FORTY-FIVE – Among many truths

“No, you can’t go and you can’t follow me,” said Arous to Octavius. “You’re too big for me to keep taking you out during the day. You’ll just have to stay here.”

Arous had decided to go to the Temple of Living Waters. Every time she had gone into Burton’s Cornerstore he had mentioned it. She knew the boy worked there.  Though what a five-year old could do working at a Temple was beyond her.

“It’s a beautiful cathedral.  You really must visit a service before you go back home,” he insisted each morning right after he’d asked, “Have you been to the Temple of Living Waters yet?”

Octavius glared from his window seat.

She was only a  few blocks away when she heard the bells begin to peel letting the people know they still had a few minutes before the door closed.  Burton had told her that once the doors shut they wouldn’t open again except to let the people out.

“They take spiritual edification very seriously there – as we all should. Sacred meditation shouldn’t be disturbed by other people’s inconsiderate lateness,” Burton said as if repeating a mantra.

She saw the Temple of Living Waters just a block and a half away.  She could see people streaming into its doors in twos, fours, and singles.  On the vast front steps stood various men, young and old, greeting and talking to others entering the cathedral, shaking hands, offering hugs, kissing babies and patting little boys on the head.  One man caught her eye as she noticed him lean down. He gave a disgruntled little boy a pat on the head and handed him a sucker.  She walked to him.

“Well, hello Mr. Burton,” she said with a smile he returned.

“Hello, Miss Arous. Glad to see you could make it. What a wonderful day the Universe has given us today.”

She walked past him into The Temple of Living Waters.  She looked to take a seat in the back.  The soft murmur of people taking their seats and greeting their well-dressed neighbors surrounded her.  Stray glances shot her way.  It didn’t bother her.  She looked different and she knew it.  A stranger. Her silver complexion stood out against their golden skin, but this was the last place she expected to get so many skewed glances.  Most of the people were Amalgamese which she thought was more than a little strange.  She looked up and saw there were a few pure bloods in the balcony but the mix didn’t match the diversity of the City. This was the once City on the whole world where all the different races from all the different Pantaganents mixed equally. She sat down.  Plenty of looks, no kind words.

She looked around for the boy.

The colored glass in the windows stained the pale wooden floors as the sun peeked in.  The cool air blew through the doors pushing warm air up to the rafters high in the ceiling.  She looked up.  Above her crisscrossed wooden rafters.  Above them lights bobbed in suspense.  These lamps dotted the auditorium swinging with the breeze propelled by the vibration of the humming voices.

The organ began to play.  Its deep and serious tune brought a hush over the teeming crowd. The notes ran throughout the bronze piping at the front of the church behind the open pulpit. It was the largest set of pipes that Arous had ever seen.

People began to scramble to their seats as if playing a game of musical chairs.  If they didn’t get to their seats by the end of the song then they’re out. Big bouncer looking guys, called ushers, were stationed along the walls and at the doors. The choir began to pour from either side of the loft meeting in the middle just in front of those massive pipes.  She could hear a soft melody wafting through the air but could not understand the words.  Though unintelligible to her ears the sound was beautiful.

A man dressed in a dark robe stepped to the podium. White and red accented the robe; underneath peek-a-booed a white tunic.  A red hat dotted his head. A scarlet sash hung around his neck.

“One is All and All is One!” he said and the crowded shouted back at him. “We are so glad such a healthy crowd could join here today to commune with us in for you quota of worship this season.  Lean to your right wishing hope and health to your neighbor next to you, welcoming them to the Temple.”   A murmuring skipped through the immense auditorium in perfect rhythm with the man’s request.  He lifted his arms stretching them out toward the audience.

“Take a moment of silence with me.  Bow with me in prayer, chant in agreement.  Wonderful Universe, air, water, earth and space, you are in all and are all.  We are you and you are us.”

He looked up.

“Yes?”

Answers rippled through the crowd.

“Wonderful.  What a beautiful day to welcome such a wonderful speaker.  A special guest, I know you are as excited as I am.  She began her quest for answers as a child.  However, she did not stop there.  Fame and fortune did not distract her or make her want to quit.  She continues to seek out the answer in her daily life as in all her previous lives still persevering to get it just right. For some of you, hearing her speak may be as close you will get to the right questions in this life. Please welcome her, all of you know her as, Lady Rose of Rose House,” he leaned into the microphone as if to tell a quick joke while she walked up to the podium. “The rumors fly about, don’t they, maybe she’s our next, First Lady! First Lady Rose.”

Some in the crowded laughed and some applauded as Lady Rose walked up to the podium into the open arms and check kisses of the man in the robe.