I am very grateful to Google Images for providing such an appropriate image.

Iris, Renita and Aylett linked arms and trouped down the road leading across the glistening countryside. Dew was sparkling all around them; the peach and pink colors of early dawn were most attractive.

“Shouldn’t we have shared our plans with the Captain,” Aylett asked falteringly?”

“Oh, Aylett, you are always such a worrier.” Renita impatiently tugged at her arm to hurry her along since her friend had stopped to gaze up, way up at the Glass Castle shining in all its glory on the cliff above them.

“His Presence is always with us,” Iris added. “He won’t mind if we miss our appointment with Him just this once.”

Just this once, Aylett thought gloomily. For me it might be the first time in many weeks but I know the girls rarely show up in the throne room for the opportunity to fellowship with King Love. Oh I miss my early morning communion with Him, why did I ever let them persuade me to come?

“Look out,” she shrieked, “There’s a vicious snake!”

The girls leaped back just in time, trembling with fear.

“Why doesn’t anyone remove the stones from the path?” Renita complained.

Aylett was sober but she didn’t answer because she knew it would make the girls more irritated with her than ever. She knew that many of the soldiers who were responsible for keeping the road in shape found it too boring. They would far rather fill their days with more fun things.

The girls hurried on at a brisker pace but kept an eye for other hiding reptiles.

“We’ve gone this road many times before,” Renita remarked, “and it’s so dreadfully  straight and narrow. Why don’t we veer off just a little into that grove of trees, it looks so enchanting there.

“I wonder if His Presence will go with us there,” Iris mused.

“Of course! You’re getting just as cautious as ole Aylett here.”

She tugged impatiently at their hands and they reluctantly followed, albeit Iris was a little more curious than Aylett who couldn’t hide the misery in her eyes.

There was all sort of beguiling attractions in the forest and the girls lost track of time as they explored quaint cottages, rustic bridges over bubbling brooks, a vast array of flowers they had never seen before and other things.

Finally it was getting late and Iris was concerned about getting home before dark.

“Well we’ll just head back the way we came, “ Renita courageously lead the way, calling over her shoulder, “We took a zig zag path in all our exploring but we will go straight now.

It wasn’t long before Aylett knew they were lost, and when she glanced at Iris she could tell she had the same concern, but Renita forged on ahead not at all ready to admit that they might have gotten turned around.
When they got in sight of a little gingerbread style cottage they had seen before they all fell silent.

Renita, as usual was the first to speak. “Well, Iris since you are such a great direction finder, you lead. I’m tired of breaking a trail through these briars. Yikes these insects are nasty!”

She stared at Aylett. “You haven’t got a single bite.”

Aylett shrugged her shoulders but didn’t answer.

Iris took the leadership role but more cautiously that Renita had. Aylett hung back and blew on the little silver whistle around her neck. It made a sweet melodious tone that she knew could be heard in the Glass Castle by the King but not by the girls beside her.

As she trudged along behind her companions they grew more subdued, from time to time she blew on her whistle.

They were getting very weary by the time a light appeared and eagerly ran towards it.

“Oh it’s Tom,” Renita said in disgust. ”Who wants to follow his light? He is so ‘square’. “

Iris glared at her, “I’ll take any light I can get to get out of the mess we are in,”

Renita flounced off as her companions to meet the ‘square’ soldier. She did however hurry after them after a bit.

Tom was very solicitous which made the weary girls feel better. He also noted that Aylett was the only one that hadn’t been bitten by gnats and other bugs and suspected the reason. The aura of the King still lingered around her although she had strayed, and the insects were repelled by it.

“The only way to keep clear of those annoying insects is to keep out of those exact woods,” Tom warned.

“Oh, they aren’t that bad,” Renita snapped, “There’s plenty of soothing ointment around to use if they do bother us.

“I’m still eager for more adventure although next time we won’t stay so late. What about you girls?”

“Well maybe once in a while,” Iris responded, “But not very often.”

“Not I,” Aylett declared, “I’d rather be in His Presence every single moment of the day even if He never sends me on grand or exciting missions.”

“You’re square too, “Renita muttered.

This is an allegory as I am sure you already guessed. What would you consider the deathly snakes that a Christian might encounter? What are the insects that bother us and we try to soothe with (what kind of) ointment? What really works to heal humanity?