Prologue: The King and the Monster
The Road to Transformatia - A Love Story
Table of Contents:
The Road to Transformatia is a story about overcoming fear through love.
Have you ever been frozen by fear?
There are a myriad of fears that stop us dead in our tracks.
My Own Story
For years, I have feared sharing my writing with anyone, especially family. With Life UnCorked and now The Talking Pen, I am actively working to overcome that fear.
Now that I have decided to focus on freelance writing as a retirement pursuit, the time has come to face this fear head-on. The Road to Transformatia is my very first try at writing allegory as an attempt to address the subject of fear.
If I want to grow in skill and audience, I must share my writing with those that I am closest with and be open and vulnerable to their constructive criticisms.
Similar in allegorical style to Bruce Wilkinson’s The Dream Giver or John Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress, I present to you The Road To Transformatia
While I will prominently portray the subject of spiritual salvation by Grace through faith (because nothing else actually matters apart from that), character traits such as faith, courage, diligence, and perseverance are portrayed as a means to overcome the paralyzing fear that keeps us from pursuing a life of significance, whatever that may look like for each of us.
Ultimately, it is a story of triumph of love over fear. I hope you will join me as we journey along with A.J. and his friends.
The King and The Monster
According to stories told by sages of old, there is a Kingdom called Transformatia, a realm of splendor and unimagined beauty, ruled by a noble, gracious, and benevolent King.
Transformatia is very close to the land of Conformity.
So close, in fact, that it can literally reside in the hearts of each of us as we embrace it.
Anyone who safely travels from Conformity to Transformatia is automatically granted citizenship, through the grace and mercy of the King.
But the road is not easy. It is fraught with dangers and distractions.
In return, he commissions these hardy souls for service as ambassadors and sends them back to the land of Conformity, where they are to live and proclaim the beauty and benefits of Transformatia, available to anyone who embarks on this journey of faith.
As citizens of Transformatia, they have been given special gifts and abilities to thrive throughout the various times of adversity and adventure, disaster and delight, tragedy and treasure, ruin and riches that they will encounter in Conformity.
Not just material riches mind you, but the kind of riches that can be transferred from one kingdom to the other - A veritable trove of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding which can be converted into the lasting riches of love, joy, peace, patience, and contentment.
Everything needed for a fruitful life while residing in Conformity.
Peril and Danger
Also, as the story goes, not all is as it appears as one makes the journey from Conformity to Transformatia.
The way is filled with false trails that can lead to destruction and even death. If not extremely careful, one could easily be misled into disaster, misery, or ruin.
The mission of ambassadors is to guide those adventurous souls who embark on this perilous journey to victory.
The majority of travelers, however, who start with good intentions get stuck in the insignificant border region of Complacency. Many settle down in the popular city of Status Quo, snared by the trappings of comfortable misery.
Precious few who venture forth with great aspirations ever reach Transformatia and return to Conformity to tell of the untold joy and blessings found there.
Sadly, even many ambassadors lose sight of their important mission. They instead choose to settle in the village of Ease, on the outskirts of Status Quo, much to the King’s dismay.
They forget the solemn charge from the King to proclaim the treasures of Transformatia which are endless and available to all who accept the King's invitation to come and partake.
The Greatest Danger Of All
Now, according to "eyewitness" reports, there is a great monster, whose name is FEAR. This monster is the sworn arch-enemy of the King. He is the master of Imaginaria, a buffer province that lies directly between Conformity and Transformatia.
All those who would gain entrance to Transformatia must pass through Imaginaria.
This vile creature considers himself the self-appointed gatekeeper of Transformatia. He is a menacing beast, ever-present, and always lurking in the dark shadows.
There is no question of his existence because the stench becomes almost overpowering the closer one gets to the gates of Transformatia.
The sheer power emanating from the monster can affect one emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and even physically as they inch closer and closer, trying to make a breakthrough to Transformatia, also known as the Land of Light.
Sadly, even many Ambassadors continue to be affected by this monster named FEAR.
The Monster’s Strategy
By their very nature, curious souls continue to venture toward Transformatia. Most, however, try to take the easy road, believing they can slip in unnoticed.
Time after time, they attempt to sneak past the monster, but he always senses their timidity, caution, or skepticism.
As part of his strategy, he lets them advance close enough to get a glimpse of the gleaming towers of the city.
Just as they begin to believe that they can have victory in reaching Transformatia, he attacks with small darts of doubt and discouragement.
Finding the way too rocky and perilous or mired in a tangle of weeds and thorns, they turn back, dejected and downtrodden, and seldom regain their confidence.
The monster chuckles to himself, “They never seem to learn, do they?”.
Others start cheerfully, thinking it to be an easy trek.
Before they even get a good start, however, the monster cleverly lures them back with the offer of cheap pleasures and mindless entertainment, so that they see no need to even leave Conformity.
The Non-Conformists
Thankfully, there are a few determined and hardy souls, known as Non-Conformists, who persevere through it all and succeed in making it to the City of Grace, the Capital of Transformatia.
These are the ones whom the King commissions and sends forth as his ambassadors.
Of these brave souls shall the chronicles speak. Of these individuals tales are told, legends are made, and legacies are left.
The monster, however, never forgets a face. He remembers every tactic he has ever used against any individual who dares to return.
Each time a citizen of Conformity returns for another attempt to reach Transformatia, he increases the intensity of his attacks.
From simple discouragement and disappointment to all-out disaster and even death, his strategy is tailored specifically to the nature of each individual.
Next: In Chapter One: The Dreamer, we will meet our protagonist, Average Joe, known to all as A.J. Read along each week as we follow his determined effort to reach Transformatia and meet the King.
Stay tuned …
