SAMUEL
PART 1
by
Marian MacNeil,C.HT.



This life is the most detailed of all the past lives I have reviewed.

I feel like I am a young man by the bank of a lake surrounded by desert. I am sitting under a shade tree and I throw one pebble at a time into the water. I watch each one make its own ripples in the water out from the center. Finally I get up and start to walk toward the village off to my right. This village is whitewash painted. A little fishing village, quiet and unassuming.

I wear coarse fabric clothe tied with a rope. My sandals are brown with ankle strap ties. My robe is to my ankles. I walk with a tall wood walking stick. Wood is a prize here.

I am sad and bored with some sort of urge to do something that I can not do in this village. But, I do not know where to go for what I seek. I turn away from the village and walk. Have the feeling that I carry a heavy burden on my shoulders. My family is fine without me. My Sisters area busy with woman things. My Brother carves out of wood though he has to bring in the wood from other places. My Mother is old and does little nor speaks much. She is tired of the hard life and desires more for my sisters but know this will not be. Generations of fishing and hard work for the women here. My Father is always out on the water fishing.

I feel a sadness because of the loneliness I feel within. There HAS to be something out there that will justify one's existence. I have a spiritual longing within me. I am waiting, but, for what?

So, I decide to see what is beyond the sand dunes, if anything. With that decision made, I set out to find the longing answers that I seek. I am sad about leaving my family but I really have no other choice which will fulfill me.

After walking in one direction for a long, long time I finally come to a bigger village. There is gaiety abounding and men seem to be heading all in a certain direction. For what reason, I do not know. I follow among the strangers. There is excitement in the air. The smells are strong of meat, rice and incense. The day is hot and humid. The sky is clear and blue, Houses are again, whitewashed. Some men's robes are dark blue or brown. many with hoods like mine. The sleeves are big like monk robe sleeves. I am hungry and thirsty. Have come a long way from my tiny village.

The crowd seems happy on their walk and we start to walk faster. A feeling of love is present. Finally i sit down on a sandy slope with my arms on my knees. I am waiting to see what happens next. A gathering of men. A festive occasion. Joy and expectation is in the air.

In the center of the flat area a man is talking to the group of us who have gathered. this man tells them to come with him for there are bad men coming to take control of them. Those who will harm their families and make them workers for them. These are evil men of harm. This man swings his arms to stress his points. I hear him say:
"Lo, you have the opportunity to serve the most high God of all! Make your life one of service. Do not be greedy but help each other. Do not sin but be cleansed by the love of God. Don't you see what you have to do?

Try to understand what I am telling you. Come with me and learn the words of God. Come with me now, oh you people of earth! Come with me to the land of opportunity for learning and just ways. Follow me and I will show you the way for goodness and happiness.

Take my hand now or be left behind to suffer the will of strong evil men coming this way soon. Feel them in the air. Feel their vibrations and the rumble in the ground. Do you not feel this? The sky will darken and you will be lost to them. They will pillage your land and homes and families.

Come now, for I am going on my way. I beg you...follow me now!"

Others just walk away shaking their heads. I think I will follow and see what happens. I have heard of these "Seers" who travel the areas tho none have ever found their way to my village. Some call them Prophets while others call them doomsayers.

I notice a young girl with the robe's hood over her hair, trying to hide the fact she is a young girls. She is afraid her Father will see her in the crowd. He will get the highest price for this lovely one! He does not like have a girl child. Would rather have boys. This girl is so afraid for her life. I get up and walk down the slope toward her. I just seem to know about her from my insides, yet I have never seen her before. I take her arm and bid her to follow me toward the man who spoke. I tell her I am going with the man and for her to come with me. i told her I would not harm her. Only the two of us follow the man The rest of the crowd taunt him and jeer him as we leave.

I behold a great presence in this man! He is so gentle and of love but very strong, both physical and of inner knowledge. He does not talk with us now but leads the way from the meeting circle.

He does not hurry but has a fast step to his walk. The sun is going down and there is coolness in the air. He looks up to see if we are still following, then turns away to walk again. The moon comes up now and we are still walking a steady pace. The girl is getting tired and I wish for her that we could stop. He turns to us as if to answer my thoughts. These are the first words from him that we can not stop yet. We must keep going awhile longer for the evil men are nearing.

I pick up the young girl in my arms and carry her in order that she may rest awhile. The man looks at me and smiles. i feel a surge of energy fill my body as he looks at me. After the look, carrying this girl becomes easy for me. We walk on for hours. Finally coming to hills in the sand. I see no one. Then, the sand moves!

There are people hiding in the sand to sleep in safety. There are three holes for us. How did they know at this time there would be three of us? The hole in the sand is very warm by the sun. We cover ourselves with sand. Only our faces remain uncovered. No one below us will see us as we sleep. A smart idea indeed! I believe I can learn from this man.

I lay the sleeping girl in one of the holes and cover her up for a night's rest.

My name is Samuel.

Morning comes. This man comes over to us and says, "To remain very still for I feel the earth vibrate. Do not move or make a sound!" Soon men on camels ride on the pathway below. We are up on a slope under the sand. The men stop. They do not see us but we can see them. My heart is pounding (in the real physical and in this review)! They leave one man behind and the rest of the group ride off. After a long time they return to get the man they left and begin to return toward the direction they first came in. Seems these men are looking for us!

After awhile longer our guide signals us to follow him up the craggy hill to a cave not seen from the pathway. We are not to make a sound! Seems men stopped to rest just at the other side of the pathway curve! We fill in our sleeping holes so no one would know we were ever there and we make our way quickly to the cave.

This man takes us deep into the cave. We walk a long way down hill and finally come out at the bottom of the mountain to a lush green valley of wonder. I have never seen any place so beautiful! This is my first time away from the barren, sandy fishing village. I stare in awe. There is a river and the area is like a large cove surrounded by craggy high mountains. They are very safe from the desert side of the mountains. The man says, "The Savior of men's souls is coming to earth and I want to prepare the people of earth for him."

We come to the house this man calls home. There are ten of us who followed him from various parts of the desert. There are large, round huts with large, leaf roofs. This house is very nice. There are rooms for sleeping, ones for praying and talking. There is a big fireplace just outside the main door. There is a large garden of vegetables and fruit trees. Date trees and Grape vines are along the side of the house. We will stay here and study how to pray and listen to this man's stories. We work the gardens.

The young girl's name is Sara. She helps tend the cooking duties and brushes out the house each day. We work in the mornings, have a meal and then rest. In the later afternoon we have lessons till supper. In the evenings we share stories and practice the afternoon's lessons.

Seems twice a year two men go out into the world to spread the words of love and faith. These men go in pairs for protection. This time though, my Elder traveled alone. However, I learned there were others waiting for him at the edge of the desert. They bring back anyone who chooses to follow their teachings. Each Elder goes out maybe once every four years or so to teach. Different pairs go twice a year.

I am falling in love with Sara now and I want to marry her. We sleep together at night in one big room. We sleep next to each other but do not touch. We share our warmth. The man says we can marry if Sara loves me and when she becomes a woman. Whatever that means! He said Sara would tell me when. I am happy now for the first time I can remember. Sara smiles a lot and is very nice. In my village no one smiled much any more. Mostly it is the daily hard work of survival there.

There are other homes and other men who teach. Each Elder leads a group of followers. Each teaches the group and they work together helping the other groups to maintain the community. Today you would this community a commune.

This man seems to be the leading Elder in the community. I am trying to figure out his name but none comes to me yet. Only know my name and that I am a number of cold seasons and revolutions of the moon old. This man says I am about 17 and the Sara is about 14 years old. Since I do not know this Elder's name, I will call him the Elder, or Wise One.

We fill the days with work and lessons while we wait for this Prophet from GOD. I yearn to know all the knowledge and hope to meet the Prophet soon. Waiting here is so different than waiting in my village. I know I will never return to my old village. I do miss my family but now I have Sara to share my days.

There are narrow dirt canals from the river for irrigating the gardens and orchards. I help bring in the water flow by lifting up the wooden blocks along the canals. We do this every other day. Each home-group maintains their own gardens but all the fruit trees are for everyone. The branches of the palm trees are used to maintain the thatched roofs.

Appointed men go down river, many days travel, to trade food for materials and cloth. The women make the tunics we all wear. Same for all. The tunics and hooded robes in darker sandy colors, for protection at times of travel. The colors match the sands of the land.

Regarding our studies, there are certain levels of understanding we must achieve before the Elders will teach us the secrets of what they can really do! I know I will be good someday for I study hard. Someday I will pass on my knowledge as do these Elders.

Up one of the cliffs is a ledge where two men may sit comfortably. I see my Elder sitting up there many times a week. I ask him why he goes up there so often. I am told that as I learn and study, I too, will be spending time on the ledge in solitude. Until then, I wait and wonder.

I learn of the rituals and celebrations of our community. When a student reaches a level of understanding his house group plan a ceremony giving acknowledgement for the student's progress. Everyone gathers by the river's edge. There is a rock platform in this area.
My first ceremony meant so much to me! My Elder led me to this gathering. He had me step upon the platform. I then explained my own understanding of the completion of the first level of understanding. Others then asked me questions to make sure I understood. Some of the others Elders questions were difficult but with my Elder's smile and encouragement I know all the answers. My heart moved into my throat, my knees shook and I felt so afraid! I learned the biggest lesson of all. Teaching comes from sharing knowledge, different view points of the same issues. And, as I talked, I know I knew and this was the inner reward my Elder hopes each student will receive. Not all get this inner reward.

When this part of the ritual was completed, I then had to ask for permission to continue with my studies, explaining that I understood what was to be asked of me in service. The Elders would get together, making the students wait in anticipation! I waited,with a case of nerves, soon permission was granted. My Elder then led me to the river. He removed my robe, leaving me covered from the waist down, and would then dunk me in the water. This was purification for my body, mind and soul. I felt an energy come into me I had never felt before. Then, when we came out of the water, the women rushed over to dry my body and redress me. They put a wreath of leaves on my head. With that done, everyone cheered and clapped their hands in my honor. I felt pleased and proud of my achievement. Musical instruments were played, people sang songs and I felt like this was the biggest moment in my life! I felt proud that I could make my Elder so happy and pleased.


Continued in Samuel-Part 2

Samuel - Part 2


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