Green. It
went on endlessly. A seemingly never-ending expanse of trees extended as
far as the eye could see in either direction, until it crashed with the graying
sky on one side, and a rich and heavenly collage on the other. Orange
had been painted across the horizon, with lines and shadows as if a real
paintbrush had left it there. Rays of gold and red nestled into the
paint intermittently. The angles of light allowed tree-covered
mounds to rise up out of the forest floor in sporadic patterns, like green
waves frozen in time.
It was
not the first time I had hiked the pyramids in that place. In fact, the jungle was beginning to feel
like home to me. My western-themed
bedroom was now just nylon walls surrounded by mosquito net. Leafy paths became my hallways. Handmade benches became part of our dining
room furniture. Our oven was made out of
clay. My bathroom was now not so
pleasant, but our new endless backyard made it worth the inconvenience. And a
miraculous view was available at the top of each staircase.
I liked
being out here. The solitude and
primitive lifestyle made me think. Not
many of the people from home had this. I
guess that adventures were harder to come by in Idaho. I was privileged to be here. Then again, back home, they were privileged
that they could do their business on something that flushed. The little things
I had before, now seemed almost like a dream.
Carpet; the long shaggy kind. Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to press
your cheek up against carpet? Or a mattress! I was so privileged back
then. Why had I taken it for
granted? I didn’t realize that so many
people, like the ones here, did not have those things.
We sat. Black
shadows of different sizes occasionally soared across the scene, dancing in the
last rays of daylight. I remember sitting on that limestone block, taking
in the scenery, and chuckling next to my brother. His scraggly beard
was evidence that he had not seen a mirror in months. His hiking
boots were covered in mud, with twigs and leaves plastered to the
bottoms. He clapped his hands together like a seal when he laughed,
before leaning his mountain-man-like head on his wrist, his wide shoulders
still shaking with laughter. He seemed so different physically from
the clean-cut man I had grown up with, but he was the same in every other
sense: always wanting to compliment others; laughing at everyone’s jokes; and
he could still quote the entire Dumb and Dumber movie even though he had not
seen a television in ages.
He was
the kind of person that had every reason in the world not to be humble, and yet
he was; extremely so. If it wasn’t true
that all of the girls wanted him, it certainly was true that all of the guys
wanted to be him. He had kind eyes;
especially when he laughed. After composing ourselves, with a chuckle or two
here and there, his breathing became slower, and heavier. His shoulders fell as he breathed out; his
face overcome with peace. “Isn’t it
incredible; to think about the people that were here before us?”
I nodded
my approval, and for a moment, I was instantly taken there. The trees were gone; the walls became vibrant
with color once again; and the city buzzed with life. People scurried about below us as they carried
out their assigned tasks. Some wore jade
ornaments. Many were laden with tools, or weapons. A seemingly never-ending expanse of people extended
as far as the eye could see. Men could be seen adding the last blocks to the
outer wall.
We were able
to be enjoying a moment of peace before the oncoming battle. “Do you really think we can do it?,” I asked
him. I could see in his eyes that he
did. He was a strong and mighty man; he
was a man that did not delight in bloodshed; but he joyed in liberty and
freedom for his brethren. He was
thankful for the things he had. His
people enjoyed many privileges and blessings. I knew that he would defend his
people, his rights, his country, and his religion, until his last breath. If all men could like him, surely the devil
would be powerless. I would follow him
anywhere; through any battle. “Come on.
We have work to do,” he said with a reassuring smile.
Green
again. I was back. We sat. A seemingly
never-ending expanse of trees extended as far as the eye could see in either
direction. The sun was almost gone. A
howler monkey roared like a lion in the distance.
“You
know, it really is true.”
“What is?”
“The
Church.”
“Yeah… I
know,” I whispered as a dragonfly landed on a branch next to me. “I know.”
