”

As Fear pointed, a pretty Redbird began chirping a peaceful song near the entrance of the first path. Excited for their journey, Fear grabbed Courage and dragged him to the opening. “Please, Courage, look down this road. The trees are lush. The flowers are blooming. The creatures are playful. The ground is dry and soft on our feet. We must choose this path.”

Courage thought for a moment and then glanced back to the opening of the narrow path. Still unsure, he asked, “What if you are wrong, Fear? Can we turn around and come back so we may choose the narrow path?”

“Of course we can. If I am wrong, we will simply stop, turn around, and come back here so we can travel the other road. I promise.” Courage hesitated, but he finally agreed to appease his best friend.

So, the two friends chose the wide path and began their journey. All was well for a long time—the friends encountered many playful creatures and thousands of colorful flowers. Every once in a while, they stopped at a small lake to drink fresh water and rest.

One day, while lying on the cool grass, Courage asked Fear, “Do you ever wonder what the other path is like?”

“No, I don’t wonder. Look at this place. It has everything we have always wanted. It is safe; the travel is easy; our journey is comfortable, and we are having so much fun! What more could we ask for?”

“Maybe it’s too easy,” replied Courage. “Maybe the other path is more exciting. Maybe we should go back.”

“Go back?” shouted Fear. “We can’t go back now. It’s too late ... much too late. We have already traveled so far down this path that it just doesn’t make any sense to go back. No, it’s simply too late for that now. We have chosen this path, and this path is our destiny.”

“Destiny?” repeated Courage. “This path isn’t our destiny. We had a choice, and we chose this path. We could just as easily have chosen the other path. And we can still choose the other path. Our destiny is in our hands. We control which road we travel.”

“Fine, then you can go back,” replied Fear. “But I am staying here and sticking with this road. If you go back, you will be going back alone. And you will be on that dark, narrow path all by yourself. I sure won’t be there. You would be crazy to go back, to leave me, to leave all this. Is that what you want ... to be alone in the dark?”

“No, that’s not what I want at all. You are my best friend. I want you to be there with me.”

“Well, I won’t be,” said Fear. “I can’t believe you are just going to abandon me.”

Courage thought for a moment and decided to stay with his friend. He could not abandon Fear.

The two friends traveled for many more days, joking, and laughing, and playing games along the way. Fear was happy, and that made Courage happy. Fear began to dream about what might be waiting at the other end of the road.

“I bet there is gold and silver at the other end. No, wait, maybe a wonderful town with lots of other kids just like us—a nice place for us to settle down and relax for the rest of our days. Maybe there will be a giant playground with swings, and slides, and monkey bars. Or a huge carnival with roller coasters and merry-go-rounds. I bet there are games, and toys, and our very own bicycles just waiting for us to ride! Or beautiful girls waiting for us to marry. What do you think is waiting for us, Courage?”

Courage said, “I don’t know, but all of those things you mentioned sound good. Good, but kind of boring. What if the other path has monsters to fight, and instead of beautiful girls just waiting for us, we have to rescue them from a secret dungeon? What if, instead of finding a wonderful town, we have to save the town from an evil king? And what if, instead of just settling down and relaxing, we spend the rest of our lives helping other people?”

“What is wrong with you, Courage? Why can’t you be normal like everyone else?” Just then, Fear noticed something gleaming in the grass. “Look, it’s a gold coin! I knew it; we are going to be rich!”

Courage looked at the coin and thought about all of the wonderful things he could buy with the gold. “May I hold it?” he asked.

“Well, I found it. I mean, it’s mine, you know. I am sure there will be plenty more gold coins farther up the road. Let’s just keep going and see what else we find.”

Courage looked angry and continued to stare at the coin as Fear placed it in his pocket.

Not more than a hundred yards up the road, the two friends saw a beautiful woman washing her clothes in a small lake. Fear looked at Courage and smiled. “I told you!” he screamed.

As they approached, the young woman turned around and looked at the friends. She was radiant. Long, flowing hair. Soft, smooth skin. Eyes the color of the sky. And lips that naturally curled into a friendly smile.

“Hello,” said Fear.

“Hello, my name is Temptation,” she replied. With that, the three new friends began a conversation that lasted the rest of the evening.

The next morning, while Temptation was taking a walk, Courage said to Fear, “We must continue our journey. When Temptation gets back, we should say goodbye and leave.”

“Why?” asked Fear. “She is beautiful. We can stay for a little while longer.”

“We have already stayed too long. We must go before we get stuck here with Temptation.”

“Stuck here?” repeated Fear. "This is the most fun I have ever had. I want to stay here forever!”

“There is more to life than goofing around with pretty girls,” said Courage.

“Oh, I see what is going on,” said Fear. “You are jealous because she likes me better.”

Just then, Temptation reappeared. The friends stopped talking, and Fear bent down to pick up his pack. As he leaned over, the gold coin fell from his pocket and hit the ground with a thud.

Temptation saw the coin and immediately bent to pick it up. “Is this yours?” she asked.

“Yes,” replied Fear.

“I like it,” she said.

Fear and Temptation spent the next few hours alone, talking and laughing. Courage sat near the lake seething with anger, frustrated because he was all alone. Fear had a new best friend.

Finally, as the sun reached its highest point in the sky, Courage walked over to Fear and Temptation and told them he was leaving. “I have decided to turn around and go back to the narrow path,” he said.

Fear and Temptation both laughed at him. “You can’t be serious,” Fear said. “It is far too late for you to turn around. I already told you, this is our destiny. Like it or not, we are stuck on this path. Going back now would be crazy.” They continued to laugh as Courage turned around and began walking.

Fear jumped to his feet and ran after his friend. “Stop, Courage. You can’t do this. You can’t go back. I told you, it is too late for that.”

“I must go back, and you should come with me. Look at us. The moment we stepped foot on this path, we haven’t been ourselves. We fight; we have been angry and jealous. We have let a gold coin and a beautiful woman ruin our friendship. And look around, Fear—this journey is boring. There is no adventure here, no excitement, and nothing to fight for. Join me, Fear. Leave all this behind.”

“I can’t, Courage. What if there's more gold ahead? What if there are more beautiful women? What if there are houses made of gingerbread and lakes filled with melted chocolate? What if there are mountains of toys touching the clouds? What if there exists an endless forest filled with bubblegum trees? Can you imagine picking clumps of bubblegum off trees like they were apples? No, this is my destiny. I doubt the other path would ever welcome me back anyway. And it won’t welcome you either. We have already traveled too far down this road, Courage. There is no going back.”

Courage said simply, “You can always go back, my friend.”

And with that, Courage changed directions and headed back toward the fork in the road, leaving Fear clutching his gold coin. “You won’t make it, Courage. I will see you again soon. You won’t make it back to the other road. I promise you that!”

Suddenly, Fear's words began to overpower Courage, and for a moment, he started to believe his friend. He almost stopped and gave up then and there. But the farther Courage moved away from Fear, the softer his voice became. Soon, it was a whisper, and then ... nothing at all.

PART II OF V

2009-04-25T22:00:00.006-04:00

Courage had done it. He had followed his heart. He had made the right choice. He was on his way back to the narrow path.

Courage was very tired after many days of walking, but he was determined to make it back to the fork in the road. He pushed on day and night until something strange started to happen.

“You won’t make it,” said the whisper.

“Who is there?” asked Courage.

“You will fail,” whispered the voice.

Courage became very scared until he realized it was the voice of Fear. But how? He left his friend with Temptation days ago, and he wasn’t being followed by anyone. Fear was probably swimming in a chocolate lake with his new best friend. How could Fear be close enough to whisper such cruel words into his ear? Courage knew it was impossible, but then he realized that Fear’s discouraging words would always be with him. Courage had to learn to ignore the voice of Fear. Courage had to keep moving forward. And so he did.

That’s when he saw a young girl standing next to a garden of bright yellow sunflowers.

“Who are you?” Courage asked quietly.

“My name is Regret,” replied the young woman. She was very pretty. Her long, brown hair hung down to the middle of her back, and her green eyes were the color of emeralds. “Who are you, and where are you going?”

“My name is Courage. I am traveling back to the beginning of this road so I may choose a different path.”

“What’s wrong with this path?” she asked.

“Nothing is wrong; it’s just not the path I am supposed to be traveling.”

Regret moved in close, just inches away from his face. “Maybe you are wrong." Then, she led Courage down a winding path to a large castle nestled deep in the forest. “This is my home,” she said. “I have riches beyond your wildest imagination. I am a queen; you can be my king, and we can rule this land together. All of your dreams will come true if you stay here and rule our town of Boredom.”

Courage was speechless. A beautiful woman, unlimited wealth, and all the power a man could ask for—it was perfect. Courage wanted to stay and accept his new life as a king. And so he did.

The following day, Courage and Regret were married, and he took his rightful place as King of Boredom. He ruled his people with compassion and humility—at least for a while. Soon, his circumstances began to get the best of him. After hearing a neighboring king had accumulated more wealth, Courage quickly raised the taxes of his townspeople. This led to an angry mob of citizens threatening a coup, so Courage reacted by throwing hundreds of people in jail and killing dozens more. Courage distanced himself from Regret and satisfied his need for attention by pursuing a young servant named Significance.

He flirted with Significance night and day until one morning when Courage looked at himself in the mirror and realized something had gone terribly wrong in his life. He decided to take a walk through the countryside to clear his head. And that is where he found Hope.

Hope was an elderly man who had been a shepherd in Boredom for as long as anyone could remember. He wasn’t from there, but he had called Boredom home for the better part of his life. Everyone knew that when life became too much to handle, Hope would be there to listen.

“Hello, Courage,” said Hope with a cheerful grin.

Courage ignored Hope and continued sulking under a tall oak tree.

“It’s okay, son. The way you treat me doesn’t change how I treat you. Considering your attitude, I guess this is your lucky day.”

Courage glanced at Hope and let a smile slip out. “Go away, old man. You wouldn’t know what it’s like to be me.”

“Well, maybe not, but I do know what it’s like to feel alone, confused, and lost. Most people that end up out here sitting under this oak tree all come for the same reason.”

“And what is that?” asked Courage.

“To remember,” answered Hope.

Courage looked confused. “Remember what?”

“To remember how exactly they got here.” Hope sat down and looked into his eyes. “You were once on a journey. And that journey ended because this place was safe; it was comfortable. Here you got everything you have always wanted—money, power, women—but now you're realizing that maybe you were wrong. Maybe there is something else you want. Something out there.” Hope pointed in the direction of the other road.

“How do you know all of that?” asked Courage.

Hope thought for a moment and said, “I was once in your shoes, son. I chose this path and found myself in this town. I became King of Boredom and ruled with compassion and honesty. Then, one day, all the things I desired began to feel empty. I longed to travel the other road and live a life of adventure.”

“So, what happened?” asked Courage, now eager for answers.

“I left,” answered Hope.

“You just left? Why? And how did you get back?”

“I just left. There was no magic formula. I knew I was meant for something more than this, so I left.”

“Why are you here now?” asked Courage.

“Son, some answers you have to discover on your own. One day you will leave this town. And one day you will return to this place. But it is a path you must travel for yourself to understand why.”

Courage began to cry. “I can’t leave now. My kingdom ... my wife ... my life. I feel trapped. Stuck here to live this empty and unfulfilling life that has no meaning or purpose.”

“Can’t is a silly word, my son. It is used far too often by far too many people. If I could do it, you can do it.” Hope stood and began to walk away.

“What if I fail, old man? What then?”

“What if you succeed, son? What then?” And with that, Hope went back to the business of caring for his sheep.

Courage stood and took a step. Then, he stopped and reflected on his life in Boredom. Then, another step. Then, more reflection. This went on for days until Courage finally stood at the edge of town. The voice of Hope rang in his ears—if I could do it, you can do it. After one final glance at what he was leaving behind, Courage once again began walking back to the fork in the road. This time, he strode with the confidence of a man on a mission that could not be discouraged.

Several hours later, Courage was back where he began—standing and staring at two possible paths. Only this time, he noticed something he hadn’t seen the first time. There was a middle-aged man standing at the entrance of the narrow path. Surprised, Courage approached him.

“Hello, Courage,” said the man.

“How do you know my name?” Courage asked.

The man smiled. “I know many things about you. I know you have wanted to travel this path from the beginning because you desire something more out of life than what you experienced in Boredom. I know what you left behind to get back here. And I know what challenges you will encounter on this road, so I am here to help lead you.”

“Lead me where?”

“Lead you into your destiny,” replied the man.

“There you guys go with that destiny stuff again. I don’t believe in all that nonsense,” said Courage.

“I don’t use the word as you and your friends do. Our destiny is simply the life we were created to live. We all have a purpose. Whether you choose to live out that purpose is up to you. You still have a choice—you can always choose to go back to the wide path.”

“I will never go back there.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Courage. But all of that will come in time. For now, you have a choice to make. Your life will never be the same once you take a step onto this path. Do you understand what I am telling you?”

“Yes, I understand,” replied Courage. “This is the adventure I have been looking for.”

“It is up to you to take the first step, but remember, I will be with you always.”

“What is your name?” asked Courage.

“My name is Guide. Now, are you ready to take the first step?”

“Yes,” said Courage. And with that, he took his first step down a narrow road that had no end in sight. But Courage was confident he was making a wise decision. So confident, that he didn’t even notice the danger he was about to encounter.

PART III OF V

2009-04-25T21:00:00.007-04:00

It came like a swift kick to the face. Not ten steps into his new journey, Courage was confronted with a terrifying creature standing between him and his destiny. Courage looked around for Guide, but he was nowhere to be found. If he was going to make his way past the creature, he would have to do it on his own. Although terrified, Courage couldn’t help but feel excited about the adventure he was about to begin.

Courage charged in and attacked the creature will all his might, completely overpowering his foe. As quickly as the fight had begun, it had ended. “That was easy,” thought Courage. “I didn’t even need Guide.”

And so it went for many days. Courage would confront another creature along the path, and the creature would be no match for his energy and enthusiasm. Although difficult at times, Courage was thoroughly enjoying the excitement of the narrow path—the lack of comfort, the battles, the nights sleeping under the stars. Courage experienced a sense of freedom that he never felt in Boredom.

But that all changed one day.

Courage was growing tired from his endless fighting. He had hoped to settle down and rest for a few days. But each time things seemed to quiet down, there was another surprise attack by the creatures of the forest. Courage was growing weary, and the frequency of the attacks seemed to increase. Then, one day, he began to notice others lying along the road. At first, he thought they were dead bodies, but then he realized they were resting ... or maybe hiding.

The creatures of the forest seemed to leave them alone as long as they stayed motionless. They all looked tired, abused, and resigned to the fact that they had found a new home off the main road. Seeing everyone made Courage feel a bit hopeless. “Is this my destiny?” he thought. “Am I doomed to a life of resignation? To a life of cowardliness?”

Just then, Courage heard a scuffle ahead. He ran forward and saw a dozen people fighting at least fifty creatures of the forest. “What’s happening?” Courage shouted.

A young woman replied, “I’m not sure. I was traveling this path and encountered this battle two hours ago, so I began fighting.”

“Who are you fighting with?” asked Courage.

“I’m not sure. They were already here when I arrived. Well, except that man over there. He just got here right before you.”

Courage looked around and then asked, “Who is leading the fight?”

“I don’t know. We’re all just doing whatever we’re doing,” she said.

After seeing another man injured, she ran back into the battle. Courage was confused. He stood back and watched the battle unfold before his eyes. The creatures were strong, but the people were stronger. Clearly, they had taken control. But then, the strangest thing happened.

Courage observed the impromptu army begin to argue about the best way to defeat the creatures. Then, fights broke out among the humans. While people squabbled amongst themselves, the creatures took advantage and moved in. Since everyone seemed to have their own beliefs, there was no real leader in the group. The people divided, and the creatures began to conquer. Some began deserting the group and cowering near the tree stumps along the side of the road. Others continued fighting, but the battle now seemed hopeless.

Courage could take no more ... so, he ran away.

Not a hundred yards up the road, three creatures attacked him, and their battle went on for many days. After a narrow victory, Courage continued moving forward, though now he was bloodied and bruised. A hundred more yards and five more creatures to fight. This time it took weeks before he could continue his journey. More traveling, more people lying along the side of the road, more enemies to fight.

Courage felt like he had been traveling for hundreds of miles, but he was actually only a few thousand feet into his journey when he could take the pain and frustration no longer.

Courage was alone, tired, hurting, and feeling abandoned. Through his tears, he cried out, “Where are you, Guide? You promised you would be here! Is this my destiny? My destiny is to be alone? Abandoned? Where are all your wonderful promises now? You will be with me always? Are you kidding me? Where are you now?” Courage was both exhausted and overcome with emotion. His screams became softer, and he cried himself into a deep sleep.

He dreamt of Boredom. In retrospect, his old life didn’t seem quite so bad. Visions of Regret danced in his head. He could see his enormous stone castle ... his rooms filled with money and jewels ... his people gathered to love and worship him. He dreamt of his soft bed and his warm baths. He remembered how he first found Significance and how special her attention made him feel. It was a wonderful dream that was soon interrupted by the sounds of screaming.

“Help me! Help me!” was all Courage could understand. Waking, he realized he was far away from Boredom and stuck on an adventure that was making him very unhappy. The screams continued, and Courage ... did nothing. He stayed by the side of the road, cowering in the dead grass, waiting for the screams to stop. And eventually, they did.

Courage glanced around from his spot and noticed dozens of other men and women also cowering, safe from the creatures.

“Interesting,” he thought, “they don’t seem to bother me anymore.” His mind was made up. Courage decided Hope had been right. He would be returning to Boredom to rebuild the life he left behind. The narrow path was just too much to bear. Courage stood and began retracing his steps back to the fork in the road.

Just then, Guide appeared.

Courage was shocked, then angry. “You promised me! Where have you been?”

“Here,” replied Guide.

“Here? Where?” asked Courage.

“I have been by your side all along.”

Courage fumed. “Then why haven’t I been able to see you or talk to you?”

“I have heard every word you said.”

Now in disbelief, “Then why didn’t you help?” screamed Courage.

“I did help. You will see that someday.”

“What a load of crap!” Courage shouted. He turned and began to leave, but Guide stepped forward to block his way.

Courage could stand it no longer. “You abandoned me. I was out there all alone, fighting every day. I was beaten, and bloodied, and bruised. Every time I defeated an enemy, I picked myself up and kept going, only to find two more in my way. I fought for this path. I fought for my destiny. I fought for you! Where were you? How could you be by my side that whole time and do nothing?”

Guide replied simply, “It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.”

“I wanted adventure, but this ... this is just too much for any one man to bear. How can you expect me to travel this road alone?”

“I don’t.”

“Then where were you!” Courage yelled.

“Did you notice all of the other people traveling with you, Courage? Did you notice the men and women cowering in the grass? Did you notice the people engaged in a war with the creatures of the forest? You were never alone; you just thought you were.”

Courage looked at Guide and then to the ground, but he could not say a word.

Guide continued, “I know you have dreamt of Boredom. All people do. But you also know you are meant to travel this path. Don’t give up just yet, Courage. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with what lies ahead. Keep walking the narrow path, but this time, don’t travel the road alone. And remember, I am with you always.”

In a flash, Guide was gone.

Courage stood in that spot for a long time. He heard the voice of his old friend, Fear: “You will fail, Courage.” He heard the voice of Hope: “If I could do it, you can do it.” He heard the voice of Guide: “I will be with you always.”

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud boom in the distance. Rushing toward him was the woman he met weeks ago during the huge battle. “Quick, run!” she screamed. “They are right behind me!” Courage and the woman ran as fast as they could until they found a large tree stump to hide behind. There, they waited as dozens of the forest creatures walked by, searching for their next victims.

“Who are they?” whispered Courage.

“They were sent to keep us from reaching the other end of this road. They are called Attacks. Some are small, some are large, but they all know our weaknesses even better than we do.”

“And who are you?” asked Courage.

“I am Friendship,” she replied with a smile.

“Friendship, what is at the other end of this road?”

“Our destiny is at the other end of this road, and I am committed to getting there.”

After the last of the Attacks had cleared the area, Friendship rose to her feet and began to leave. “Wait!” shouted Courage. He thought back to what Guide said and asked, “What if we travel this road together?”

Friendship looked confused. “Why would we do that?”

Courage thought for a moment and then said, “I think we are meant to.”

PART IV OF V

2009-04-25T20:00:00.005-04:00

Courage and Friendship began their journey together. Attacks still came, but their combined force was far too powerful for even the strongest of Attacks. Courage and Friendship were having a wonderful time together and building a strong relationship. They would battle together during the day and lie side by side at night looking at the stars and talking about life. When it got especially cold, they would even huddle together for warmth. Their bond was strong, and their love for each other grew. Life was perfect.

Each day, the battles raged on—Courage and Friendship continued to record victory after victory, but they still noticed others cowering along the side of the road. One day, Friendship had an idea.

“Courage, what if we ask others to join us? You know, all the people hiding from the Attacks. What if they joined us on this journey?”

Courage was hesitant at first. What if the others messed up their life together? What if the others ruined the wonderful memories they were making? But then, Courage thought back to what Guide told him and realized she was right. The others needed Friendship too, and they needed Courage.

The next day, the two friends cheerfully approached a group of people hiding in the dead grass and asked them to join their journey. One person just ignored them. Another screamed at them and ran off. A third said another group had offered the same promise weeks earlier but then abandoned him in his time of need. And the only woman in the group said she was too much trouble for anyone to handle.

Dejected, Courage and Friendship walked back to the main road. “Well, that didn’t work,” said Courage. “Why would people refuse to travel this road with friends? They would rather remain afraid and stay hidden off the path? That makes no sense.”

Friendship had no real answers, but she suggested, “Maybe we didn’t ask in the right way.”

“Ask in the right way? Are you kidding me? Fine, you ask next time,” Courage said.

Later that day, the two friends encountered another group of people hiding behind a handful of tree stumps. Friendship approached them and said, “Excuse me, but my friend Courage and I were once traveling this road alone, just like you are. We faced Attack after Attack and were left bloodied and bruised. We hid in the bushes and behind tree stumps just like you are doing now. In fact, we both were this close to giving up. But then, we found each other and started traveling this narrow road together. Since then, life hasn’t been perfect—we still face a lot of Attacks—but I think we are all supposed to travel this road together. I know if we stick together, we will make it to the end of this path and to our shared destiny.”

One person just ignored them. Another screamed at them and ran off. A third said another group had offered the same promise weeks earlier but then abandoned him in his time of need. And the only woman in the group said she was too much trouble for anyone to handle.

But one young man rose to his feet and walked toward Courage and Friendship. “My name is Competition,” he said. As they all shook hands and hugged, their fellowship had become three.

The three friends continued their journey forward, recruiting more and more people into their fellowship. By the end of the week, their group's number had risen to thirty. By now, they were all making incredible time, destroying any Attacks standing in their way. Life was even more perfect. Until one day ...

“I said move that rock!” screamed an older man named Pride.

“You move it, grandpa!” replied a younger man named Envy.

Courage heard the commotion and stepped in. “What’s going on here?"

“None of your business,” said Envy. “Who elected you king anyway?”

“No one elected me king,” said Courage.

“Well, we are all tired of listening to you. I have an idea to help the group move faster, so now I’m in charge,” Envy demanded.

Pride jumped in. “Who says you get to be in charge? I am the oldest and wisest; I should lead.”

Other men and women began shouting, and the discussion quickly became a heated argument. Courage escaped the commotion to find Friendship. When he did, he saw Friendship and Competition talking and laughing in the distance. Courage felt an immediate pang of jealousy shoot through his body, and he almost got sick to his stomach. He turned to see the entire group of thirty men and women pushing and shoving, fighting for control of the fellowship.

“I knew this would happen,” Courage said to himself. “I knew all of these people would mess everything up. Friendship and I were happy and healthy, and we were making great progress. We didn’t need any of these people. Now everything is ruined!”

Courage sat down, and for the first time in a long time, he sobbed. Once again, his utopia had been destroyed.

“I don’t understand, Guide. I traveled the wide path to pursue gold, power, and lust, and it left me empty. So, I traveled the narrow path to pursue my destiny, and it led to pain, frustration, and despair. Then, I followed your advice and traveled the road with a group of people, and all they do is fight, and bicker, and cause me more frustration. What am I missing? Why can’t I just be happy?”

With that, Guide appeared for a third time to Courage. “Son,” he said, “if happiness is your ultimate goal, then you have chosen the wrong path. Happiness is a word people use to mean easy, and I never promised this road would be easy. Happiness means everything works out exactly how you want it to work out, but I never promised that either. What you are missing, my son, is the ultimate destination of this path. Until you discover that, nothing either road has to offer will ever be enough.”

Before Courage could respond, Guide was gone. He screamed into thin air, “What is the ultimate destination then? Where is this road taking me?”

“It’s taking you to our destiny,” said Friendship softly.

Courage turned to see her standing behind him. “How long have you been there?” he asked.

“Just long enough to hear you screaming at the sky,” she replied with a grin.

Courage felt embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. “How is Competition?”

“Courage, we never meant for this to happen ... we just kind of fell in love.”

His heart sank. He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He had lost the only woman he ever truly loved. In that moment, all the wonderful memories of their time together flooded his thoughts. Fighting off the Attacks, lying under the stars sharing their dreams, laughing at each other’s jokes, holding each other tight to fend off the cold. But all of that was over now. Nothing would ever be the same again.

That night, Courage sat by himself off the main path. The others still argued over control of the fellowship. Friendship and Competition were nowhere to be found. Courage had taken all he could handle. It had been a very long journey for him, and he knew it was over. He could finally take no more. Courage stood with his broken heart and began walking. And he kept walking until he reached the center of camp.

“Stop arguing ... all of you!” Courage shouted. “Listen to me. We are never going to make it like this. The time has come where we must band together as one group with one mission, or we will fail. The Attacks have grown stronger since we began this squabbling. Soon, they will become too powerful for us. If we have a chance to make it to the end of this road, we must do it together. I have heard enough debate over who should lead our fellowship. The debate is over—I am leading. If you don’t like it, you are free to leave.”

No one moved a muscle.

“I have dreamt of reaching the end of this road, and I promise you, it will be glorious.” As he spoke, Courage noticed Friendship and Competition reappear among the group. “We have dreamt this dream together, and I refuse to let it die.” Courage paused to look at Friendship. “In the morning, we will continue this journey united as one. If we fail, we fail as one. And if we succeed, we succeed as one.”

Courage paused again and looked up to the night sky. “Because I finally realize something I have never understood before tonight. What lies ahead isn’t perfection, or even happiness ... what lies ahead is purpose. And not just for me, but for all of us. No matter how difficult the journey may become,” Courage again looked at Friendship, “I must not turn away from my purpose ... my calling ... my destiny.” With those words, Courage had united the fellowship once again.

That night, a few people abandoned the group. Perhaps they wanted to lead; perhaps they still wanted to pursue perfection and happiness; perhaps they didn’t like Courage all that much. By the next morning, twenty-six people remained.

While the next few years of travel were treacherous, and many people fell away, and more and more Attacks came each day, somehow the journey continued, and their numbers were multiplied daily. By the time they reached the end of the road, nearly ten thousand people were there to witness a sight more beautiful than words could ever describe.

They were home.

Thousands rushed in to experience paradise. But not Courage. He stood at the end of the narrow path looking at the beauty before him. Without having to take another step, Courage knew the reason he was created and his ultimate purpose in life. Courage turned and began walking back to the fork in the road.

He had a friend to find.

PART V OF V

2009-04-25T19:00:00.010-04:00

“Where are you going?” asked Friendship.

“I have to leave,” said Courage.

“Leave?” she asked. “How can you leave now? We have spent years searching for this place. We have been through hell and back, and now you want to leave?”

“Friendship, you know I love you. I remember years ago when you and I traveled this road together. I remember how we dreamed of one day completing our journey and finding this place. We knew the narrow path was the key to finding purpose in life. And I have found mine, but it’s not in there—not yet anyway.”

“Where is your purpose, Courage?”

“It’s on the wide path,” he said calmly.

Friendship was shocked. “The other path? We have been through this, Courage. After all you experienced on the wide path, and all you have experienced on this road, you want to go back? For what? The money? The power? The women?”

“No, Friendship, I must go back for my friend. He and I traveled that path together years ago, and he is still out there pursuing all those things you just mentioned. Someone has to go back for him. Who better than me?”

Furious, a man named Criticism standing nearby interrupted the conversation. “I have heard all I can take of this nonsense. Go back? Have you lost your mind, Courage? How can you look at all these people who have followed you for so long and tell them you are going back into that world? You made a decision to travel the narrow road. By making that choice, you gave up the lust for money, power, and sex. And now you want to go back? How can you justify this choice to abandon all you know ... to ignore all the beauty you have seen in this place? If you go back, you will be tainted. You will not be welcomed back here.”

“Honestly, Criticism, I don’t think that is your decision to make. I understand your concerns, but if I don’t go back and fight for the people still traveling the wide path, who will?”

“You will fail,” said Criticism, “and you will be a disgrace. I doubt you were ever really committed to this path in the first place.”

Another man, named Comfort, spoke up. “He’s right, you know. Stay here with us and be safe. Those people out there don’t understand us. They will reject us if we try to help them. We fought for the right to finally be happy and comfortable. And now we are here. If they find us, sure, we will let them in, but there is no point in going out there looking for them.”

Criticism interrupted, “Here’s what we will do. We’ll organize a team of people who will hang out around the end of the road, and if they see anyone wandering around, they will invite them in. Every once in a while, we will even send them out a few hundred feet to round up the stragglers.”

“You guys don’t get it,” said Courage. “Fear will never come within two hundred feet of this place. Very few people will. We have to go out looking for them.”

“Is that your destiny?” asked Friendship.

“Yes it is,” Courage answered confidently.

“Then you must go,” she said through tears. Friendship fell to her knees and began weeping. Many in the crowd whispered judgmental words, and Criticism began spreading rumors that Courage had been a fraud the entire time.

Courage approached Friendship, laying his hand on her shoulder. “How many people get to do what they were created to do?” he asked. “Don’t cry for me; this is a time of joy.”

“I am not crying for you, Courage; I’m crying for myself. I could never do what you are doing. I am afraid I will never feel the joy you are experiencing right now.”

“I have faith in you, Friendship. You just have to ignore Criticism and Comfort and follow your heart. Guide was right all along.”

“About what?” she asked.

“He said my life would never be the same if I took a step on this path. That this road would lead to my destiny. He said I would always have the choice to live out my destiny or ignore it. That I would always have the choice to go back to the wide path. And when I said I would never go back, he told me to not be so sure. He knew all along.”

Guide stood nearby listening to every word. “I never knew,” he thought to himself, “but I always believed Courage would make the right decision.”

Courage and Friendship said their goodbyes. Moments later, Courage began his journey back to the fork in the road. Friendship joined the rest of the fellowship in Paradise.

Not a hundred yards into his walk, Guide appeared once again. “Hello, Courage,” he said. “I am glad to see you pursuing your calling.”

“Guide, I wasn’t expecting to see you again. We finally made it to our destination.”

“No, my son, you are just beginning.”

“Am I doing the right thing?” Courage asked.

“What does your heart tell you?”

“It tells me this is my destiny, but the others were against me.”

Guide thought for a moment, and then he said, “There will always be people who are against you, but I am for you. Continue following your heart, and you can't go wrong.” Lending a helping hand, Guide pointed Courage to a shortcut to get back to the wide path. The two friends hugged, and Courage disappeared through the hidden passageway. Moments later, he was standing in Boredom.

Five minutes after his arrival, Courage found Temptation. He ran to her. “Where is Fear?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “We were separated years ago. He accumulated much wealth and many women. He no longer needed me.”

“Where did you last see him?” Courage asked.

“In a town named Greed,” she said. “He will never leave that place.”

Courage was sad for his friend, but he was pleased to hear Fear was alive and safe. And he had already learned where Fear was living. “This might be easier than I thought,” he said to himself.

A few minutes later, Courage rounded a bend and recognized two women from his past—Regret and Significance were walking straight toward him. “We have missed you,” Regret said seductively. “Your people have missed you, too. Come with us. The castle is just as you left it.”

Courage knew the invitation was bad news, so he said he couldn’t stay—that he was on a journey to find his friend—and began to walk away.

“But you look so tired,” said Significance. “You should at least rest up for your journey. Just stay the night—there is no harm in that.”

Courage was tired, and he sure could use a hot bath and a good meal. He was hesitant, but Courage finally agreed to stay only one night. “One night won’t hurt anything,” he said to himself. “It’s only one night.”

But one night turned into two, and then three, and then a full month. Courage began to forget why he was traveling the wide path in the first place. Then, one day, while walking through the fields, he once again found Hope.

“My old friend,” said Hope. “You have returned at last!”

“You always said I would,” replied Courage. “How did you know?”

“I never knew, Courage, but I always believed.”

Courage turned to look at the setting sun.

“I heard you arrived over a month ago. Why are you still here?” asked Hope.

“Where else would I be?”

Hope looked surprised, but he quickly understood. “You have forgotten why you are here, haven’t you? You have forgotten why you returned to this path. It’s so easy to do—trust me, I did it myself years ago. Still do every once in a while.” Hope paused for a long time. “But I think you will remember soon enough.”

“What makes you so confident, old man?"

Hope pointed to the trail leading to his field. “Because of her.”

Courage turned and saw Friendship walking toward him. Their eyes met, and they ran to each other. Overcome with joy, Hope turned to let the old friends enjoy their embrace. “I suppose there is no more Competition," he chuckled. "Travel well, my young friends. Travel well.”

“What are you doing here?” Courage asked through his tears.

“Guide was right, Courage. The narrow path led to my destiny, too ... and my destiny is you. It’s by your side in this place fighting for people like Fear. You can’t do it alone. We learned that a long time ago, and it’s true in this place, too. You were right all along ... we were meant to travel this road together.”

“You don’t have to do this,” said Courage.

Friendship looked into his eyes. “I know I don’t have to ... I get to. It is an honor to travel this road with you.”

There were no more words to be said. Courage was flooded with the memories of his past. His friendship with Fear, their encounter with Temptation, the gold coin, his life in Boredom with Regret and Significance, his conversations with Hope, meeting Guide, traveling the narrow path alone, finding Friendship, building their fellowship, reaching the end of the narrow path, and realizing his destiny.

Friendship’s love had reminded him of his mission. The next morning, Courage and Friendship set off to find Fear and share their experiences with him.

Unfortunately, Fear had already left Greed, and no one knew where his next stop would be.

Courage and Friendship never did find Fear on the wide path. They never settled down and lived happily ever after with his old friend. And they never did live the comfortable life that so many others experienced in Boredom. But every once in a while, Courage and Friendship would make friends with someone traveling the wide path. They would listen to their new friend share his or her life story, and then Courage and Friendship would tell a tale like none their new friend had ever heard.

Here and there, new friends would choose to leave the wide path and pursue their destiny, too. Nothing else in the world mattered except watching someone they loved take a leap of faith. Those moments made the journey worth it.

One particular friend, named Faith, stayed with Courage and Friendship for many months, learning what it was like to walk to the narrow path. Faith begged Courage to tell of his encounters with Hope and Guide. And Friendship cared for Faith as though the young girl was her own child. After many wonderful nights together, Faith finally discovered her destiny and left the comforts of the wide path for the adventures waiting on the narrow path.

Courage and Friendship were so proud of all their new friends, but Courage feel asleep every night wondering whatever became of his old friend, Fear.

Many years passed; Courage and Friendship grew old. One night, they settled down to sleep; the next morning, they did not wake up on the wide path. Instead, they were once again at the edge of Paradise. Hand in hand, the two friends stepped off the road and into their destiny. Only this time, they looked around and saw thousands of familiar faces—the faces of all the friends they met along their journey. Courage recognized Hope immediately and waved to the old shepherd. Hope returned the wave with a wink and a smile.

One face in particular stood out in the crowd—it was Fear! “How did you get here?” asked Courage, shocked to see his friend.

Fear laughed with joy. “The ripples of your influence spread far and wide, my dear friend. I always knew you would come back for me.”

The two friends hugged before Fear walked back to the person who led him into Paradise. Courage recognized Faith immediately and waved to the young woman they loved like a daughter.

Guide was there, too, of course—laughing, and crying, and embracing everyone entering Paradise.

Courage turned and looked into the eyes of the only woman he had ever loved. “We’re home,” he said to Friendship. And with that, the two old friends walked hand in hand into eternity.

THE END