Many years ago there was a period of time that many know as the Dark Ages. There is an old legend that many have never heard about how this age grew so dark. In a far and distant land there was a great kingdom ruled by King Darcey. Several years before there had been a great famine and diseases that took the lives of many. There was a great number of children who became orphans during this time.
There was a man named, Sergio of the Christian faith who was called to be a great servant. His heart’s desire was to help those children so they could experience love and a sense of belonging. He began taking in the orphans himself to care for. After awhile there were too many for Sergio to care for alone. He began going throughout the kingdom looking for families to take the orphans in to provide them a loving home.
Sergio knew he must have the faith of a child and great things would happen. He had the hope that something good would come out of the tragedies. Sergio had became well known for his kindness of taking in the children without parents and so there were many of the peasants who came forward willing to also take in a child to give them a home. Because the peasants did not have a lot the church would help out as much as they could. King Darcey was impressed with the work of Sergio and decided to use some of the kingdom’s money that had been collected to be used to help out those families who chose to take in and care for the orphans.
A woman named Marelda had once been an orphan herself and had always desired to be a part of a family. There was an old woman who found Marelda and took her into her home. Marelda was never able to form an attachment to this woman, because the woman was a witch. She took more interest in practicing sorcery and witchcraft than showing love to Marelda.
Over the years Marelda dabbled in witchery, but still had a desire to help children who were like she once was. She talked with Sergio who needed help in placing the children and agreed to Sergio’s request that while working with the children she would follow the Church’s values and not practice her witchery. For a while Marelda was able to be truthful to her agreement, but as time passed she delved deeper into her witchcraft. Many of the king’s officials had heard of Marelda and became enchanted by her.
Sergio pleaded with Marelda to focus on helping the children, but she was too caught up in making her witchery known. Therefore, Sergio eventually asked her to no longer help out with the children. Marelda became very offended at Sergio’s request, even though she had not kept her word about the agreement. Without thinking of the consequences it would have on the families and especially the children, Marelda convinced the king and his officials to stop supporting Sergio’s mission. Without the support of the kingdom’s money during this time many of the children were devastated as they became orphans again.
This great tragedy on the children began to reek havoc throughout the kingdom and thus the legend of the dark ages began. Sergio began to spread the word to those who brought about the age of darkness that to anyone who brought harm to a child it would be better for a millstone to be hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Many of the orphans started to lose hope so Sergio would comfort them by sharing that one day the true king would return. A king that would not be enchanted by deceptions, but support and share what is truth. A king that would give the kind of love Marelda even longed for that would end an age of darkness by sending out rays of hope.
Originally written July 12, 2000. ~TRS
After 20 years it is difficult to remember specific things that I have written about. As I was re-writing this “story of fiction” I remembered that it actually was inspired by true events of that time that I think had to do with many faith-based programs being de-funded because they would not change their values and continued to believe Biblical teachings. My curiosity was sparked so I recently looked up info on faith based programs and was pleased to find the first article I looked at, (that actually was published a year after my original “story”) claiming that faith based programs are shown to be more effective than secular social justice programs. (Public Justice Report, 2001, cpjustice.org). Faith will win every time… Just Thinkin’
*I may start sharing some of my JUST THINKIN’ cartoons I also did for The Outlook. For those who ever read the Wayne Co Outlook newspaper may have seen my little cloud cartoon person named JT who would share some of his thoughts.
Rays of Hope 