esson 13a: Sword King

   
aking my leave of the ladies, I reascend through the opposite underground passage. The river continues to flow under the ground, but I have had enough of wet lately (going all the way back to Sword 6) and decide to go up a hill to survey the land. It's a beautiful morning and I enjoy the physical effort of climbing the grassy slope, and as I reach the summit, I see that others are here.

   At the very top, a king sits enthroned. A large crowd has come before him, to make petitions to his word of law. Apparently, the cases have been heard, and the king wraps up the session with this wisdom:

   "You've heard it said: 'You must not murder.' But I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice, and whoever addresses his brother with a word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court!
   "Be quick about settling matters with the one complaining against you.
   "You've heard it said: 'You must not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone that looks at another with lust has already committed adultery in his heart. It were better for him to pluck out his eyes than to lose his soul.
   "You've heard it said: 'You must not swear without performing.' But I say to you that you must not swear at all. Just let your word 'yes' mean yes, your 'no,' no.
   "You've heard it said: 'An eye for an eye.' But I say to you that whoever slaps you on your cheek, turn the other to him also. And if a person wants to sue you for your inner garment, give him also your outer garment. And if someone asks you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
   "You've heard it said: 'Love you neighbor.' But I say to you that you must also love your enemies. For if you love those loving you, what of it? If you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing?
   "Don't concern yourselves so much with storing up treasures on the earth. What is of the earth belongs to the earth. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures of the heart, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

   As the people begin to depart, discussing his words, I approach him with "Yes, but . . ." [stammering, as I search for words]

   "I know what you're thinking. Some of my advice doesn't seem exactly 'fair.' But if *everyone* followed it, there would *be* no strife. Can you imagine if everyone on the planet were as kind and giving and full of miraculous powers as Jesus? If everyone followed the Law of Love, there would be no *need* to turn the other cheek."

   "Yes, but it's not like that," I say. "So what about self-defense? What about the right to live free of assault, to protect what one has earned and such things?"

   "What makes you think you have such a right? This is rather a desire or privilege. Do you think that if someone does evil to you, you can return evil for evil? Then you become just as evil! It is for those in authority to punish the wrongdoers. It is for the rest to try to be as good--as loving, charitable, tolerant, forgiving, peaceable--as they possibly can.

   "Remember your neighbor [gosh, he's omniscient], and how you resisted the urge to retaliate? And how did it turn out? Now you have peace and quiet, and she has burned herself on the fire of her own anger. It was an uncomfortable time for you, but hopefully not for nothing. Keep the lesson in your mind always. Keep it in mind as you persevere through the uncomfortable areas of this real. In your quest for the Sword Hallow, you will next have to travel across the moor, that way. (He points.) I hope you have the 'right shoes'! Hahahaha!"

   I'm relieved to hear that the Sword King has a sense of humor. I assure him that I have nice Gore-Tex hiking boots, thank for his advice, and set off for the moor.