He Is Not Alone

Around the world, there is only one news story being told over and over again, the Second Coming of Christ has saved the world.

In the weeks that follow, the President of North Korea has stayed out of the public eye. Many scientist and military leaders have simply disappeared. Slowly the world has begun to focus on what had happened. No longer is North Korea looked at as a spoiled child but as a dangerous being whose existence is a danger to all mankind. China has cut off all aid and support. The Chinese and Russian military have mobilized and are enforcing a total blockade around the country. Nothing is allowed into or out of the country. No ships or planes are allowed. The people of Korea try to flee but the borders are closed as well.

It becomes clear that North Korea’s people need to take matters into their own hands. An uprising begins to take place. The President orders his military to put down the uprising. As the forces begin to mobilize it is soon apparent that they will not be helping to keep the uprising in check but, in fact, will be actively aiding it.

First, the local government and party leaders are removed from power by the people. Then waves of farmers, former military, and factory workers head towards the larger towns and industrial centers. Again, government and party officials are removed, permanently from office. By the time the President decides to go into hiding, there is no safe place for him to go. The military is refusing to help, his personal guards have left him and many of his family members have already disappeared. The only option is to address the people and lead them into a new future.

He never gets the chance; the military leaders fear for their lives and decide to bring the President to the people. They arrest him and, as a group, walk into the city square. The hope is that by bringing the President to the people, they will be spared. That will not be the case. Within minutes the people converge on the group, killing them all, along with anyone else thought to be representing any political party.

With no political party or government, North Korea fails to exist. Many people walk south to the border to South Korea. Pleas are made for a joint Korea. It is again the people who make the choice. Before the government of South Korea can even begin to discuss this, the people of both North and South Korea begin to cross the borders. By default, the people have taken the future into their hands. Three months later, it becomes official when the Ambassador of the United States proposes that the United Nations formally recognize the country of Korea and that all aid and assistance be given under the World Peace Plan to help the citizens of Korea recover of the years of economic hardship. The proposal passes without comment from the other countries.

Several months later, another major event occurs in the life of Will Smythe, their daughter, Sandy, is born. Over the next several years Amy and Will have two more sons, named Will, Jr., and David, after Amy’s father.

For a while, Will, Amy, Bruce, and Bob continued to travel around the country giving sermons, but something has changed. Will still had large crowds of people where ever he went. His sermons still caused people to help one another and live a good life. But in the beginning, people came to be healed. Now, they came to see the Second Coming of Christ. In the beginning, they were told what to do, when to stand and when to pray. Now they spent their time in prayer and kneeling before the Second Coming of Christ.

Will had changed as well. He is no longer driven as he was in the early days. Within a few years, they returned to Paradise to settle down. The RVs were sold. Jennifer and John still run the complex but it, too, was changing. Many of the followers had left. Nowadays, the residents were from all walks of life. The complex now taught people job and life skills. Susan was now the office manager, overseeing 20 employees. She ran the day to day office while Jennifer and John took care of other tasks around the complex. Paradise was still a growing community, the third largest in Colorado.

Pastors Jones and Steve were as busy as ever. Pastor Jones sat and talked to Will when he returned.

“Will, your mission was a success. You have saved mankind in more ways than one. God, should be proud of what you have done. But you are a troubled soul now. Why?”

“When the skills were new and the mission unknown, there was an excitement in everything I did. The excitement is gone. I am tired and lack the motivation to continue. My family is tired as well. Traveling from town to town, staying a few days and moving again is hard on the kids. I can sense that Amy, Bob, and Bruce no longer have the drive either.”

“My friend, it is time for you to retire or at least take some time off. I am sure God is not done with you yet, but He will let you know when He needs you. Relax for a while here in Paradise. Why don’t you take a walk in the woods?”

“That is a great idea.”

With that, Will leaves the church and walks across the street and into the woods. He walks only a short distance when he hears a wolf growl from the woods. Will stops and looks into the woods towards the sound. Within a second a large wolf jumps out of the woods and bounds towards Will. Just as the wolf appears to be attacking, two other wolves intercept him knocking him out of the way. There is a short standoff before the young wolf backs down. He is not quite ready to become the new alpha male. Will sits down with his old friends and the pack soon gathers around. Will even makes friends with the soon to be alpha male.

Will tells Amy to come visit, “Amy, I am with some old friends. I think you should come visit us. They, too, are soon to pass.”

Soon Amy, John, Sandy, and Will, Jr. arrive in the woods. They are all greeted with warmth and the wolves really take to the kids. Both Amy and Will sense that the old wolves are very ill and with their advanced age, it will soon be time to say goodbye.

Will is thinking out loud, “You know Moses died within sight of the Promise land, never to have seen his mission from God completed. Noah completed his mission and became a drunk. Jesus died and was resurrected. What will happen to me? Will I soon pass from this world? Will I live for many years to become a drunk to ease the pain? What does God have in store for me now?”

That afternoon did not bring any answers. They stayed with the wolves for a while and then returned home. Several weeks after their trip into the woods to be with their old friends, they heard the wolves howl for hours on end. Amy and Will walked into the woods to find their old friends had passed away. There was a new alpha wolf and the pack was on the move deeper into the woods.

Will retired from traveling and eventually took up preaching at the church with Pastors Jones and Steve. Over time, he became more comfortable with the lack of excitement. The kids grew up healthy and happy. Mom and dad were there to watch them grow.

Bob eventually took to the road again in the RV. He said sitting around was boring and wanted to see the rest of the country. He got married after a few years. He retired with his wife in Pennsylvania. Bob passed away at the age of 89.

Bruce moved to Florida after everything calmed down. He was tired of the traveling, too, but really enjoyed Disney. He took a job as a cast member, greeting people and helping them find the attractions within the parks. He never did marry, although it was said he had a thing for Daisy Duck. Donald wasn’t very happy about it, but it was said that Daisy loved to tease him whenever Bruce was around. Bruce passed away at 72, Daisy and Donald were by his side. He had a heart attack in front of the Walt and Mickey statues by the castle.

Jessie eventually came to Paradise after her Grandparents died. She sold the farm and moved to an apartment. She passed away before Will knew she was ill. She left a note saying that she wanted it that way.

Jennifer and John were married while the team was still on the road. Pastor Jones did the honors. They had 2 children, a boy named Will and a girl named Amy. The kids grew up together. John died from an accident. He fell while working on replacing some windows on the third floor of the complex. Jennifer died shortly after retiring and placing Susan in charge. Ownership of the complex went to the church.

Life went on for Amy and Will. The kids did not have the powers that their parent had, but that didn’t seem to matter. They were very proud of what their father had done. For Will’s 85th birthday, the town of Paradise held a big birthday party. A statue of him was unveiled in the town circle. Everyone was there who could be. Even the current President of the United States sent a representative. Newscasters from all the major networks broadcasted the event. Worldwide peace was still the norm.

On the Sunday after his birthday, Will was asked to speak to the church after the sermon. As he stood up at the pulpit, he looked out at all the people. He smiles and turns to his family and friends in the front row and says, “For many years now you have lived in my shadow. You have helped me save the world and save me from myself. For 40 years, we have had peace around the world. Now my time is coming to an end. God has called and said to come home.”

“Amy, you have been a good wife and friend. Do not mourn for me. I will see you again.”

“Pastor Jones, thank you for all you have done for us over the years. Your advice and friendship have meant a lot to me.”

“Kids, be good to your neighbors and family. Remember I love you always.”

“Jennifer, there are no words to express my gratitude to you for all you did over the years. Thank you.”

“Finally, Susan, I hope someday you can forgive what I did to you. You have grown to be an important part of this organization. May God Bless you.”

Will slowly sits down at the altar. Amy and Pastor Jones are the first to reach him, the kids are next, then Jennifer and Susan. The rest of the congregation remains seated, unwilling to move or even blink.

With that Will Smythe, the Second Coming of Christ passes away. Just as the tears begin to fall and sounds of crying begin to rise, the spirit of the Second Coming of Christ rises from his body. The room is silent again as everyone kneels before the Second Coming of Christ rising above the altar. As the spirit rises several feet above the body of Will Smythe, it pauses. With his arms stretched out, he looks at the people and says, “You Are Not Alone, Peace Until We Meet Again.”

With that, the spirit of the Second Coming of Christ rises through the roof of the church and peace reigns through the church. Over the coming days, that peace spreads as word of the passing of the Second Coming of Christ is spread around the world.