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For the next several weeks, A.J. spent almost every waking hour in the Archive Room.
One by one, he turned to the bookmarks Noble had placed in THE BOOK. These, in turn, led to the discovery of many other passages.
The first bookmark was placed in the first chapter of the book written by a man named Joshua.
The note on the bookmark said to read verses 1-10 and note what word was used multiple times. Then meditate specifically on verse eight - How does it relate to the other verses? What are the two recurring themes in this passage?
A.J. was intrigued by the layout of THE BOOK. It was, indeed, user-friendly just as Noble had said.
It was very well organized for quickly finding the various writer’s letters and books.
Someone had even taken the time to cross-reference passages and individual verses as well as write insightful notes.
A.J. chuckled. He doubted if the Reference Librarian knew any of this.
“This is interesting,” he thought as he began reading. “It appears to be similar to a military change of command with a focus on the new commander – a man named Joshua.”
A.J. had become somewhat familiar with military culture and customs from the various history books he had read over the years at the library.
As A.J. read the passage through a few times, he picked up on three main recurring themes. Strength, courage, and obedience.
All three traits were necessary for success as a military leader.
He also noticed that even though Joshua recorded what was said, he referred to the actual speaker as the LORD.
He remembered the passage in the letter to the Hebrews which referred to THE BOOK as the word of God.
Putting two and two together, he reasoned that “the LORD” and “God” must be the same.
When he began focusing on verse eight, as Noble had instructed, he became aware of the same type of “if/then” construct that he had been taught in the Deductive Reasoning class he was required to take in school.
Only this was applied on a far broader scale.
What he had learned in the class was focused on everyday situations he may encounter and need to make decisions about.
Whereas, the statement written here by Joshua seemed to encompass his whole life and the daily decisions he made, all at once.
He read it again:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
A.J. realized that though this was a “cause/effect” statement, it didn't give an option. It was a command. “Thou shalt meditate” and “do according to all that is written therein”.
Again, the military aspect came through -
Soldier, if you want to wage a successful battle you must obey orders.
He knew that to meditate meant to think about, but decided to look it up in the dictionary which he had learned to keep on the table.
Meditate: to ponder, imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter.
In other words, communicate with yourself in any way necessary to absorb what is being presented. It should become so ingrained in our daily being, that it literally becomes part of us.
This is what is referred to as “muscle memory” in the military, he remembered reading. Something that is done so much that it becomes an automatic response.
A.J. was fascinated by this.
First, the military nature of what was written.
Secondly, there was clear teaching, from one who he had been taught all his life was a myth, that was even more encompassing than what he had learned in school.
Why was it being hidden away?
The teaching was superior. How could some Mythical Being write these words?
It was not some dry, unfeeling principle to memorize, but it was written in a human scenario with imagination and emotion.
And, it was presented in a military context, which made it all the more exciting. At least to him.
According to what was written here, the result of meditating on THE BOOK and obeying what it said is a prosperous and successful life.
What did that even mean? He made a mental note to study that more closely.
The other thing that really stood out to A.J. was that Joshua was told not to be conquered by fear of what was ahead of him.
This person, who referred to himself as the LORD, promised to give courage to Joshua when he did what was commanded, which was to take the people into the land which He had promised them.
FEAR
That is what the monster called himself. He said he could stop anyone from doing anything.
Yet, here was the LORD telling Joshua not to let fear stop him. He was to be courageous.
But, there was more. The LORD said He would be with Joshua as he moved forward in reaching the Promised Land.
“Isn’t that exactly what I am trying to do”, A.J. mused to himself, “Reach Transformatia, the promised land?”
A.J. realized immediately that this was what had been missing in his endeavor to conquer Fear and reach Transformatia. He had been going on his own, in his own strength and bravado.
Fear defeated him every time.
Every. Single. Time.
He couldn't understand it. Why could he not get past fear? A.J. looked at what was written again.
“Be strong and very courageous”, it implored. He had felt courage each time he set out to defeat this monster, but without fail, he was stopped cold when crunch time came.
This is what had been missing.
Reading the passage again, he wondered how it was that this person would or could be with him.
“LORD, what are you? Who are you?” A.J. cried out in his heart.
“If you are real, I want you to be with me. I want to have victory over this monster who calls himself Fear. How can I know who you are? How can I KNOW you?”
His mind again was directed back to the simple instructions in verse eight. Read, meditate, and do what THE BOOK says to do. The results will be a prosperous and successful journey.
A.J.’s mind was lost in contemplation . . .
He was startled to hear someone banging at the archive door. Looking at the clock, he realized it was past closing time.
Quickly, A.J. placed THE BOOK back in its place, turned off the lamps, and left the archive room.
The Reference Librarian was glaring at him.
“Young man, some of us have other obligations we need to attend to. Waiting on you to come out whenever you feel like it is not one of them.
From now on, not leaving the Archive Room on time will gain you a week’s suspension of your privileges. And make no mistake, it is a privilege.”
A.J. knew it was not “a privilege”, but a library policy that anyone who wanted to use the Archive Room could do so.
He knew the Librarian was trying to intimidate him, but he just let it go and left the library, his mind burning with so many questions.
He could not wait to get back to the Archive Room and the second Bookmark.
What will the next bookmark reveal?
Thanks for coming along and learning & growing with A.J. in his journey to overcome the monster called Fear and reach Transformatia.