"THE FAITH OF MISTY LORE"

by Dr. Kelly Roberts

copyright 1995 * all rights reserved

Misty Lore seemed to come out of nowhere, walking through the thick brush on the mountainside, stepping lightly onto the dirt road that led in a straight line towards the horizon. Oddly dressed, she wore a long lavender dress, silks about her hair, and moccasins on her feet. A simple knapsack strung over her shoulder carried her worldly goods, and a few morsels of food.

Misty walked down the straight road, surrounded on each side by open fields of grass. As she approached a cross in the road, she noticed an old man sitting on a nearby rock, his trinkets for sale beside him.

"Good day," Misty said in greeting.

"Good day," the old man said, squinting in the sun. "Have you lost your way?" The old man was surprised to see a beautiful young woman on foot way out there. Most of his customers travelled by horse or carriage, as it was a long road to travel to the nearest settlement.

"I don't think so," Misty replied as she studied his trinkets for sale.

"Where are you going?" the old man persisted.

Misty studied each of the roads forked out in front of her leading in two different directions. Her face was blank of expression, difficult for the old man to know her thoughts.

"I believe it is that way," Misty pointed to the road on her right.

"It?" the old man queried. "Do you have family, friends...someone to see in that village?"

"No, sir," Misty smiled. She picked up a small rope bracelet that caught her eye and looked it over carefully. "It is my destiny I follow. I believe it is in that direction."

The old man began to laugh. He'd never heard of such a silly idea!

"Truly!" he smirked. "Your destiny?

"Yes," Misty smiled graciously. "My destiny awaits me, and I am on the path to find it."

"And what might your 'destiny' be, Miss?" the old man laughed louder.

"I am to follow this path to a large village at the foot of beautiful mountains..." Misty told him. "It is there I will find my true love, we shall build a house, and I will teach others. That is where I am headed now. How much is this bracelet?"

The old man was dumbfounded. The idea, he thought, of her nonchalance, as if those dreams were so easy to find! Little did she know life was full of hardship and heartache, turmoil and strife. Why, look at him, having to sell his measly trinkets on a dirty road, waiting for the few crumbs thrown his way by those travellers who had it to spare. What terrible lessons she has set out for herself to learn, he thought, and took pity on her for her stupidity.

"Take it," the old man said, pointing to the bracelet. "I don't want your money."

"Thank you," Misty smiled, handing him a silk scarf worth much more. "But I must give you a gift in return for your kindness."

Kindness! Ha! The old man laughed out loud.

"What makes you think your destiny lies in that direction?" he asked her with a glare in his eye. She was beginning to irritate him.

"I just know," Misty replied. "I cannot tell you an answer that will gain your approval, or win your good judgment, or persuade you to understand, for there is no logic in my answer. I just know, and therefore, I must follow what my heart tells me."

"Then by all means, follow your destiny!" the old man snapped. "In one year hence, I shall visit that village. I will wager you all my worldly goods that I will find you in poverty, begging for food and living the life of a miserable fool!"

Misty smiled, a serene look upon her face. She stretched out her hand and shook his.

"I accept that wager, Sir," she said. "I shall see you in one year from this day." And with that said, Misty began on her way again taking her path to the right. The old man laughed until she was out of sight.

One year later the old man sat on a rock beside the dirt road selling his wares to travellers who happened by. A beautiful carriage stopped and a woman stepped out. She looked vaguely familiar to the old man, but he couldn't quite place the face. So many had travelled this road.

Her gowns were of the finest silks, her jewels simple, yet exquisite. There was a glow about her that beamed with tranquility. She walked up to him, and reached out her hand to shake his.

The old man suddenly realized this was the same woman he'd seen a year before, boasting of her "destiny" which lay down the road. By the wealth she exhibited, and the gentleman who accompanied her, he realized she had found her dreams and made them a reality. He also realized it meant his worldly goods were his no more!

"Don't worry, old man," Misty smiled. "I have no interest in your trinkets. But...I would like you to come with me, if you would."

"What for?" the old man asked, bewildered. Surely she would make a fool of him in front of the villagers, a humiliation he had no desire to know.

"I have built a school," Misty continued, "and many have come from far away. I wish for you to teach them how to bead and make the trinkets you sell. They are beautiful, and we all know this world needs more beautiful things. I shall pay you a good wage, and your needs will be met"

The old man couldn't believe his ears! This same woman he had labeled a fool now offered him a livelihood! The old man fell to his knees in shame, realizing it was he who had been the fool. Truly, she was a teacher, for he had already begun to learn.

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