The Long Way Up

A heavy, sinister canopy covers the sky as distant rumblings of thunder reverberate through miles of tranquil dreariness. Overhead, clusters of stratus, cumulus, and nimbus clouds seem to intentionally congregate for the sole purpose of darkening the already somber midday. Strong gusts of cool wind dance to and fro above the pitch black mountain peaks, making occasional dives into the valley below it; they make ominous whistling sounds as they bounce off each other, adding to the natural orchestra of boisterous thunder and deafening silence. On the ground level, three men dressed in distinctively different black-themed outfits arduously trudge on the valley floor made up of dark charcoal soil and jagged gravel. As they slowly persist on the terrain, they notice the barrenness of the landscape: treeless slopes as far as the eye can see; several gradients of gray, ash, and lead decorate the sides of cliffs jutting out of the earth; no sign of any possible shelter from harsh elements; an...

A father plays a major role in the lives of his children. An understatement? An overstatement? Well, whichever your preference, it's a true statement; one that has been poorly heeded, greatly ignored, or severely missed out. Anyone can biologically sire a child -- we got a lot of that going on these days; but to be a father in every sense of the word is, for sure, such a tall order, which is why many men -- for several varying and valid reasons -- opt out of their responsibilities. One such responsibility inherent to the paternal role is the privilege of representing the Heavenly Father to his children. This wouldn't be much of a stretch if men, to begin with, had an existing relationship with their Father in Heaven growing up, and have spent their season of singleness practicing being God-conscious in whatever form of relationship they had with other people. But sadly, that isn't the case most of the time. So, whatever a man learns during his bachelorhood he usually carrie...

 

Even after realizing lies Analyzing rude, loquacious eyes Risking life, embracing aftermaths Leaving every artificial rath Easing, and releasing lethargy  Also reeling, lacking empathy Running low, espoused antitheses Learning endings are resyntheses Every afternoon resetting light And requited ladylove elide Rambling, languishing, eating, aching Losses earned adding, ricocheting  Elected at reordered limits  Affected, reading lasting edits Romance, like electorates, adjure Livid, each anathema recur  Essex adjusts, rousing lawlessness Apathy rusts, liquid earnestness Righteousness leaving every abode Living entreaties already rode  Escape, a recourse laborious  Anon, reprobates left egregious Routing lust, evading atrophy Leches exposed, agile rectory Embers arise, rekindling lovers  Amplified, radiant laurels enter Rectify lucid errors appealed Lyrical emotions are revealed Endings are restarts legitimized Ardor refreshed, lenses energized Roads lead...