Listeners...
Story: God has instructed some special people to be listeners of others stories when they are dying or are near death to garner the real motifs and truth about events in their lives. A confession of sorts to others; the self realization they have sinned. Some have not sinned at all but it is enough that they think they have and as such most have carried what they perceive to be a terrible burden with them, their whole lives. They seek forgiveness, they seek solace. The story takes place in a nursing hoe where the aged and infirmed elderly are living the last days of their lives. Inside this institution there is one person who patiently listens to the occupants stories and recollections of sad and sometimes misunderstood events which have occurred during the course of their lifetimes, but which events they have never been able to describe their participation in these events through their eyes. There is no ST. Peter waiting at any pearly gates with a large book noting the events of you life by which entering heaven will be determined; there are simply "listeners' who will listen to each individual describe the truth about what has happened in their lives, for only they know what really occurred through their eyes and thoughts. The "Listeners" simply take these stories with them when they are also called to leave us. This is the Lords way of letting the "Listeners" also repent for real sins. Letting them also repent and providing solace for tormented individuals is of course the Lords' way. So if you are ever lucky enough to find someone who really want to hear your story, tell it well. RJ
Listener #1 is James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman. With their smiles they are the perfect individual/s for the role. MF with his stoic face could pull it off. he is an orderly/listener at the permanent care facility.
Listener #2 is Toby Maguire. He is a new intern at the institution. He will become the #1 Listener when MF or JEJ dies and goes on to heaven with the stories he has collected from dying patients.
MF/JEJ dies and leaves his diary for TM to find on his night stand. #1 dies that night and TM finds the diary the next morning. Inside the diary are stories about what really happened during his life. He was soldier that ran off when the fighting started during world war II. When the moment came, he could no kill another person. He never forgave himself when his buddies were all killed; and this has tormented him his whole life. He was riddled with guilt for deserting them in their hour of need. He never forgave himself. He has never had anyone to tell his story to, he has never been able to explain to anybody how he felt, nor why he did what he did.
Those 'buddies' whom he lost a long time ago, were waiting for him in heaven, he just never knew it.
The hallway is a long corridor with a mirror finished tile floor. The sun glistens off the wax and reflects hues of soft blues from the sky and greens from the palms outside. The curious patients peeked out their individual doorways to squint at the thin figure of a young man standing outside two sets of swinging glass doors. Although their view is somewhat distorted by years of failing eyesight, giggles could be heard as they watched with anticipation, waiting for the new intern standing outside the swinging doors to enter their world. Little do they know, the fear of failure has welled up in Toby; hence the pause before entering the facility. Little did the onlookers know, after many years, Toby had been released from the prison system, and this is his first job; hence the pause before entering the facility. He had been a miserable failure at a very young age, and that fear has welled up inside him. His hands were shaking when he mused while looking at his reflection on the glass doors, and wondering how much of his appearance smudged glass hides. He stood for a moment with tears welling up in his eyes, trying to hold back the nagging feelings of insecurity. His is almost paralyzed for fear of being perceived as inadequate by the very patients he is suppose to help. This is a thousand times more terri8fying than the first day of school; he remembers standing alone outside the school building while his parents drove off to have their first drink of the day. He was dropped off late for the first day; all the other kids were already in classes as he stood there wanting to run and hide instead of facing the piercing eyes as he entered the front of the class room and all stared and laughed at him as he tried to explain his tardiness. He was told to take a seat, and was used by the teacher as the 'class example' of everything which went wrong for the rest of the year. He takes a deep breath and opens the doors; fumbling with his suit cases as the spring loaded swinging doors, like great, strong hands, close in on him. The lack of direction, the lack of instruction was almost overpowering. There was no one there to direct him or tell him what to do. This time in his life, was 'all him'.
Mustering his courage, he thought, 'what a great entrance. Sweat ran down his temples and dripped to the perfectly shinny floor as he positioned himself in front of the pink counter. The heat was almost too much in the small, southern California town of Canary, California.
Just then, the inner doors swung open as the patients all ran to help him with his bags, they surrounded him and smiled and hugged him as they assisted him down the long hall. Hurriedly, they all got in three rows in front of him; and in unison they sand "Welcome, Welcome Welcome to our wonderful home, Toby. Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!" They all smiled again and turned to run back to their rooms as they whispered to themselves. Toby was left standing in the middle of the great hall. While catching his composure, he turned to his left to see a large, brown door with a simple piece of paper taped above a small sign that read "We each have our baggage to carry". On the parchment was the words, "Toby's Room".
This is how Toby's new job started.
After the initial initiation by the staff and crew, Morgan came up to Toby and asked; 'let me guess, at some time in your life you asked God to help you? You may not have asked forgiveness but you did ask him for comfort. You probably said something like "I'll do anything to shed the weight of my conscience".
Yes, but how did you know?
Oh, I know a lot. Try me sometime.
The next day....
Inside room #9:
Toby listened intently as Morgan consoled a patient named Clarence, as he describe a story of fear and heartache. Clarence was reliving the time he had spent in the military. He was describing in great detail a terrible incident which occurred where 23 soldiers had lost their lives. He describes how his dreams are like movies and that he sees visions of the dead soldiers and hears their cries for help. Eyes swollen from crying through nights of delirium, it is only now that he confesses to being responsible for the massacre because of an order he had given. He sent soldier to a place they should not have been, to a fight they could not win. Grasping Morgan's hand, and through tearful eyes, he swore it was not about the recognition or glory. He thought it a simple maneuver. He remembers the knot in his stomach ever time he sent his men out on patrol. But this time, he gave the order anyway and the whole platoon, except one, was dead because of that decision. They never knew what hit them. One out of 24 survived. He has muttered his orders over and over in his head, fought the battle time and time again, only to end up praying to God that single soldier forgives him. As Morgan listened to Clarence's recount of the battle; in disbelief, he realized it was his platoon Clarence was talking about. But also, that he was the platoon commander that misunderstood Clarence's' command and walked his men into sure death. It was at that moment, Morgan realized it was his cockiness and arrogant manner that got those soldiers killed; not the orders Clarence gave on that fateful day, in that jungle far away. Morgan figured 'he knew better' and followed his own directions. And much to his disbelief, his platoon ended up in the wrong valley; standing directly in the path of the enemy army they were suppose to 'recon', not engage! It was not until then, Morgan realized, Clarence didn't send his platoon to hell, it was he who guided that platoon to hell! It was then, Morgan realized when his platoon ran into the advancing enemy they were taking a short cut he told them to take. A short cut not in the original orders. It was simply an accident the two platoons ran into one another! Tears running down his cheek and his hands in Morgan's; it was that night Clarence was forgiven. For it was that night Clarence found out Morgan, the one friend he had in this place, was the one soldier that lived, the one soldier that never forgave himself. It was that night, Morgan told Clarence what really happened and asked forgiveness. Clarence left us that night.
Toby found Morgan sitting in his room, obviously distressed.
Toby, standing in the hallway "mind if I come in?"
Morgan, whipping tears from his eyes, "come on in".
Toby, "from the looks of you, I guess you know, Clarence died in his sleep last night...? I don't get it. He was such a fighter, always holding on. Never did find out what it was he was holding on to.
Morgan, "he told me what it was. He made me listen to a story. Come to find out, we both had a lot in common. You know what I'm talking about.....I saw you standing there and listening, in the reflection of the window. You heard the whole story."
Toby, knowing what happened, "I won't pry, besides, what Clarence told you in private should remain that way...don't you think?
Toby, not wanting to change the subject, "by the way, do you remember the other night when we had a conversation about 'forgiving'?"
Morgan, 'yes'.
Toby, "well I was just thinking, did it ever occur to you that maybe you were chosen to survive that battle because God had a plan for you"?
Morgan, "like what?"
Toby, "like explaining to Clarence it wasn't his fault? Maybe, just maybe you were suppose to survive that battle to tell Clarence it was you! Did it ever occur to you that maybe you were the one Clarence was waiting all these years to meet, that you were his hope? Maybe that's why Clarence was a 'fighter' as you put it...maybe he was waiting for you!" You told me yourself, suicide is when somebody leaves before the show is over, there is no curtain call, or they don't like westerns; Clarence waited for you so long, he even stayed for the commercials!
Morgan, " remember Toby, "always is I'll be here when you get back.....forever is I'll be here even if you don't get back!"
The next day:
Toby was in one of his favorite rooms. This room was particularly special because as he listened to the stories, he could see out the large picture window across the green grass, past a lone bench, and across the water. It was a wonderful sight. Today, he watched as Morgan sat down and looked out over the water from that very bench. He remembered Morgan telling him, it was his 'special place' and it was the place he talked to the Lord. Toby didn't realize it at the time, but it was then, he watched in silence as Morgan peacefully went to sleep for the last time looking out over his favorite view of the world. When Morgan slowly, slumped over on the bench, Toby's eyes welled up with tears as he knew his dear friend had died. With tears running down his face, he turned to face Mrs. Whimsy as he realized he was now, the new "Listener" at the Canary rest home, and like Morgan, he too will be carrying his share of the stories with him when his time comes.
all the best, RJ